Iowa Online Sports Betting

If you are a sports bettor in Iowa, you’re in luck. Iowa is a full-service sports betting state, with both online and retail sports betting active inside the Hawkeye State. There are multiple sportsbook apps and retail sportsbook locations throughout Iowa that are ready and willing to accept your business.

In fact, it’s never been easier to bet on sports in Iowa. Since remote registration is now completely legal, you don’t have to travel anywhere to take part in the fun.

This page provides you with a comprehensive overview of Iowa sports betting laws, where to bet online and how to get started. We have some of the best bonus offers that you can find anywhere. So, read on for the latest on Iowa’s foray into the sports betting world.

Best Iowa sports betting apps for 2021

Is sports betting legal in Iowa?

Yes. Sports betting has been legal in Iowa since Senate File 617 passed into law in May 2019. The state hosted its first launches three months later.

Retail sports betting is pretty straightforward in the Hawkeye State. Almost every Iowa casino has a sportsbook onsite. However, until recently, those who wished to play online had to deal with the frustrating proposition of in-person registration for their accounts. In other words, it was necessary to visit your sportsbook app’s partner casino in Iowa in order to complete your account creation.

Needless to say, this requirement created a hurdle for the online sports betting industry to hit the ground running. The pandemic closures that occurred in 2020 did not help in that regard, either. However, according to the law, Iowans only had to register in-person for the first 18 months of legality. That provision went away at the beginning of 2021, so anyone in Iowa can do whatever they need to do on their mobile devices now.

Top Iowa sports betting sites

Iowans are blessed with a plethora of choices for mobile sportsbooks. There are several Iowa sports betting apps available throughout the state. Now that remote registration is underway, it’s never been easier to sample all the different options active in the Hawkeye State. Here are all the choices you have:

Other sports betting apps in Iowa

Elite Sportsbook: Elite is one of the lesser-known operations to open its doors for play in Iowa. However, don’t let the company’s under-the-radar status throw you off – there are plenty of reasons to give Elite a try. Iowans who want to try a sportsbook app with a more personal touch can register at one of two locations. Elite is taking in new customers at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in Riverside and the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport.

Hard Rock: Hard Rock Sioux City entered the sportsbook app fraternity in Iowa rather quietly. For such a well-known brand, the casino has kept a lower profile than one might imagine. However, you can’t go wrong with a company that has sportsbooks in several states these days. Iowans can register at the location in Sioux City in order to get going there.

Q Sportsbook: Q Sportsbook is another one of the smaller operations in Iowa and, indeed, the entire country. Like Elite and Hard Rock, its app functions as an outgrowth of the land-based operation. So, most Iowa residents who would be familiar with Q Casino probably live in and around Dubuque. Since they’ll have to visit the location to register, that’s probably for the best.

TheScore Bet Sportsbook: TheScore was the first sports betting app to open its doors in Iowa in 2021. The sportsbook app is operating in partnership with Penn National Gaming, which owns the Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs. The debut is part of a larger push from the Canadian company to become a national brand in the US. The launch was the third in six months, and more are certain to come — its market access deal covers 11 states. Nevertheless, theScore should provide another option for Iowans looking for something different in their sports betting.

Unibet Sportsbook: Arriving in September 2021, the Unibet app made it just in time for the NFL betting season, one of the most important seasons in the US sports betting industry. Its partner Harrah’s Casino already has Caesars’ kiosks on-site, but Unibet makes it online skin No. 2 for the Council Bluffs casino. The app is a serviceable one that is fairly basic but super easy to useand comes with the usual array of betting markets and plenty of in-game play.

How legal sports betting works in Iowa

Sports betting in Iowa is fairly straightforward at this point. Now that remote registration is acceptable, it’s fairly easy to log onto your favorite IA sports betting app and place a bet. However, there are a couple of quirks about betting in Iowa that you should probably know beforehand.

