Iowa

From 2019 onward, Iowa has opened its doors to 17 sportsbook operators, which is impressive considering there are no major sports teams within the state. Currently, a total of 12 legal betting apps are available in the state.

Bettors in Iowa have free reign to wager on both professional and collegiate sports, including events that include in-state colleges. Outside those two categories, the ability to wager on horse racing and utilize DFS sites and apps is available. Customers in Iowa are not permitted to bet on politics or entertainment events like the Oscars.

Betting on horsepower: The case for legal tractor pull wagering in Iowa

Tractor pulls are an essential part of Iowa’s rural culture, attracting significant crowds to county fairs and agricultural expos. The thrilling competition, where modified tractors drag weighted sleds down a dirt track, possesses all the elements of a perfect betting market, which are unpredictability, specialized knowledge, and fan engagement. But could it ever become a regulated gambling category?

With the legalization of sports betting in Iowa, expanding wagering markets into unique, localized sports is certainly on the table. Similar to horse racing, tractor pulls involve various factors that could affect odds, including horsepower, track conditions, and driver experience. Enthusiasts are already analyzing engine performance and modifications, creating a niche for expert bettors who could thrive in a legal environment and also creating a group of people qualified to set the lines and prices for betting markets. 

However, there would still be hurdles. Regulating a sport that is closely tied to agricultural communities may encounter opposition. Still, with the right infrastructure, tractor pulls could shift from a small county fair spectacle to an exciting widespread betting frontier—offering Iowa residents or tourists a homegrown gambling market.

Online sports betting in The Hawkeye State

Some states are set up perfectly to hit the ground running once sports betting is legalized, and Iowa was one of those states. With plenty of casinos already in operation throughout the state before the legalization, Iowa immediately welcomed a wide range of big-name mobile sportsbook operators.

When PASPA was overturned in 2018, the state of Iowa had already been working on a bill to get sports betting legal before that ruling from the Supreme Court. Even though they seemed the most prepared to get a bill passed that same year, they were unable to do so. However, shortly after, in May 2019, the state was able to get a bill passed, and by August 2019, both retail and mobile sports betting had gone live.

When Governor Kim Reynolds signed the state’s sports betting bill, one requirement was that all online sportsbooks partner with a land-based casino to obtain a license. Each casino can partner with three online operators, so while there are a little over dozen active mobile sportsbooks already active in the state, there could technically be 57 active at one time on paper.

Currently, there are 12 operators active in Iowa, and that number seems to be consistently changing due to sportsbooks leaving the state or merging with another operator. Regardless, this still allows residents of the Hawkeye State to have a wide selection of mobile betting apps available at all times.

In 2022, the Hawkeye State would pass HF 2497, allowing esports betting to become legal in the state with regulations. The bill also allowed bettors to wager on things like the NFL MVP or other similar awards.

All legal IA sports betting apps in 2025 (from newest to oldest):

Recently closed online sportsbooks

Sports betting & gambling legislation in IA

When sports betting was first legalized in Iowa, bettors who wanted to create a mobile betting account were required to be present at a partner casino. However, that rule expired in 2021, and customers can now create accounts through remote registration. The only guideline is that they must be within state borders.

Once an account has been created, bettors must be at least 21 years old to place a legal wager online or at a retail location. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission enforces all of these rules and regulations.

Regarding taxes for bettors, winnings are subject to a 5% state income tax rate and a 24% federal income tax rate. It is important to note that even if a bettor is not an Iowa resident but received their winnings while within state lines, they are still taxable by the state.

Outside of sports betting, there are plenty of other ways Iowa residents or people passing through the state can get their gambling fix. While online casinos and poker remain illegal in the Hawkeye State, social casinos are still widely available.

Crop Yield Pools: Fantasy Leagues Based on Iowa’s Annual Corn and Soybean Harvests

Iowa’s deep agricultural roots could lead to one of the most unique fantasy league formats yet. Crop Yield Pools are DFS-style contests where players draft counties, co-ops, or even individual farms and compete based on various factors, including real-time corn and soybean harvest data. With in-depth and accurate USDA reporting, satellite analytics, and seasonal forecasts already publicly available, this concept combines entertainment with analytics in a manner that appeals to both bettors and ag enthusiasts.

