Sports Betting Q&A
Frequently asked questions about sports betting

When will sports betting be legal in Iowa?

Last Updated: Jan 13, 2021
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Fact Checked By: Adam Zdroik

Iowa legalized sports betting in May 2019, becoming the 11th state to do so. Sportsbooks officially opened a few months later (August) with online operators also in the mix. Despite being one of the last states that prohibited Daily Fantasy Sports, Iowa made a surprising move to legalize them in the same bill.

At the start of 2021, the law that forced people to register at a physical casino expired. Residents can now download the app and bet from home. Most relevant for betting, in-play prop bets are not allowed on games involving Iowa schools.

While most casinos that are taking part in sports betting have physical sportsbooks, each is allowed two separate mobile sportsbooks in partnership with third-party providers. That's why Wild Rose resorts have retail DraftKings sportsbooks, but they also offer signups to bet online with BetRivers.

Daily Fantasy Sports were legalized in the sports betting bill, so residents have been able to take part since October 2019 when DraftKings officially launched in the state. The interesting part to a sports betting bill passing was that it succeeded on its second try. Iowa had tried to legalize fantasy sports numerous time before, dating back to 2015.

Iowa Sportsbooks

Betfred

Grand Falls Casino, Larchwood

Betfred Sportsbook at Grand Falls encompasses 3,500 square feet with a 32-screen front video wall display, plush chairs, reservable VIP booths and the Sportsbook Bar & Grill. It is Betfred's only physical sportsbook in Iowa, though you also can register to bet online at Riverside Casino and Rhythm City Casino.

Sunday - Thursday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.

BetRivers

BetRivers has a deal with the Wild Rose resorts, but the online sportsbook has yet to launch in Iowa. However, Wild Rose has retail sportsbooks provided by DraftKings.

Caesars Entertainment

Harrah's, Council Bluffs

The Book at Harrah's features a massive video wall with 16 HDTVs, a full-service bar and plenty of casino games.

Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Horseshoe, Council Bluffs

The Book at Horseshoe has HDTVs, thoughtfully-crafted game-day food specials and a wide range of drink selections provided by Whiskey Roadhouse.

Monday - Friday: opens 11 a.m.
Saturday - Sunday: opens 9 a.m.

DraftKings Sportsbook

All three sportsbooks at Wild Rose properties are run by DraftKings, which also offers sports betting online

Wild Rose Casino, Clinton

This DraftKings Sportsbook has 21 TVs (four mega TVs) and two video walls, as well as a full-service bar and restaurant. There are betting kiosks throughout the property that are available 24/7.

Monday - Wednesday: closed
Thursday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Wild Rose Casino, Emmetsburg

Monday, Thursday, Friday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Tuesday - Wednesday: 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Wild Rose Casino, Jefferson

The Jefferson sportsbook has nearly 6,000 square feet of space, 28 TVs, a 200" projector screen and Coaches, a full-service bar and restaurant. Odds boards are also placed throughout the casino at Lucky's Bar and J-Town Cafe.

Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (or end of NFL game)
Friday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. (or end of NFL game)

ELITE Sportsbook

Riverside Casino, Riverside

ELITE Sportsbook is located in the Draft Day Sports Lounge at Riverside, which has a distinctive food menu and full-service bar, as well as HDTVs and an arcade. Bets can be made at Draft Day or at kiosks located around the property.

Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Rhythm City Casino, Davenport

Similar to Riverside, ELITE Sportsbook is located in Draft Day, which includes a 360-degree screen and 18 TVs along with a wide variety of food and drinks. Bets can be made at Draft Day or online after signing up for an account in person.

Monday - Thursday: opens 1 p.m.
Friday: opens 11 a.m.
Saturday - Sunday: opens 9 a.m. 

In partnership with Betfred, the sportsbook at Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood is under the Betfred name, though residents are still able to sign up for online betting through ELITE at that location.

FanDuel Sportsbook

Diamond Jo Casino, Worth

Located between Cashier's Cage and Big Wheel Bar, the FanDuel Sportsbook has three betting windows, 11 self-service kiosks and an entire video wall. Through the partnership with Boyd Gaming (parent company of Diamond Jo), FanDuel also offers online betting.