First of all, it is not necessary that you be a resident of Iowa to play. You must only be physically inside the state at the time and be able to satisfy the app’s location sensors for your device. The only requirements are that you are over the age of 21 and not on the state’s exclusion list.

In terms of betting, most types of bets are completely fine. Both professional and collegiate games are available for wagering. However, there are a few exceptions for what you can bet in Iowa. They are:

• No betting on high school sports or sports with athletes under 18
• No betting in-game propositions for in-state college teams
• You cannot bet on non-sports events, like elections or awards ceremonies, under Iowa law.
• Esports are not permitted as a wagerable event.
• Sports principals, like players, coaches, or trainers, have extra restrictions and, at the very least, cannot bet on their own sports.

However, these exceptions are probably not an issue for most bettors. There are still plenty of options available on every single sportsbook app in the state.

How to download the app and sign up

Now that remote registration is underway in Iowa, it’s a snap to get started. If you want to give one of Iowa’s sportsbook apps a try, here’s what to do.

First thing is to download the app to your device by using the following steps:

• If you use an Android device, make sure to set your device to accept downloads from unknown sources. You can find this option in your phone’s Security settings. If you use an Apple device, you can ignore this step.
• Use one of our secure links to visit the app of your choice. Make sure to write down any bonus codes we have listed – they’ll be valuable in just a bit.
• Our link should take you to a page with buttons for both major types of devices – Apple and Android. Press the button for your type of device.
• Apple users should be transported to a familiar page. Sportsbook apps download to your phone exactly like other apps do.
• Android users, on the other hand, will be visiting the sportsbook’s website, where you should receive an auto-prompt to download the .apk file.
• Once the file is on your device, let it install as normal. Apple users should notice no difference. Android users may have to click through a warning screen, but every site we recommend is both secure and safe, so don’t be afraid to proceed.

After the app is installed, go through this procedure to create your account:

• Look for the button in the upper right portion of the lobby to begin registration. It will say “Sign Up,” “Register,” or something similar.
• The button should take you to the registration area for the app. It is usually a single screen, but you may have a couple of pages. Regardless, fill out each blank with the appropriate pieces of personal information. You should be prepared to submit your name, email, mailing address, phone number, date of birth, and all or part of your Social Security number. You will also need to choose a login name and password, so make sure you have secure options picked out.
• Lastly, if our link mentioned a bonus code, look for the promo code box on the screen. It will likely be the only optional blank. Make sure to enter the code exactly as it was written, including the correct uppercase and lowercase letters. Any code inaccuracies will likely cause you to miss out on the bonus.

After you’ve filled out your information, press the button at the bottom of the page to submit it to the site. You should be all set to go. Some sportsbooks will whisk you to the lobby from there, while others will take you straight to the deposit page. You don’t have to make your first deposit immediately, however, if you do not want to do so.

Any no deposit bonuses will already be available for you to bet. When you run through those or decide that you’re comfortable with the site, go ahead and proceed to the cashier to make a deposit. We’ll run through that process below.

How geolocation works

No matter where you choose to bet on sports in the US – Iowa or otherwise – you will be forced to verify your location within the resident state. So, in order to place a wager on an Iowa sports betting app, you have to prove to the site that you are convincingly inside state lines. However, there are plenty of different programs and hacks out there, and you may be wondering if you can just fudge things a bit.

The short answer is that no, you can’t. Geolocation verification technology is quite adept at weeding out those who are not inside the state’s borders. This software uses your device’s GPS and location services to place you accurately at your physical location. If there is even a hint that you may not be in the right place, the site will automatically deny you the ability to place a wager.

Sportsbooks (and other online gambling sites) take geolocation quite seriously because they have much on the line with it. Failure to geofence their sites accurately can result in both fines and sanctions on their licenses. So, don’t expect them to let this stuff slide. Make sure that your feet, body, and device are inside Iowa before you try to bet.

