Amelia Walker, a J.D. holder and senior content writer at Betting.us, is a legal expert in responsible gambling. Initially skeptical, she now has over six years in professional gambling. She’s studied gambling law and currently educates gamblers on our site in legal and safe play.
Sports Betting Locations in Iowa
By Amelia Walker
Senior Content Writer at Betting.us
Updated: December 14, 2023
Iowa legalized sports betting in 2019, with the first wagers being placed in August of that year. Since then, retail sports betting has exploded in popularity, and prospects for growth look bright. Read on to find out more about the history of sports betting in Iowa and how you can get involved!
Map of Retail Sports Betting in Iowa
Wtih a range of locations to pick from in-state, it can be hard to pick a retail sportsbook that fits your needs. It is still crucial to compare your offers before visiting a sportsbook. To make the process simpler for you, our team have compiled all the legal retail sports betting locations in Iowa, whether it's in Des Moines or elsewhere, for you to refer to below.
Our Recommended Iowa Betting Locations
| Name | Type | Website | Full Address | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isle Bettendorf | Casino Resort | www.islebettendorf.com | 1777 Isle Pkwy, Bettendorf, IA 52722, USA | Read Review |
| Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo | Casino Resort | www.islewaterloo.com | 777 Isle of Capri Blvd, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA | Read Review |
| Lakeside Hotel Casino | Casino Resort | www.lakesidehotelcasino.com | 777 Casino Drive, Osceola, IA 50213, USA | Read Review |
Types of Retail Sports Betting Locations
Iowa became the 11th state in the union to legalize sports betting and boasts several sportsbooks you can visit to start making wagers on your favorite games. There are several land based casinos and retail sportsbooks available to sports gamblers.
Casino Resorts
Iowa boasts various casino resorts within the state, many of which are excellently outfitted entertainment venues with a wide range of activities and amenities on offer. Some of the popular casino resorts include Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, Rhythm City Casino Resort, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort and Winna Vegas Casino Resort.
| Casino Resorts | Number of Rooms | Free Parking | Resort Amenities | Review link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Rose Casino & Resorts | 60 | Free Parking | Swimming pools, Restaurants | Read Review |
| Lakeside Hotel & Casino | 210 | Free Parking | Self-parking, Pet-friendly rooms | Read Review |
| Isle Casino Hotel - Bettendorf | 576 | Free Parking | Pools, Conference facilities | Read Review |
| Isle Casino Hotel - Waterloo | 222 | Free Parking | Restaurants, Meeting room | Read Review |
| Harrah's | 262 | Free Parking | Business centre, Pet-friendly rooms | Read Review |
| Ameristar Casino & Hotel | 240 | Free Parking | Fitness, Sauna | Read Review |
Racetracks
Iowa has several famous racetracks, with Prairie Meadows being the most notable. The racetracks offer various races including thoroughbred, quarterhorse, popular in Prairie Meadows. Other facilities have also installed simulcast racing, allowing them to offer greyhound and harness racing.
| Racetracks | Types of Racing | Review link |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino |
Thoroughbred
,
Standardbred
|
Read Review |
| Q Casino |
Thoroughbred
,
Standardbred
|
Read Review |
Off-Track Betting
Those seeking off-track horse betting experiences can play with various racebooks in locations including Altoona, Emmetsburg, Burlington, Osceola, Clinton, Fort Madison, Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Sioux City. Please bear in mind you have to be over 21 in order to place a wager.
- Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino
- Wild Rose Casino & Resort
- Harrah's
- Ameristar Casino & Hotel
- Horseshoe Council Bluffs
- Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino
- Diamond Jo Casino
- Rhythm Room
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Wild Rose - Emmetsburg
- Catfish Bend Casino
Riverboats
Iowa has historically been a pioneer in riverboat casino gambling and among the top destinations for such experiences. Riverboat gambling is prevalent in the eastern and western regions of the state, with locations such as Council Bluffs, Winna Vegas Casino Resort and Argosy offering the most reputable experiences.
List of Legal Offline Sportsbooks in Iowa
With 38 locations spread throughout the state where you can legally bet on sports, we think all Iowans are spoiled for choice. To help you decide, we have made a list of all the offline sportsbooks in the state, separated by city to help you find the locations near you.
