Who should read this guide to Iowa sports betting? - All Iowa sports betting fans
Whether you are an experienced Iowa sportsbook user or completely new to sports betting, Iowa guides at Strafe make for essential reading. We write our best US gambling sites guides with both beginners and experts in mind, meaning that there are nuggets of information for absolutely everyone.
For beginners to Iowa sports betting, we provide essential information on what to look out for when joining Iowa sports betting sites and give you some tips on how to stay safe when using the best betting sites Iowa has available. If you are an expert when it comes to Iowa sports betting you can still benefit from our reviews as we review the very latest newcomers to the Iowa sports betting market.
The legal history of Iowa sports betting - The story of Iowa’s gambling scene
Iowa sports betting has a relatively short history compared to many other states. In fact, IA online sports betting has been legal for the last three years and prior to that it was strictly prohibited in the Hawkeye State.
In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal ban on sports betting was unconstitutional. Around the same time, the first attempts were made to legalize both retail and online sportsbooks in Iowa, and whilst that attempt was unsuccessful, an amended version of the bill successfully passed the following year, making Iowa the 11th US state to make sports betting legal.
A strange clause in the successful bill meant that anyone wishing to open an online IA sports betting account had to travel in-person to a land-based casino in order to open their account. It was not until 2021 that this law was amended so that players could open accounts via IA sports betting websites and apps.
The legislation in Iowa means that players can place bets on a wide range of sports, both professional and collegiate.
Currently, there are 19 sports betting operators in Iowa fully licensed and regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gambling Commission, giving IA sports betting fans a fantastic choice when it comes to wagering online.
In the future, it is expected that more and more Iowa sportsbooks will become available, giving IA sports betting fans even more choice when it comes to where to place their bets.
Our Editor’s recommendation for the best Iowa sportsbook - BetRivers!
Whilst finding the best Iowa sportsbooks ultimately comes down to a personal decision, help is at hand in the form of our Editor’s Recommendation. Our Editor has carefully assessed all of the available IA sportsbooks and we can exclusively reveal that our Editor’s Recommendation for the best IA sportsbooks goes to BetRivers.
The BetRivers brand is extremely popular in many US states and has developed a strong reputation for high quality sports betting. BetRivers is owned by Rush Street Interactive and the operator has partnered with Wild Rose Casino in order to offer legal Iowa online sports betting throughout the state.
Our Editor was greatly impressed by BetRiver’s superb deposit bonus for new customers, which gives players up to $250 in bonus funds and has a wagering requirement of just x1 - significantly lower than the vast majority of other Iowa sportsbooks.
In addition, BetRivers has a very strong loyalty program. The iRush Rewards scheme gives you points every time you place a real money bet. When you reach specified points totals you can exchange your points for free bets, odds boosts and prize draw entries. Whilst the scheme runs in a similar way to many other loyalty programs, iRush Rewards has a superior range of prizes and lower thresholds than many other programs.
The final factor that impressed our Editor was BetRiver’s excellent IA sports betting app. The app is clear, concise and very user-friendly. Markets are clearly displayed, navigation is simple and (should you need it) help is within easy reach.
It all adds up to a fantastic IA sports betting experience and one that is the deserved winner of our Editor’s Recommendation.
Strafe’s top five expert tips - For a secure Iowa sports betting experience
When playing at Iowa sportsbooks it is imperative that you gamble responsibly and have a fair betting experience. You need to know that IA sportsbooks can be trusted with personal information and money. You also need to ensure that your gambling activity is controlled and you do not incur any uncomfortable losses when Iowa sports betting.
With this in mind, our sports betting writers have put together their top five expert tips to help you stay safe whilst Iowa sports betting:
Only use fully licensed operators
It is essential that you only ever use Iowa sportsbooks that are fully regulated and licensed in the state.
The top Iowa sportsbooks have their full regulatory and licensing information available on both their website and app. You can find these important details at the foot of an operator’s homepage or sometimes in their ‘About Us’ section.
Strafe reviews always have full details on the licensing of every operator that we review. Strafe only ever recommends IA sportsbooks that are fully licensed and regulated in Iowa.
Set your wagering limits before you place your first bet
The best betting sites Iowa has to offer provide a safer gambling tool that allows you to set limits on your gambling. These limits restrict the amount of time you spend playing Iowa sportsbooks and the amount of money you wager. Using this safer gambling tool will ensure that you do not incur any uncomfortable losses or develop a gambling addiction. We strongly recommend that you use this tool as soon as you sign up for any Iowa sports betting operator.
Make sure you can access an operator’s customer service options
Some the wording of an IA sports betting bonus can be unclear. Occasionally a withdrawal can be slow to process. And on occasion, you may find an issue with the performance of an IA sportsbook app. When these situations arise you need reliable and fast contact options.
Prior to joining any Iowa sports betting sites, we recommend that you closely explore the operator’s customer service options. This will help give you peace of mind that help is at hand when an issue arises. Do not just look at which options are offered, also check out the opening times for each service. This is especially important if you wager late at night or very early in the morning. Make sure you have an open customer service channel at the time of day you intend to be online.
Fully research each operator
Strafe reviews are the very best place to go for researching the top Iowa sportsbooks and they should always be the starting point for your research. Our expert guides tell you all of the important details about Iowa sports betting operators, such as licensing information, customer service details, range of markets and any pros/cons of the operator.
After reading our guides, you should look at operators’ websites/apps, as well as their social media channels. Looking at social media channels will help you to establish how quickly and efficiently operators reply to customer issues. You can also get an idea of what common issues arise and how they are handled. It all helps you to build a rounded view of each and every operator in the Iowa sports betting market.