Iowa sportsbook bonuses, free bet offers and promos

No matter the bonus offer, you need to read the fine print on special promotions. Specifically, you need to examine the playthrough requirement and time limit associated with redeeming the bonus. Most bonuses come as either site credits or free bet vouchers, and you must bet a multiple of the amounts listed before they will convert to withdrawable cash. Make sure that you calculate the time it would take you to satisfy the requirements and that the time is acceptable for your lifestyle before you accept an offer.

There are four broad categories of offers:

• No Deposit Bonuses: Online sportsbooks offer you site credits or free bets to try out the site. No deposit bonuses are almost always reserved for new players. You usually have to play through the money you’re given once before you can withdraw it.
• Deposit Bonuses: A sports betting site will match a percentage of your deposit amount on top of the deposit so that you have extra money to play. These percentages are usually around 20 – 25%, but can sometimes be dollar-for-dollar offers. However, deposit bonuses can come with high-multiple playthrough requirements and short timeframes, so make sure to check it out before you say yes.
• Insurance: Sometimes called cashback, insurance bonuses pledge to recoup your net money lost during a period of time or on a certain game. Up to a point, you will receive an amount of site credit equivalent to the amount that you find yourself in the red.
• Rewards programs: These programs are common for all types of gambling, not just sports betting in Iowa. You are usually enrolled automatically at registration, and you receive points for the time and amount that you play. These points are either redeemable for exclusive gear, count towards status tiers with increasing perks, or both.

Live betting is a game-changer

Currently, in-game betting, aka in-play betting, is one of the most popular forms of sports betting. Available bets range from who will score next to what the points spread will be at the end of each quarter.

There are two types of in-game betting: updated bets and proposition bets.

If a bettor places a wager on his or her favorite team to win. Now gameplay has gone against him or her, and it looks like the bettor’s wager may lose. With in-game betting, the player can now hedge the bet by placing a wager on the opposition and reduce the chances of losing the entire bet.

Conversely, when it looks like the team is winning, the bettor can double-down on the wager.

Of course, the odds change as the game progresses.

How to deposit and cash out in Iowa

Signing up for a mobile account is easy either online or in-person. In both cases, customers have to prove their identity and that they are 21 years or older.

Players then can deposit funds at the casino cage after they sign up, or via a range of online and third party methods. Typically, these include:

• ACH e-check
• Casino-branded prepaid card
• Casino cage
• Credit or debit cards
• Neteller
• Online bank transfer
• PayNearMe
• PayPal

Withdrawals are equally simple; however, not all deposit methods are also withdrawal methods. Typically, a check withdrawal will arrive within a few days.

Types of bets accepted at Iowa sportsbooks

There are plenty of ways to bet on the games:

• Parlay Bets: A parlay bet ties together several individual wagers. In a typical parlay, bettors pick the winner of several games taking place on a specific day. It only pays out if all the legs of the wager win. Because the odds will be against the bettor, it means it could result in a large sum of cash. However, if the bettor loses, he or she still had a lot of fun.
• Moneyline Bets: Moneyline bets are the purest form of a wager. The player simply bets on which team will win.
• Total Bets: With a total bet, the winner of the game doesn’t matter. The bet is on the total score of the game. The bookmaker quotes two prices, one for the over and one for the under. Bettors win if they predict the score correctly to be over or under the quoted number.
• Spread Bets: In a spread bet, bettors wager that the gap between one team’s score and their opponents will be more than a quoted number. The favorite is always quoted as a positive number and the underdog as a negative number.
• Round Robin: If a bettor wants to lay several parlay bets at the same time, a round robin is a way to do it. A bettor makes a list of, e.g., eight teams and select maybe three of them to make each parlay bet. The round robin then creates a list of all the combinations of parlays for those three teams. It’s tough to calculate all the odds manually, but modern technology means the website or mobile app will do all the work.
• Teaser Bets: A teaser bet is like a parlay, but the individual elements are restricted to totals bets or spread bets. The trick is that the bettor can adjust the points spread or over/under a certain number of points. This reduces the odds, making the bet easier to win, but the payoff is lower.
• Futures Bets: If bettors want to wager on who will win the next Super Bowl, he or she will want to choose a futures bet. But again, technology means that bettors can bet on many different things. Futures bets can be on who will win a league, or even on how many points a player might score over a season. Each operator offers different varieties.

