Ever since 2019, Iowans have been able to enjoy legalized sports betting both online and in-person. As the eleventh state to legalize the activity, Iowa has seen rapid expansion of its sports betting infrastructure. In fact, several mobile apps have already taken the state’s digital sphere by storm. Below we’ll take a look at Iowa’s online mobile sportsbook options in more detail.
The Top Online Sports Betting Apps In Iowa
Ever since Iowa legalized online sports betting, a number of mobile sportsbook apps have popped up to take advantage of the newfound market. The below apps are easily the top two choices.
DraftKings Sports Betting App
Download Size
The DraftKings app doesn’t take up too much space on your mobile device, although it’s one of the larger sportsbook apps around. It requires 254.8 MB for iOS devices and 85.6 MB for Android devices.
What Sports Can You Bet On?
DraftKings is arguably the “king” of online sportsbook apps. To that end, it allows you to bet on practically any major professional sporting event you can imagine, as well as collegiate events for basketball, football, and more. eSports bets are also available, alongside international sports and racing events.
Interesting Features
This mobile sportsbook is a phenomenal choice in part because of the unique betting pools that pop up every day. In short, you gain access to exclusive betting opportunities through the mobile app that you can’t access on the desktop interface. Furthermore, DraftKings allows you to cash out your bet early in order to preserve your winnings or avoid the unexpected sudden loss of your winnings.
Recent Updates
This sportsbook app is updated quite frequently (usually once a month and sometimes several times a month). Its most recent update, in May 2020, emphasized improvements for general app performance and bug removal. Earlier updates improved betting features and login aspects.
PointsBet Sports Betting App
Download Size
This sports betting app only takes up 65.9 MB for iPhone devices and 13 MB for Android devices, making it one of the smaller mobile sportsbooks out there.
What Sports Can You Bet On?
PointsBet provides a plethora of sports betting opportunities for most major leagues and sports, including football, baseball, basketball, and more. It also provides some international sports betting activities and leagues.
Interesting Features
Easily the most interesting feature about the PointsBet app is its signature “Points Bet”, which allows you to use your winnings on spread bets. You can wager different amounts depending on the distance from the published spread, so it’s a great app if you already like making spread bets.
Recent Updates
PointsBet’s most recent update added special “Parlay Boosters” that let you enjoy improved odds on special parlay bets, as well as making PayPal deposits (for customers in Indiana). Updates come around once every month in general.
What Devices Work With Iowa’s Online Sports Betting Apps?
You’ll be able to bet with online sportsbook apps in Iowa using either iOS or Android devices. If you’re using an Android device, you’ll want it to be updated to at least Android 5 Marshmallow or greater in order to ensure compatibility. This is because downloading the files to install the sportsbooks requires a modern OS to ensure graphical compatibility and smooth performance.
For iOS phones, you’ll want to make sure that your Apple device is a fifth generation iPhone or newer. Again, this makes sure that your phone will be able to handle the graphics/interface specifics of a given sportsbook app and will allow you to take advantage of any live stream features included in the app.
The Desktop Experience Versus The App Experience At Iowa’s Mobile Sport Betting Apps
Mobile online sportsbooks are usually paired with desktop counterparts, meaning you’ll be able to use the same sports betting service with either a regular computer or mobile device. These interfaces are usually pretty similar, with only a few differences due to the screen sizes between both types of devices.
However, sometimes one is better than the other. In the case of DraftKings, the mobile sportsbook app is arguably a better choice even though its desktop experience is also good. That’s because the app provides special betting pools via a unique tab at the top of the mobile app screen. You can’t access these pools through the desktop interface.
Of course, many mobile apps don’t have enough space on the screen to make navigating through different pages as smooth as their desktop competitors. But this isn’t such a big problem as long as the app has an intuitive interface, as is the case with PointsBet’s mobile sportsbook.
As its developers already have plenty of experience in the Australian market, the mobile sportsbook app from PointsBet is pretty smooth to use and incredibly user friendly. You’ll get the full range of betting options from the PointsBet website.
The home page only shows the most popular games that are happening in the near future, but this is not an uncommon layout for the industry. Nevertheless, you can easily access the full list of sports from the menu at the bottom of the page.
Overall, desktop online sportsbooks are better for:
- Control and more screen size
- Live streaming capabilities if the sportsbook offers it in the first place
- A larger betting slip that may not get in the way of your main screen
Mobile sportsbook apps are better for:
- Placing sports bets while on the go or at work
- Periodically checking on wagers you made earlier in the day
- Short-term wagering opportunities offered throughout game day
- Special betting pools that are exclusive to mobile apps
Overall, both of the top Iowa online sportsbook apps provide high-quality mobile experiences that we’d recommend you try out.
How To Download Online Sportsbooks On Your iOS Device In Iowa
Downloading a mobile sportsbook on your iOS device is a swift and easy process.
- Simply head to iTunes or the App Store on your iOS device.
- Type the name of the mobile sportsbook you want to play into the search bar.
- Click “Download”, and download and installation should begin automatically
How To Download Online Sportsbooks On Your Android Device In Iowa
Android users have a few extra steps. That’s because Google, the parent company of Android, doesn’t allow real money gambling apps in the Google Play Store. Instead, you’ll need to download your online sportsbook of choice using the operator’s primary website.
- Head to your choice sportsbook’s website (i.e. PointsBet.com).
- Locate a button or menu option that says something like “Download for Android”.
- Click the “Download” or “Get” button.
- This will begin downloading a file, although you’ll be prompted to allow the site access to your phone.
- Click “Ok” or, if necessary, go to your Settings and give the site access your phone.