Players can earn points based on factors such as bushels per acre, harvest speed, or price performance in commodity markets. Themed mini-seasons may align with planting, mid-season growth, and harvest time, maintaining high engagement throughout the entire growing cycle and not just during one season of the year. 

If even a fraction of Iowa’s existing fantasy sports base, approximately 25,000 participants, joined a $5-per-season Crop Yield Pool, that would result in $125,000 in entry fees alone. Taxed like traditional DFS, this could yield around $75,000 in annual revenue for the state. By adding partnerships with ag-tech platforms and getting this market picked up by a major operator in the market, this concept could draw an influx of first-time DFS users.

Betting on the birds: A look at informal wagers on Iowa’s pigeon racing scene

While most eyes in Iowa are on the Hawkeyes or NFL Sunday spreads, a quieter, more unique form of wagering flies under the radar: pigeon racing. Spread across rural communities, passionate breeders train pigeons for speed, distance, and loyalty. Although pigeon racing remains a niche hobby, there are whispers of informal wagers and friendly side bets between breeders.

There are no sportsbook apps, no odds board, just handwritten notes, handshake agreements, and a deep trust in the birds’ instincts. These traditional betting practices offer a glimpse into a different slice of Iowa's gambling culture, one where GPS chips replace sportsbooks and the real action is in the sky, not on a screen.

Most recent updates from the IA sports betting scene

• March 3, 2025: The Iowa Hawkeyes' women's basketball team will enter the postseason at (+4500) to win the Big Ten Tournament and (+7500) to win the National Championship.

• February 3, 2025: After losing to Kansas State, the Iowa State Cyclones are now (+650) to win the Big 12 Regular Season title heading into their matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks.

• January 28, 2025: Iowa State will enter February with the second-best odds to win the Big 12 Regular Season title at (+350).

• January 16, 2025: With a 12-5 record, the Iowa Hawkeyes are (+100) to make the NCAA Tournament.

• January 14, 2025: Entering the middle of January, the Iowa State Cyclones are (+270) to reach the Final Four and (+1200) to win the National Championship.

• December 9, 2024: After losing in the Big 12 Championship game, the Iowa State Cyclones will play Miami in the Pop-Tart Bowl, where they are (+1) point underdogs.

• November 20, 2024: In an effort to halt casino expansion in Iowa, a group called "Iowahans For Common Sense" has launched and created a new petition asking for a moratorium on new casino developments.

• November 5, 2024: Betfred announces that it will no longer accept wagers or deposits in Iowa, as it will cease all operations in the state starting on December 31, 2024. With this move, the number of legal sports betting apps in IA drops from 13 to 12.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Gambling was prevalent in Iowa well before the state’s sports betting law was passed in May 2019. Many casinos had been staples in cities across the Hawkeye State, but once sports betting became legal, they could partner with online sportsbooks to expand their business and reach a wider audience.

With well over a dozen casinos active in the state, online sportsbooks had their fair share of options when it came to finding a retail partner. In terms of consistent success with sports betting revenue production, the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque and the Wild Rose Casinos have been some of the biggest contributors to the state's monthly numbers in terms of handle and revenue.

Could a future “Field of Dreams” Casino exist? Betting on baseball’s most iconic site

Iowa’s Field of Dreams is hallowed ground for baseball fans, a place where nostalgia and cinema collide in a cornfield. But could this iconic site ever become a destination for sports betting and casino gaming? While the idea might seem far-fetched, it wouldn’t be the first time Iowa embraced gambling in unexpected ways.

The basis of the idea would be a baseball-themed casino resort nestled beside the legendary field with blackjack tables, slot machines themed around the movie or baseball, and a sportsbook offering wagers on MLB games. Of course, it would also provide the ability to live bet on a potential MLB game held right at the field, which the league has hosted in the past. 

However, regulatory challenges and concerns about preserving the historic integrity of the Field of Dreams could complicate the idea. Iowa’s gambling laws would need to be adjusted to allow for a casino in such a distinctive location, and die-hard purists might resist the commercialization of baseball’s most sacred site.

Still, with sports betting thriving in Iowa, a casino resort near the Field of Dreams could blend tourism, cinema, gaming, and America’s pastime into a one-of-a-kind experience.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Iowa is surrounded by states that have both retail and mobile betting legal to nothing legal at all. If making a trip over state lines, Iowa residents could end up in a state like Illinois, where there are a ton of sports betting operators and casinos that are active, or they could end up in Minnesota, where local tribes have continued to fight against any sort of sports betting legislation.