Search for Sportsbooks in Iowa
| Casino Name: | Address: | Secure Link: | City: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bettendorf | |||
| Isle Bettendorf | 1777 Isle Pkwy, Bettendorf, IA 52722, USA | ||
| Davenport | |||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Davenport | 4860 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA 52807, USA | ||
| Rhythm City Casino Resort | 7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Muscatine | 2608 2nd Ave, Muscatine, IA 52761, USA | Davenport | |
| Catfish Bend | 3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601, USA | ||
| FunCity Resort | 3001 Winegard Dr, Burlington, IA 52601, USA | ||
| Catfish Bend Casino | 3001 Winegard Dr | Our review will be available soon! | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Clinton | 2900 S 25th St, Clinton, IA 52732, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Coralville | 2500 Corridor Way Suite 1, Coralville, IA 52241, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Iowa City | 201 S Clinton St #120, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA | ||
| Riverside Casino & Golf Resort | 3184 IA-22, Riverside, IA 52327, USA | ||
| Des Moines | |||
| Buffalo Wild Wings SE, Des Moines | 3311 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings West Des Moines | 6925 S Jordan Creek Pkwy #115, Des Moines, IA 50266, USA | ||
| Prairie Meadows | 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Altoona, IA 50009, USA | Des Moines | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Merle Hay | 4345 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA | ||
| Wild Rose Casino and Resort | 777 Wild Rose Dr, Clinton, IA 52732, USA | ||
| Ameristar Council Bluffs | 2200 River Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51501, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Council Bluffs | 3701 Metro Dr. Suite 100, Council Bluffs, IA 51501, USA | ||
| Harrah's Council Bluffs | 1 Harrah's Blvd, Council Bluffs, IA 51501, USA | ||
| Horseshoe Council Bluffs | 2701 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Ames | 400 S Duff Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Ankeny | 1690 SE Delaware Ave #117, Ankeny, IA 50021, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Fort Dodge | 2909 5th Ave S, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Sioux City | 5001 Sergeant Rd Suite 355, Sioux City, IA 51106, USA | ||
| Hard Rock Hotel and Casino | 111 3rd St, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA | ||
| Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort | 1415 Grand Falls Blvd, Larchwood, IA 51241, USA | ||
| Lakeside Hotel Casino | 777 Casino Drive, Osceola, IA 50213, USA | ||
| Wild Rose Casino & Resort | 777 Main St, Emmetsburg, IA 50536, USA | ||
| Wild Rose Casino & Resort, Jefferson, IA | 777 Wild Rose Rd, Jefferson, IA 50129, USA | ||
| Dubuque | |||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Dubuque | 2805 NW Arterial, Dubuque, IA 52002, USA | ||
| Diamond Jo Casino | 301 Bell Street, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA | ||
| Q Casino and Hotel | 1855 Greyhound Park Rd, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA | Dubuque | |
| Iowa Greyhound Park | Our review will be available soon! | ||
| Waterloo | |||
| Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo | 777 Isle of Capri Blvd, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Blairs Ferry, Cedar Rapids | 1100 Blairs Ferry Rd NE #101, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Cedar Rapids | 2020 Edgewood Rd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Cedar Falls | 6406 University Ave, Cedar Falls, IA 50613, USA | ||
| Buffalo Wild Wings Mason City | 4175 4th St SW, Mason City, IA 50401, USA | ||
| Diamond Jo Worth | 777 Diamond Jo Ln, Northwood, IA 50459, USA | ||
History of Sports Betting in Iowa
Iowa has a strong gambling history, boasting 19 land-based casinos prior to striking down of PASPA in 2018. The state also has a lottery and legal horse racing. Below is a timeline of the state's recent relationship to sports betting, whether it's in relation to mobile sports betting in Iowa or otherwise.
| Year | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Parimutuel Wagering and State Lottery Become Legal | 1983 was the year Iowa had the first signs of sports betting when the state legalized parimutuel betting on horse and greyhound racing. It was this first step that persuaded the state legislature to allow other types of races and in 1989, Iowa legalized simulcast racing. Iowa also introduced their state lottery in 1985, which is much later than most places in the nation. The lottery immediately resulted in tremendous revenue for the state, paving the way for inter-state lottery games such as Powerball. |
| 1991 | Licensing for All Casinos | Parimutuel wagering and state lotteries were the only offers available in Iowa until 1991 when the state passed laws that required the licensing of all casinos. This law allowed individual Iowa counties to decide on how the state’s future casinos would shape up and opened the market for the 19 casinos available today. Every new casino would be licensed under the Iowa Racing and Gambling Commission, which oversees all gambling activity in the state. |
| 2012 | All Online Gambling Bills Fail | Fans of sports betting in Iowa went through a difficult time in 2012 and 2013 after various bills to legalize online gambling were turned down. There were negotiations with Indian tribes, but the process did not result in any difference. Iowa would still be bound by PASPA until 2018. |
| 2019 | Sports Betting Legalized | After PASPA was struck down in 2018, many states moved to legalize sports betting. Iowa became the 11th state to legalize sports betting in May 2019. This went live in August 2019, allowing various organizations to apply for sportsbook operator licensed. |
About Iowa
The state of Iowa lies in the Midwestern part of the US, nestled between Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Iowa boasts vast cornfields, rolling plains and the iconic gold-domed state-building completed back in the 19th century.
| Capital | Des Moines |
|---|---|
| Largest City | Des Moines |
| Population | 3,123,899 |
| Area | 145,743 km² |
| Time zone | USA (GMT-5) |
| State Nickname(s) | The Hawkeye State |
| Motto | Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain |
Helping Hand for Players in Iowa
Just as with any activity, there comes a point when a hobby can become a problem. If you or somebody you know is affected by problem gambling, please know you can turn to these free and confidential resources below for help.
Help for Problem Gambling in Iowa
- LiveChat, (855) 895-8398
- Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel, 1504 305th St, Tama, IA 52339, United States, +1 800-728-4263 www.meskwaki.com
Lawyers for Betting Cases
- Peter W Berger 7109 Hickman Road Urbandale, IA 50322, Phone: 515-288-8888www.peterbergerlaw.com
FAQ
Is there a list of every retail sportsbook in Iowa?
Our team have made a list ofphysical locations you can bet on sports in Iowa for your convenience. With so many venues available, there's a lot on offer for you to check out.
What type of sports betting locations are there in Iowa?
Iowa has many fantastic retail sportsbookslocated around its famous racetracks and casinos. In addition, several sports bars also allow on-premises sports betting. We've written more on the various retail sports betting locations in the state elsewhere in this article.
How much revenue does betting generate in Iowa?
To date, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reports that sports betting revenue in the post-PASPA era is roughyl half a billion US dollars and rising. Read more about Iowa and sports betting above.
What is the history of sports betting in the state of Iowa?
Iowa has a long history of betting, and with the latest developments post-PASPA, growth prospects for legal sports betting look strong. If you're interest in the history of sports betting in Iowa, take a look at our timeline of events above.