- After allowing access, a .apk file will be downloaded to your phone and installation will begin automatically.
How To Register For An Online Sport Betting App In Iowa
Registering for an online sportsbook app in Iowa is fairly simple, although it requires an in-person registration step that most other states don’t.
Let’s use PointsBet as an example.
- First, create an account on the PointsBet website or mobile app.
- This will involve providing some basic information like your name, address, the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) and driver’s license or US ID number.
- You’ll also need to provide your date of birth so the sportsbook can verify that you are of legal age.
- After all this, you’ll be prompted to visit one of the in-state casinos partnered with PointsBet to complete your registration. For PointsBet, you’d need to head to the Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington, Iowa, where they will verify your identity and complete your registration process in-person.
- They’ll have you download a geolocation app to ensure that you’re only using the app within Iowa borders.
- After all this, you can fund your account using debit cards or a variety of other accepted payment options.
The extra in-person step is required by law in Iowa. All the sports betting apps have to be partnered with brick-and-mortar casinos within the state, so you may want to pick an app with a partner casino that’s within driving distance.
Standard Bonuses At Iowa’s Legal Online Sports Betting Apps
Mobile sportsbooks in Iowa and other legal states provide opening bonuses to draw in new players.
No Deposit Bonus/Free Bets
These bonuses provide a small amount of in site credit in the form of “free bets” without having you to make a deposit beforehand. DraftKings, for example, provides a $25 no deposit bonus, so you get up to $25 in free bets to test out its interface and betting options.
What Are The Typical Bonus Sizes?
Most of these bonuses are pretty small, usually between $10 and $30. This is to motivate you to deposit more cash to try out the app for yourself.
What Are Key Terms And Conditions To Be Aware Of?
The only thing to be aware of here is that the majority of free bet bonuses have expiration dates. So you’ll need to try out the app within a few weeks to a month after creating your account to take advantage.
Risk-Free Bets
As the name suggests, risk-free bets allow you to make wagers without fully risking your initially deposited sum. This comes in the form of refunded site credit if your first wager is a loss. For instance, PointsBet provides a $200 value in risk-free bets when you sign up and make a deposit.
What Are the Typical Bonus Sizes?
These bonuses are usually up to a few hundred dollars in total. However, the refunded site credit is also usually divided into several bets instead of given a lump sum that you can use for a single big bet.
What Are Key Terms And Conditions To Be Aware Of?
Aside from the above caveat, you should also be aware that you can’t withdraw this refund and can’t withdraw any winnings until you play through the site credit a few times. Furthermore, most operators don’t give you the refund if you win your first bet, so it’s really only valuable if you’re unlucky.
Deposit Match Bonus
A deposit match bonus is a pledge by the operator to “match” your initial deposit up to a certain amount. DraftKings provides a $500 deposit match bonus, so if you deposit $500 of your own money into your account it’ll also give you an additional $500 in site credit.
What Are The Typical Bonus Sizes?
These bonuses can be anywhere from $200-$500 or even more. It depends on the operator.
What Are Key Terms And Conditions To Be Aware Of?
As with the risk-free bets, this site credit is often dispersed among several small bets instead of being provided in a lump sum. Furthermore, you won’t be able to withdraw any winnings from the deposit match until you play through it a few times.
Ways To Bet At Iowa’s Online Sports Betting Apps
Moneyline Bets
Moneyline bets are some of the most common because they’re basic. It’s simply a bet on which team will win a game. Both DraftKings and PointsBet offer these staple wagers.
Proposition (Prop) Bets
Proposition bets, or props for short, will have you bet on various events that might take place during a game but won’t necessarily affect the overall outcome. DraftKings, for example, will let you bet on whether a particular player will make a touchdown or score a goal regardless of whether that goal leads to an ultimate victory.
Parlay Bets
Parlay bets have you bet on multiple games in a row, and you only win if you get multiple wagers correct in succession. A good example is betting on whether a given team will win the next five games in the season. Virtually all mobile sportsbooks provide parlay bets. PointsBet lets you put together a maximum of 12 selections or legs for a single wager.
Other Unique Wager Types
There are tons of other wager types you can enjoy using Iowa mobile sportsbooks. The most unique of these is certainly the “Points Betting” type from PointsBet. You make spread bets using the app but have the opportunity to win a lot more money based on how many points you wager correctly. DraftKings also has a selection of very specific bets through a “Pools” tab.
Does Iowa Offer Legal Online Casino Or Poker Apps?
At this time, Iowa has only legalized online sports betting. Neither real money online casinos nor online poker are legal yet. This said, you can still take advantage of sweepstakes websites like Chumba Casino or Global Poker.
Legal Online Sports Betting Apps In Iowa: FAQ
What is the age you need to be to use a legal online sportsbook in Iowa?
You must be 21-years-old or older, as is the case for most other states in the country.
Can iPhones be used to play on Iowa’s online sports betting apps?
Yes. We’d recommend using an iPhone 5 or higher to ensure adequate processing speed and compatibility withe the apps.
Are there any legal online sports betting apps in Iowa from the Google Play Store?
No. Google Play Store does not allow real money gambling apps.
Who is in charge of regulating legal online sports betting apps in Iowa?
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission handles online sports betting regulation.
Is DraftKings’ online sportsbook an option in Iowa?
Yes. You can play on both its sportsbook app and its daily fantasy sports offerings.
Can you use credit cards to fund Iowa mobile sports betting apps?
Yes. You can deposit using credit cards along with debit cards, internet payment options, and in-person cash at counter transactions at partnered brick-and-mortar casinos.