Betting on the NFL, MLB, college sports and more

Iowa is not home to any major professional sports teams. However, that does not mean that Iowans don’t have their favorites, either in terms of teams or the sports themselves. So, here is a quick rundown on what to expect for betting on different types of sports.

NFL and College Football Betting

Football gets more wagering across the board than any other sport. The NFL’s Super Bowl is the biggest sports betting day of the year, and much of the country is absolutely rabid about the gridiron game. So, naturally, people inside and outside Iowa want to bet on football.

Iowan team loyalty tends to gravitate towards the nearest them. Generally speaking, Iowa has been a traditional stronghold for teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers. However, some Iowans, particularly in the southern portion of the state, have been gravitating toward the Kansas City Chiefs of late.

Meanwhile, the college football teams have extremely loyal fanbases in the state of Iowa. In addition to the rabid fandom at Iowa and Iowa State, there are also pockets of diehard Northern Iowa and Drake fans around the state.

Betting on football is probably the most straightforward sport. The copious amount of points means that it’s not difficult for sportsbooks to set the lines, the spread, or any other type of sports bet.

It is important to bear in mind, though, that Iowa does have a few restrictions on betting college games. Specifically, any college team with a member under the age of 18 is automatically ineligible for wagering. You also cannot make any live bets on college games involving in-state college teams, so plan accordingly.

NBA and College Basketball Betting

As is the case for football, the lack of a professional team in Iowa means that state residents have to find their sports elsewhere. Since the heady days of Michael Jordan, most Iowa inhabitants are happy to be Chicago Bulls fans.

Basketball games also have plenty of scoring, which is conducive to most types of sports bets. Spread bets, moneyline, totals, and even wacky propositions are all standard fare for sportsbooks and basketball games. Because there are fewer players on the court at a time, it is also easier to track and offer statistics on individual players, too.

However, college basketball and March Madness all fall under the heading of limited sports in Iowa. Should any Iowa college basketball team play a prominent game, there will be no options for live bets here, either.

NHL betting

Iowa is not known for its relationship with hockey. Although the state gets plenty of ice each year, the bastions of the sport tend to be farther north. However, Iowa is home to the Iowa Wild, the minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, so there is a connection to the league there. In addition, many Iowans still follow the somewhat-close Chicago Blackhawks, if for no other reason than the team’s tremendous recent success.

Betting on the NHL or any other type of hockey game presents its own set of unique options. Most of these center around the low-scoring aspect of NHL games. Unlike football or basketball, it is not uncommon for hockey games to be decided by only one single goal – and sometimes, that goal is the only score in the entire game.

Since you need a sizable margin of victory to offer spread bets, one of the most common types of sports wagers, sportsbooks had to get creative. So, if you want to bet on NHL games in Iowa, you will undoubtedly encounter the puck line. The puck line sets the spread at a standard 1.5 goals, but then varies the payout ratio more dramatically than a typical spread. So, the puck line is probably best understood as a hybrid bet between spread wagering and moneylines.

Iowa sportsbooks have no problem offering the puck line and other bets on NHL games.

MLB betting

Iowa has had an undeniable connection to baseball since 1989. In that year, the smash hit movie Field of Dreams immortalized Iowa as the wellspring of the spirit of baseball. So profound is the movie’s cultural relevance that the MLB has begun scheduling one regular season game at the movie set, which remains a tourist attraction and a functional baseball field to this day.

