Ever wondered what the legal gambling age is in Iowa? Ever tried to wrap your head around the somewhat vague online gambling laws that are in place in the Hawkeye State? Want clarification? You’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at the current laws relating to online gambling Iowa, how long they’ve remained that way, and how old you have to be to gamble in the state of Iowa. So, if you want answers to questions like “Can I gamble online in Iowa?” then read on!
Native Americans were big fans of horse racing back in the day, and when the Europeans came over and colonized America, they brought gambling over with them. Betting on horse racing quickly became a thing, and has been around for centuries now in the US. But that doesn’t mean that it’s always been legal.
In fact, between 1846 and 1972, all forms of gambling were prohibited in the Hawkeye State. This means that any horse betting that was happening during this period was illegal.
In 1973, once this prohibition of gambling was repealed, the General Assembly went on to authorize games of chance, such as raffles and bingo. In 1983 wagering on horse and greyhound racing was authorized. In 1985 a state lottery was authorized, and in 1994, slot machines were authorized at pari-mutuel racetracks.
As of 2021, gambling in Iowa is still legal, and that means online gambling too, to an extent. In 2019, online sports betting and daily fantasy sports officially became legal and regulated by the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission. However, online casinos are illegal in Iowa, mostly.
If you want to launch an online casino in Iowa, then that is against the law. However, if you are in Iowa and play on an online casino that isn’t based in Iowa, then that is perfectly fine and won’t see you get into any legal trouble.
So, the long and short of it is, sports betting Iowa is allowed, physical casinos are allowed, online casinos are illegal, but if the online casino is based offshore and allows Iowa residents to play on it, then it’s legal. Make sense? Please keep in mind that we always recommend that players use caution when considering using off-shore operators.
Obviously, the main hope for residents of the Hawkeye State is that online casinos will be legalized at some point in the future, meaning that they can play with an Iowa-based online casino, rather than with a casino that is based out of the state, or even out of the country.
No thanks to the Covid pandemic, many physical casinos have had to close or been shut down. This could force the state to consider making online casinos legal so as to save the gambling industry from struggling as much. The longer the pandemic goes on, the more likely it is that this will be discussed, though this isn’t a certainty.
Regardless of current influences, the legal situation around gambling is always in flux, and more changes are sure to occur in the coming years. Whatever happens, we’ll keep you updated here at Betastic. Keep checking back here regularly for all the latest news regarding online gambling Iowa may offer, when any news happens!
As of 2021, online gambling in Iowa is only legal for sports betting, and for an alternative to online casinos which are not legal, you can use social casinos which are free to play. However, there are no laws preventing you from gambling with an online casino that is based out of state. We don’t recommend taking the risk with offshore casinos.
One of the most important things to remember about Iowa online gambling is the age restrictions. Residents of the Hawkeye state can take part in loads of different forms of gambling in Iowa, including betting on sportsbooks, gambling in physical casinos, and playing on offshore-based online casinos, but remember that the gambling legal age in Iowa is 21. This is a little older than the vast majority of states, such as Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, where the legal gambling age is 18, but it’s in keeping with the legal gambling ages in place in states like Nevada and Arizona.
When it comes to sportsbooks, you can wager on pretty much every sport you could think of. If you’re a fan of soccer, American football, baseball, basketball, hockey, or boxing, you’ll be able to bet on them all when using sportsbooks in Iowa.
You can also wager on table and slot games too, though this will have to be done in a physical casino due to the current restrictions. Thankfully, however, there are plenty of physical casinos for you to choose from in Iowa!
When it comes to online gambling in Iowa, there are plenty of Iowa online gambling sites for you to choose from where you can place bets on all your favorite sports.
If you want to play table games or slot games then you’re going to have to go to a physical casino. Unfortunately there are still restrictions when it comes to online gambling in Iowa. Thankfully, as of 2021, there are well over 20 physical casinos dotted around the state, as well as river boat casinos too.
If you do want to play online casino games when online gambling, Iowa, you’ll have to use a site that is based off-shore. Again, we don’t recommend off-shore casinos so please proceed with caution. There aren’t any laws saying you can’t play with out-of-state online casinos, so you won’t get into any legal trouble.
Thankfully, you’ll be able to find the answers here at Betastic. We have dedicated gambling website reviews here, where you’ll find out everything you need to know about Iowa-based gambling websites when the time is right. You could start by taking a look at our Caesars review to see exactly how much we cover! Our reviews are packed with in-depth information about the site’s markets, payment methods, and bonuses, so you’ll be able to come to a decision as to what you think is the state’s best online gambling website for you!
If you’re into sports betting, fantasy sports, and horse racing, then you should be a big fan of what the online gambling world of Iowa has to offer! Though there aren’t any legally operating online casinos in the Hawkeye State, you can still play all your favorite casino games either in physical casinos, or on off-shore sites!
The legal gambling age is a bit older than most other states in the US, and the lack of online casinos is a bit of a let down, but if you want to bet on all your favorite sports via a host of great online sportsbooks, then Iowa is the perfect gambling state for you!