Always read the small print
Although it can be a fairly dull task, it is definitely worth going through the terms and conditions of any Iowa sports betting operator you want to sign up with. Likewise, you should always read the small print before committing to any promotional offers. Remember that the terms and conditions of bonus offers are constantly subject to alteration. Areas such as wagering requirements and maximum winnings can often change, so make sure you know the very latest requirements.
The same advice applies to sports betting. Iowa sports betting players need to fully understand the requirements of any bets they place. This will ensure they fully understand what they are betting on and what is required in order to win the bet.
How do Strafe evaluate the best Iowa sportsbooks? - Our criteria
We want to help you find the top Iowa sportsbooks and have a fantastic time using sportsbooks in Iowa. The big question is: how exactly do we look for when we evaluate Iowa sports betting operators?
Here are three key issues that our experts always cover in their reviews:
Website/app usability
You want to be able to find the betting markets you are looking for quickly and easily. A well-designed IA sports betting app is aesthetically appealing, clearly laid out and simple to navigate. Our reviews look at all of these issues, as well as how easy it is to find peripheral options such as account information, customer services, and promotions.
Range of payment options
Traditional payment methods such as credit or debit cards and bank transfer are available at almost every IA sports betting sites, but if you want to use a more modern payment method (such as a virtual currency or a specific eWallet) you may find your choice of operator slightly limited as not all Iowa sports betting companies accept all of these methods. Our expert guides closely look at which payment methods you can use at each IA sports betting site, as well as giving you the lowdown on any associated fees and deposit limits.
Betting markets
Many IA sports betting fans like to bet on major sports and events such as the NFL, NBA and MLB. All Iowa sports betting operators will offer a strong range of markets for these leagues, as well as other major events. But for players who prefer to bet on less popular sports and events (for example esports), you will find that your options are more limited.
When it comes to sports betting odds, you need to look for the best value from IA sportsbooks. To help you in this area, we compare the IA sports betting odds at different sites to discover which Iowa sportsbooks regularly offer the best value.
Top betting providers for May 2023
1.
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
2.
3.
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
4.
5.
How to find the top Iowa sportsbooks for you - Some more tips to find the best Iowa betting sites
You should always read Strafe reviews of Iowa sportsbooks, but ultimately deciding which Iowa sports betting sites to join is a personal decision. There are 19 Iowa sportsbooks to choose from, so finding your perfect Iowa sportsbooks takes time and a lot of thought.
To help you decide, we have put together four key questions to consider when trying to find the best Iowa sports betting sites for your own individual requirements:
Are you an in-play bettor?
In-play betting is a great way of adding fun to your sports watching experience. It can also be a great way to find value in IA sports betting markets and make regular profits. If you are an in-play bettor, we strongly recommend that you join Iowa sportsbooks which have a large range of these markets.
What time of the day do you place bets?
If you place in-play bets on overseas sporting events then you may well place your bets very late at night or very early in the morning. If this is the case, you should carefully check that there are open customer service options at these times. As we have previously mentioned, all IA sportsbooks can have issues, so you need to be able to contact a customer service operator when this happens.
What is your favorite sport/league to bet on?
If you want to bet on less popular sports and minor leagues then you need to carefully consider which sites to join. For instance, esports bettors will discover a huge discrepancy between the range of markets offered at different IA sportsbooks. Your task is to find the Iowa sports betting sites that have the best array of esports betting markets.
How many IA online sports betting sites do you want to join?
If you only want to join one or two Iowa sportsbooks then you should look for operators that have strong rewards programs and/or loyalty schemes. These programs reward you with free bets, odds boosts and other prizes for making regular bets. Many of these loyalty programs are now gamified and you acquire points for regular play that can be converted into prizes at specified intervals. Our reviews outline the merits of each Iowa sports betting loyalty program and explain how you can benefit from them.
Conclusion - Time to enjoy some sports betting in Iowa
Iowa sports betting can be a fun and profitable pastime. But only if you carefully read out guides and stick to our expert advice. This will help you to fully understand how you can bet safely and how you can find your perfect Iowa sportsbooks.
Remember that security needs to be your primary consideration whenever you are online. Only use regulated and licensed operators and always set limits to your sports betting activity. Also make sure you have a long think about your own personal requirements - what do you bet on, when do you bet, etc etc. When you have done this, take a tour of each Iowa sports betting site and app. At this point, you will be in an excellent position to make accurate decisions on which IA sportsbooks to join. Good luck!
Awesome bonus offers
1.
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
2.
5 x $50Bet Credits
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
3.
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Min. Deposit: $10
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
4.
100% up to $500
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
5.
100% up to $100
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Sports betting Iowa FAQ
👁 Are the Strafe expert guides suitable for all IA sportsbook users?
Yes. Regardless of your experience level and knowledge, we think it is well worth your time reading our guides. They contain exclusive information that can lead to you improving your Iowa sports betting experience. Even if you are an experienced player, you can still benefit from our reviews. The list of Iowa sportsbooks is rapidly increasing so reading our guides will give you the very latest information regarding any newcomers to the Iowa sports betting market.
🏆 What is the top Iowa sportsbook for me?
To make an informed verdict on this key issue, you need to consider the areas that are of the most importance to you. Is it the range of markets? Payment methods? Customer service options? Or something else? Strafe reviews detail all of the key areas that will help you pinpoint the top Iowa sportsbooks for you.
🕵️♂️ Is sports betting legal in Iowa?
Yes, as of 2019 Iowa sports betting is completely legal and regulated. So if you live in Iowa and are at least 21 years of age, you can legally join any of the 19 IA sportsbooks currently operating. However, US gambling laws are regularly under review, so please check our reviews for the very latest information on Iowa gambling sites.