Whether this connection translates to a particular affinity for baseball among Iowans is a matter for debate. However, the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs certainly garner their share of fans from the Hawkeye State, and Iowa sports bettors have plenty of ways to bet.

Like hockey, however, baseball is not a game of tremendous scoring. So, sportsbooks use the run line to offer a spread-like option for MLB betting. The run line functions identically to the puck line, with a set 1.5-point spread and varying payouts.

Iowa Sports Betting Law

Iowa passed SF 617 just over a year after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) and paved the way for states to legalize sports betting. The law consists mainly of amendments to the existing gambling statutes. Key features include:

• A 6.75% tax rate on sports betting revenue
• A $75,000 license fee with a $10,000 renewal fee
• Mobile betting allowed, but in-person registration required until 2021
• Up to two skins allowed per licensee
• No prop bets allowed on in-state college teams, but betting on other college games is permitted
• The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is the regulatory agency overseeing the industry

Who is allowed to operate sportsbooks in Iowa?

The law allows existing gambling licensees to apply for a sports betting license. Currently, the IRGC licenses 19 state casinos. Here is an incomplete list of the current casinos and their corresponding sports betting partners:

Casino	City	Operator
Ameristar Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs	Penn National/Kambi
Casino Queen Marquette	Marquette
Catfish Bend Casino	Burlington	PointsBet
Diamond Jo Casino	Dubuque	FanDuel
Diamond Jo Casino - Worth	Northwood	FanDuel
Grand Falls Casino	Larchwood	Betfred
Hard Rock Sioux City	Sioux City	Hard Rock
Harrah's Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs	Caesars
Horseshoe Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs
Isle of Capri	Bettendorf	Caesars
Isle of Capri	Waterloo	Caesars
Lakeside Hotel & Casino	Osceola
Prairie Meadows	Altoona	Caesars
Q Casino	Dubuque
Rhythm City Casino Resort	Davenport	Elite/bet.works
Riverside Casino & Golf Resort	Riverside
Wild Rose Casino & Resort	Clinton	DraftKings
Wild Rose Casino & Resort	Emmetsburg	DraftKings
Wild Rose Casino & Resort	Jefferson	DraftKings

Iowa horse racing

Iowa offers 19 casinos to its residents and visitors. The largest of those, in terms of square footage and overall revenue, is Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona. Prairie Meadows offers patrons horse racing, 1,900 slot machines, a poker room and 13 varieties of table games, all spread over nearly 90,000 square feet of casino space. Customers can wager on live-action races or simulcast.

Off-track betting in Iowa

Additionally, customers can wager on horse racing via the off-track betting (OTB) locations in Iowa.

• Altoona: Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel
• Burlington: Catfish Bend Casino
• Clinton: Mississippi Belle II Riverboat
• Council Bluffs: Harrah’s Casino, Ameristar Casino
• Dubuque: Iowa Greyhound Park, Diamond Jo Casino
• Emmetsburg: Wild Rose Casino & Resorts
• Marquette: Casino Queen
• Osceola: Lakeside Hotel & Casino

Retail Sportsbook Locations in Iowa

Here are the retail sportsbooks located in Iowa. There are no standalone sportsbooks in the state, so each sportsbook is onsite at one of Iowa’s casinos.

The Sportsbook at Ameristar Council Bluffs

Ameristar Council Bluffs is the Iowa property owned and operated by gaming giant Penn National Gaming. The sportsbook features six wagering terminals, ten kiosks, and 50 high-definition televisions for viewing games.

• Address: 2200 River Rd, Council Bluffs, IA, 51501
• Phone number: (712) 328-8888
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat – Sun: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

PointsBet Sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino

Catfish Bend Casino is an independently-operated casino in Burlington. Its sportsbook deal with PointsBet allows the Australian sports betting company to bring its signature product, Points Betting, to Iowans.