Monday - Sunday: 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Diamond Jo Casino, Dubuque

The FanDuel Sportsbook offers 2,150 square feet of sports betting with four betting windows, 34 screens, three sports tickers and nine 24/7 self-service kiosks. Food and drinks are provided by nearby The Game Sports Bar.

Monday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Tuesday - Wednesday, Friday: 12:00 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Hard Rock Online

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Sioux City

Through a partnership with technology company Gaming Innovation Group, Hard Rock has its own sportsbook and online betting system. The sportsbook at the casino has 400 square feet of space for sports betting with four windows available to place action. Following registration in person, bets can be made online at the Hard Rock Sportsbook.

Monday - Friday: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

PointsBet

Catfish Bend Casino, Burlington

The PointsBet Sportsbook boasts the largest TV in Iowa at 163", which is one of 37 TV screens and eight odds displays, as well as a bar and lounge seating. This was the first retail sportsbook for PointsBet, an Australian-based company with a mostly online presence.

Q Sportsbook

Q Casino and Hotel, Dubuque

Powered by IGT, the local casino has its own retail sportsbook in addition to its own mobile betting app. The sportsbook features a 4,200-square-foot area with 47 TVs, a huge video wall, betting kiosks and the Q Sports Bar which has 20 beers on tap. The newly renovated bar also has access to high-speed internet and USB charging points.

Monday - Tuesday: closed
Wednesday - Sunday: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Unibet Sportsbook

Unibet still needs to receive its license for online sports betting in Iowa, but it has a partnership through two Caesars casinos, Harrah's and Horseshoe. There is no firm date for this to happen and it's possible it won't be until 2021.

William Hill

William Hill Sportsbook has the biggest footprint in Iowa, at least in terms of physical sportsbooks.

Isle Casino, Bettendorf

The Bettendorf casino supports 12 HDTVs, eight more screens showing live games and is next door to the Lone Wolf Bar.

Monday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Isle Casino, Waterloo

This sportsbook contains eight odds boards, 15 viewing screens, betting windows and numerous self-serve kiosks.

Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Lakeside Casino, Osceola

The William Hill Sports Book features two 86" 4k TVs and 14 more 65" TVs to go with enough seating to catch the action. 

Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Prairie Meadows, Altoona

The William Hill Sports Book offers more than 50 HDTVs with 20 dedicated to sports content as well as a 16-monitor video wall. 

Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Retail-Only Sportsbooks

Ameristar Casino, Council Bluffs

The Sportsbook at Ameristar is the lone retail sportsbook that doesn't offer online sports betting, though that's likely to change in the near future. Owned by Penn National Gaming, the Ameristar sportsbook is power by Kambi.

The physical sportsbook is located inside Ameristar Bar featuring 50 HDTVs, six wagering terminals, 10 betting kiosks and comfortable seating.

Monday - Sunday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

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Yes. Tennessee sports betting was legalized in 2019 and launched in 2020.
Yes. Sports betting is legal in North Carolina, but it will be fully operational on March 11, 2024, with pre-registration beginning on March 1, 2024.
Pennsylvania passed legislation to allow sports betting in 2017 and sportsbooks began taking bets in 2019.
Yes. Indiana passed a bill to allow sports betting in 2019 and wagering started in October with online betting opening a couple months later.
Yes, sports betting is legal in the state of Ohio.
Yes. Sports betting is legal and regulated in Arizona as of football season in 2021.
Yes. Pennsylvania passed legislation to allow sports betting in 2017 and sportsbooks began taking bets in 2019.
Yes. Michigan passed legislation to allow sports betting in December 2019 and the first physical sportsbooks opened in March 2020.
Yes, sports betting is live in Massachusetts.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Maryland. It launched on November 23, 2022.
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Yes. Sports betting is legal in Virginia and residents began betting via FanDuel in January 2021.
NFL Week 1 odds came out on all the best sportsbooks following the release of the 2024-25 NFL schedule in May.
Yes. Colorado legalized in-person and mobile sports betting in November 2019.
Yes. New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize sports betting and online wagering after the 2018 Supreme Court decision.
Yes, FanDuel pays out real money. Whether you use the DFS portion of the website, sportsbook, or online casino, you will be paid out in real money.
Yes. Illinois passed sports betting legislature in 2019 and launched at legal sportsbooks in March 2020.
Yes. Sports betting can be a career if you make it your full-time job and put in the hours.
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