Hello and welcome, one and all, to our overview of online gambling in Iowa! Here at Betastic, we understand how confusing it can be to wrap your head around the legality of online gambling in US, so we’re here to help!
Online gambling in Iowa is legal – to an extent. Betting on sports, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports online in Iowa is allowed, however gambling on real-money casino sites and online poker is against the law. In today’s article, we’re going to be taking an in-depth look at online gambling in Iowa, and how best to enjoy it!
Who is this article suitable for? Online gambling fans in Iowa
This article is aimed at residents of Iowa who want to learn more about Iowa online gambling sites and the laws governing them. We aim to give residents of the Hawkeye State a better understanding of any restrictions and rules that are in place that are currently affecting their online gambling experiences.
Whatever your gambling experience level is, whether you’re a seasoned betting pro or someone who’s never placed a wager in their life, this article will cater for all!
Read on to learn more about the history of Iowa online gambling and the state laws that have led up to the current situation.
The legal history of sports betting in Iowa – can I gamble online in Iowa?
There were some very strict laws and regulations in place for quite a long time when it came to Iowa online gambling. It wasn’t until quite recently when laws on online gambling in Iowa were lifted, however there are still some rules in place that you’re going to have to adhere to. Online gambling laws in Iowa are very vague, and can be quite confusing to understand properly.
Online sportsbooks were legalized in August 2019, meaning that sports betting Iowa has the green light. You can go and bet on your favorite sports, horse races, or on daily fantasy sports all you like without getting into any legal trouble. However, it’s a different story when it comes to online casino gambling in Iowa.
Online casinos can only be regulated if you’re playing offshore. The Hawkeye State cannot regulate online casinos themselves, but online casino gambling is still possible if the online casino in question is based out of state. However, we always recommend using caution when considering signing on with an offshore site.
Casino fans will have to get their casino fix from playing in some of the physical casinos that can be found in the state. Though this fact may change in the future, as of 2021, it is strictly illegal for online casinos to be in operation and played on in the state of Iowa.
The same goes for online poker too. Under the Iowa gambling laws, online poker in the state is also illegal. Any online gambling site that has poker available in Iowa is likely to be prosecuted.
The legal gambling age in Iowa is 21 too, unlike in some states, such as Idaho and Minnesota, where the legal gambling age is 18.
The gambling laws in Iowa may seem far from straightforward, and the fact that you can gamble with offshore online casino sites when online casinos in Iowa are illegal just adds to the confusion.
We recommend you keep checking back here at Betastic, as we’ll keep you updated with any changes to the gambling laws in Iowa if and when they happen!
Editor’s recommendation – the best sports betting operator for users in Iowa
Now you know the history of online gambling, Iowa, it’s time to take a look at some of the high-quality gambling websites that currently operate in the state!
A sports betting site in Iowa that really caught our eye was FanDuel sportsbook, who operate in numerous states across America, including Iowa, of course. Please feel free to read our honest FanDuel review to find out why we have selected them as our recommended operator.
FanDuel is home to a comprehensive sportsbook that gives players the opportunity to bet on all their favorite sports, including soccer, the NFL, basketball, baseball, boxing, and much, much more!
There’s currently a great FanDuel bonus deal available for new customers too. The bonus in question will see new players receive a risk-free first bet. If their first bet doesn’t come in, FanDuel will provide them with a 100% match on their first wager, up to $1,000. Not only does this take away the disappointment of losing your first bet, it also gives you a second chance too.
Additionally, as FanDuel is based out of state, that means that is perfectly legal for you to play their casino games too! They have a huge catalogue of casino games, including online poker and table games!
FanDuel accepts a wide range of payment methods, including e-wallets and PayPal, and they have impressive customer support services in place too.
As Iowa online gambling sites go, this is definitely one of the better ones out there!
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Five tips for a secure and fair gambling experience in Iowa
We’ve put together some handy tips that will help you stay safe when considering online gambling in Iowa.
Make sure that the website is secure
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using a state-based online gambling site, or you’re playing with an offshore online casino, there’s always a risk that your online data and money could be in danger of being compromised. To avoid something terrible like this happening, make sure that the website you’re using has secure certifications and data protection laws. A website that starts with ‘https://’ and shows a lock beside it is secure, so these are things you should be looking out for.
Read the small print
Yes, we know it’s boring, but we really can’t stress enough how important it is that you take the time to read the terms and conditions section of the site properly. The terms and conditions section is where you’ll find everything you could possibly need to know about the site, the bonuses you’re using, the payment methods you’re depositing and withdrawing funds with, and the answers to any burning questions you may have.