• Address: 3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601
• Phone number: (319) 753-2946
• Hours of operation: Daily, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (betting counter opens at noon on weekdays)

FanDuel Sportsbook (Diamond Jo Casino – Worth)

Diamond Jo Casino – Worth is one of two casinos owned and operated in Iowa by Boyd Gaming. FanDuel Sportsbook features five tellers, six video screens, and an entire wall of big-screen televisions for watching the action.

• Address: 777 Diamond Jo Ln, Northwood, IA 50459
• Phone number: (877) 323-5566
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 a.m., Sun: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

BetFred Sports (Grand Falls Casino)

Grand Falls Casino is one of three Iowa properties owned by Elite Casino Resorts. Elite is one of the few gaming companies located exclusively in the Hawkeye State. Its sports betting partner, BetFred, operates the 3,500 square-foot facility in Larchwood.

• Address: 1415 Grand Falls Blvd, Larchwood, IA 51241
• Phone number: (712) 777-7777
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 10 a.m. – midnight, Sat: 8 a.m. – midnight, Sun: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Caesars Sportsbook (Horseshoe Council Bluffs)

Horseshoe Council Bluffs is one of four properties owned and operated by gambling titan Caesars Entertainment and one of two located in Council Bluffs.

• Address: 2701 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
• Phone number: (712) 323-2500
• Hours of operation: Mon – Thu: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Fri: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Caesars Sportsbook (Isle Casino Bettendorf)

Isle Casino Bettendorf is another one of Caesars’ properties in Iowa. So, unsurprisingly, there is a Caesars Sportsbook onsite, with 12 55-inch odds board and 8 65-inch televisions for viewing.

• Address: 1777 Isle Pkwy, Bettendorf, IA 52722
• Phone number: (610) 241-1616
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat – Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Kiosk: Daily 10 a.m. – midnight

Caesars Sportsbook (Isle Casino Waterloo)

Isle Casino Waterloo is the sister property in Iowa to the Isle in Bettendorf and is also part of the Caesars empire. So, the Waterloo location is one of several Caesars retail sportsbooks in Iowa.

• Address: 777 Isle of Capri Blvd, Waterloo, IA 50701
• Phone number: (877) 475-3946
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat – Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Caesars Sportsbook at Lakeside

Lakeside Casino is owned and operated by Affinity Gaming, which is a smaller gaming company that owns and operates a few casinos around the country. Caesars, the Starbucks of sports betting in terms of its number of locations, runs the retail sportsbook here, too.

• Address: 777 Casino Dr, Osceola, IA 50213
• Phone number: (641) 342-9511
• Hours of operation: Thu – Mon: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Tue – Wed: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Caesars Sportsbook at Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows is one of the most fascinating and unique casino properties in the entire US. In addition to being the only horse racino in Iowa, it is also one of the very few casinos to be owned by the county in which it resides.

• Address: 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Altoona, IA 50009
• Phone number: (515) 967-1000
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat – Sun: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

The Q Sportsbook (Q Casino)

The Q Sportsbook is one of the few truly independent sports betting locations in Iowa. The book spreads across 4,200 square feet and features 46 high-definition televisions, a 165-inch video wall, and a bar with 20 beers on tap. Q Casino is also the site of the only greyhound racing track in the state of Iowa

• Address: 1855 Greyhound Park Rd, Dubuque, IA 52001
• Phone number: (800) 373-3647
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Sat – Sun: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Kiosk: 7 a.m. – 3 a.m. daily

The Elite Sportsbook at Rhythm City Casino Resort

Rhythm City Casino Resort is another one of the properties in the portfolio of Elite Casino Resorts. Unsurprisingly, the sportsbook onsite is branded with the parent company’s name. The Elite Sportsbook resides within the Draft Day Sports Lounge and features a 360-degree television screen and 18 other monitors to watch the game.