By clicking on the respective states down below, you can read more about what each state currently has or doesn’t have to offer when it comes to sports betting.

Sports betting revenue impact on Iowa's economy

The sheer volume of operators and retail locations in Iowa has allowed the state to continually churn out substantial monthly and yearly numbers for handle, revenue, and tax income. Even though the state's betting handle dipped below $200 million for four consecutive months between May and August 2024, with twice below $150 million, the yearly handle is estimated to grow for a sixth year in a row.

In terms of revenue and tax income, Iowa averaged around $16.2 million in sportsbooks' revenue and approx $1.1 million in tax income each month during 2024. The same pace should continue in 2025, especially if the sports betting regulation and legislation don't see any significant or surprising changes.

Regarding licenses and taxes, Iowa is pretty easy on operators compared to other states. The license fee is $45,000, and the tax rate for both online and retail sports betting is 6.75%. Only two states in the U.S. currently have an equal or lower tax rate than Iowa.

Since the state still has plenty of licenses to be applied for at what could be considered a discount for a licensing fee compared to other states, the state gambling market could grow even bigger. With that, Iowa could cement itself as one of the highest-earning states monthly in the post-PASPA era.

Iowa sports betting record months:

1. Sports betting handle: November 2024 ($315,221,241)

2. Revenue: November 2024 ($30,069,720)

3. Tax income: November 2024 ($2,028,995)

Latest IA sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

Reported by the Iowa Gaming and Racing Commission.

• Total betting handle: $216,451,614

  • Mobile betting handle: $203,512,724

  • Retail betting handle: $12,938,890

• Winnings paid to players: $195,178,669

  • Hold: 9.83%

• Gross revenue: $21,272,944

  • Revenue from mobile wagering: $20,918,393

  • Revenue from retail betting: $354,552

• Tax revenue for the state: $1,447,793

The most popular sportsbook apps in the state in February 2025

1. DraftKings (Crown IA Gaming):

   • Handle: $75.2m, Revenue: $7.7m

2. FanDuel (Betfair Interactive US LLC):

   • Handle: $56.2m, Revenue: $7.0m

3. Caesars Sportsbook (American Wagering Inc.):

   • Handle: $20.2m, Revenue: $1.6m

4. BetMGM (BetMGM, LLC):

   • Handle: $15.2m, Revenue: $1.8m

5. Bet365 (Hillside Iowa LLC):

   • Handle: $13.6m, Revenue: $1.1m

6. Fanatics Sportsbook (PointsBet Iowa, LLC):

   • Handle: $9.0m, Revenue: $941,064

7. ESPN Bet (Penn Sports Interactive, LLC.):

   • Handle: $8.1m, Revenue: $517,342

8. Circa Sports (Circa Sports Iowa LLC):

   • Handle: $3.1m, Revenue: $25,962

9. BetRivers (Rush Street Interactive IA, LLC):

   • Handle: $2.1m, Revenue: $103,811

10. Sporttrade (Sporttrade Iowa LLC):

    • Handle: $508,354, Revenue: $55,828

11. Bally Bet (Bally's Management Group, LLC):

    • Handle: $178,743 Revenue: $421

12. Q Sportsbook (Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd):

    • Handle: $111,971 Revenue: $9,859

The current IA mobile sports betting market share - February 2025

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

IA sports betting revenue in 2025

Iowa's sports betting handle, revenue, and the generated tax income are all presented below for 2024. The percentages in the brackets beside the monthly handle and revenue show how these figures change compared to the previous month.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

From cute to cash: Prop betting on Iowa’s livestock fashion shows

If Iowa were to legalize novelty or festival-based prop betting, livestock fashion shows at 4-H fairs could turn into an unexpected money maker for the state’s betting market. These events already attract enormous crowds and follow strict judging, which make perfect conditions for regulated wagering. Bettors could place wagers on “Best Dressed Piglet” or “Most Regal Goat,” fueling betting activity that adds up quickly.

Assuming just 0.05% of Iowa’s $2.7 billion annual sports betting handle came from unique wagers like livestock fashion contests, the state could see an additional $1.3 million in wagers. At Iowa’s 6.75% tax rate, that’s over $85,000 in tax revenue from a single creative and outlandish category. In turn, that revenue could support local agricultural programs or fairground maintenance.