Familiarize yourself with the regulations
It’s well worth ensuring that you are 100% familiar with the rules and regulations that are in place when it comes to online gambling in Iowa. There are certain rules that all Iowa-based sportsbooks have to follow, so if they’re not enforcing them, you know they’re not running a legal operation. One such rule is that the maximum bet that can be wagered online in Iowa is $50. Anywhere that accepts more is worth avoiding.
Ensure that the site is actually fully-licensed!
This may sound obvious, but we really must stress how important it is that you make sure that the online gambling site that you’re using is fully licensed. The last thing you want to do is make an account and start wagering with a site, only to learn it’s unlicensed and operating illegally! Thankfully, finding out whether a site is licensed is an easy thing to do. Information on licensing can usually be found at the bottom of the homepage or in the terms and conditions section of the site.
Read our reviews
Yes, we may be blowing our own trumpet here, but we have good reason to! Here at Betastic, we have some of the best reviews of Iowa online gambling sites on the internet! Our reviews are highly-detailed, in-depth, and will provide you with all the information you need regarding the gambling site that you’re interested in using. We have extensive rankings of all Iowa online gambling sites too, so you know which ones are the best of the best.
What do we look for when evaluating operators for Iowa residents? A sneak peek at the checklist we use
When we’re doing our research regarding online gambing in Iowa, there’s quite a few things that we keep our eye out for. Here’s a few examples of the things we like to tick off on our checklist when reviewing online gambling sites.
Varied payment methods available
The more payment methods available, the better! More payment methods will give customers much more flexibility when it comes to making deposits and/or withdrawing funds. Online gambling sites who offer customers the opportunity to deposit/withdraw with cryptocurrencies and e-wallets will rank higher than those who don’t.
Bonuses and promotions
Bonuses and promotions can enhance your gambling experience even further. We recommend taking a look at the current BetMGM bonus to get an idea of what to look for! It’s always nice to be rewarded for being a loyal customer too, so VIP programs are always a welcome addition to a site. The more bonuses, the higher up in the rankings the site will be!
Variety
An online gambling site that has a lot of variety when it comes to betting markets, sports to wager on, and casino games is always going to appeal to us more than a site that is very samey and repetitive. The more variety there is on a site, the more likely we are to recommend it to you, our readers!
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Finding the right operator for you – there are Iowa online gambling sites for all!
Finding the right operator for you isn’t going to be an easy job, but don’t let that put you off! Here are some questions you should ask yourself when you’re out looking for the best online gambling site in Iowa for you.
Are you a night owl? It may sound like a weird question, but bear with us. What happens if you’re gambling in the early hours, something goes wrong, and customer service isn’t available until the next morning? You’re stuck, and your gambling experience is ruined. To avoid something like this from happening, you need to be looking out for gambling sites who have customer services that operate 24/7!
Do you want to live stream matches? You’ve put a bet on your favorite soccer team, only to learn that the game isn’t on TV. The best gambling sites will have a live streaming option available, meaning you can watch the match, even when it’s unavailable everywhere else!
Do you like to bet big? If so, you’ll be wanting to find a gambling site that doesn’t have many, if any, restrictions in place. The last thing a big bettor wants is to lump money on a game, only to find out that there’s restrictions in place preventing them from winning big!
Conclusion – now you know the gambling laws in Iowa
So, there you have it. You know what the laws regarding online gambling in Iowa are, and you know what sort of sites to avoid, and what ones to check out. Not only that, you also have an extensive checklist to use when you’re next looking for the best Iowa online gambling site around!
We also highly recommend that you keep checking back here at Betastic. We’ll provide you with any updates on the current gambling laws in Iowa, as well as comprehensive reviews, extensive rankings, and site recommendations. Good luck with your future searching!
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Online Gambling Iowa FAQ
🇺🇸 Can I gamble online in Iowa?
Different states in America have different laws regarding online gambling. In our state-specific reviews of the gambling laws in Iowa we take you through whether or not legal online gambling Iowa is a thing, as well as all the other rules and regulations regarding gambling that are currently in place in the state.
🎰 What is the best online gambling site in Iowa?
There are hundreds of online gambling sites to be found that are based in the US. In our reviews we recommend operators that we think you should check out if you want to find the best Iowa gambling sites. Check back here at Betastic for more online gambling site recommendations, reviews, and rankings.
🔒 How do I know if an online gambling site in Iowa is secure?
Ensuring the site you’re using is secure is one of the most important things you should be doing when gambling online in Iowa. We provide helpful guides that take you through the steps to ensure that the site you’re using is safe, secure, and fully licensed.