• Address: 7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807
• Phone number: (563) 328-8000
• Hours of operation: Mon – Fri: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Sat – Sun: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The Elite Sportsbook at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort

Riverside Casino & Golf Resort could well be the crown jewel of the three casinos owned and operated by Elite Casino Resorts. However, its sportsbook onsite is virtually indistinguishable from the one at Rhythm City Casino. It has the exact same name, and the sports bar in which it resides has the same name as the one in Davenport, too. Nevertheless, it’s not a bad place to grab a quick bite and place a quick bet.

• Address: 3184 IA-22, Riverside, IA 52327
• Phone number: (319) 648-1234
• Hours of operation: Daily, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose (Clinton)

The Wild Rose in Clinton is one of three Iowa casinos under the Wild Rose Resorts brand. Needless to say, all three sportsbooks at the Wild Rose locations are branded with the livery of Wild Rose’ strategic partner, DraftKings. The Clinton location features 2 video walls, a 219” television, and a 84” television for viewing events.

• Address: 777 Wild Rose Dr, Clinton, IA 52732
• Phone number: (563) 243-9000
• Hours of operation: Mon – Wed: Closed, Thu & Sun: 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri – Sat: 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose (Emmetsburg)

The Wild Rose Emmetsburg is the smallest of the three, at least in terms of its number of games offered. Similarly, the DraftKings Sportsbook is probably the most casual location of the three in Iowa. For the most part, it’s a sports bar, but you can definitely place a bet.

• Address: 777 Main St, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
• Phone number: (712) 852-3400
• Hours of operation: Thu – Mon: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Tue – Wed: Closed

The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose (Jefferson)

The Wild Rose location in Jefferson seems to have made the most concerted effort to promote sports betting across the property. In addition to the standard televisions and display boards in the sportsbook itself, several other monitors are scattered across the property with both types of presentations. The DraftKings Sportsbook in Jefferson spreads across nearly 6,000 square feet, so you should be quite comfortable relaxing there.

• Address: 777 Wild Rose Rd, Jefferson, IA 50129
• Phone number: (515) 386-7777
• Hours of operation: Mon – Wed: Closed, Thu & Sun: 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri – Sat: 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Iowa Sports Betting History

Needless to say, Iowa’s history with sports betting is not terribly long. After all, no states beside Nevada could offer much in the way of sports betting without running afoul of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA.

However, the whole game changed in 2018 with a US Supreme Court decision. As it happens, things were already underway in the Hawkeye State.

2021

The in-person registration requirement sunsets at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 2020 and allows Iowans and visitors to the state to register entirely online. The disappearance of the requirement corresponds with a 42.7% uptick in activity and nearly $150 million in bets placed in January 2021.

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic intensifies and causes a noticeable slowdown in Iowa sports betting. Casinos shut their doors for two-and-a-half months beginning in March, and Iowa’s in-person requirement prevented both sportsbooks and lawmakers to realize any new sources of income during this period. Sports began to restart in Summer 2020, and so did the sportsbooks. Each month from September onward set a new state record for revenue.

2019

The drive to legalize sports betting in Iowa reaches a fever pitch in May. Gov. Kim Reynolds affixes her signature to SF 617 and renders sports betting a legal concept in the state. The new law contains mostly favorable elements for potential sportsbooks to do business in Iowa, including a reasonable licensing fee and tax rate on revenues. However, the law also requires that sports bettors register in person until the end of 2020, which creates an unnecessary drag on the new industry. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is named the regulator over Iowa sports betting.

2018

Like many states, Iowa attempts to read the writing on the wall regarding the federal ban on sports betting, PASPA. The state of New Jersey had taken its case all the way to the highest court in the land, the US Supreme Court, and early reports from oral arguments indicated the the justices seemed receptive to the state’s case against the government. So, Rep. Jake Highfill proposes a sports betting bill to take effect if PASPA is struck down. The bill does not pass, as the legislative session ends before the PASPA ruling. However, the language of the bill provides a valuable framework for lawmakers to try again in 2019.