Who is this article suitable for? – the betting lover
Simply put, this article is for anyone and everyone who loves to bet. There are so many Iowa residents who are looking for a safe new betting sites USA where they can bet whatever, and whenever, they want to: casino games, sports betting, and poker being some of what they seek.
While only certain areas are legal at the moment, we want to tell you that this article will certainly help clear everything up for you. So, it doesn’t matter to us if you’re a beginner bettor or an experienced player. If you love online gambling in Iowa, you’ll find this article very valuable.
The legal history of sports betting in Iowa – tread carefully
We’re sure all you Iowa residents are aware of some of the situations surrounding legal online gambling in Iowa. It’s been a taboo subject in Iowa for many years, a sector that was never accepted for a long time.
From 1846 to 1972, Iowa online gambling was completely illegal in all forms. You weren’t allowed to place a wager, of any form, on any kind of sports game or casino game. The first major step was taken in 1984 when betting on horse racing was legalized, something that the state was heavily involved in.
The next year, the Iowa Lottery was formed – allowing a low stakes, highly regulated type of gaming in the form of lottery games. However, this was as far as Iowa would go for the foreseeable future.
There were many attempts made to loosen these stringent gambling laws and legalize more forms of online gambling in Iowa. It wasn’t until 2019 that the first major breakthrough was seen when Iowa, alongside many other states, legalized online sports betting. Unfortunately, online gambling in Iowa is still holding solid on its stance on online casinos. Although land-based casinos are plentiful in number, online casino gambling in Iowa is currently illegal.
This was a massive step-change for gambling in Iowa. Many of the biggest sports betting platforms quickly set up their businesses in the Hawkeye State, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars sportsbook.
Editors recommendation – the best sports betting operator in Iowa – DraftKings stays on their throne
When it comes to excellence in sports betting, DraftKings is always a name that’s thrown out there. To be frank, it’s one of the best betting sites with sign-up bonus USA players can join up with.
DraftKings has created an excellent platform for Iowa residents that rivals many of the other fresh-faced sportsbooks that have entered the fray. Just take the signup bonus as an example.
You get a $50 bonus bet with your first deposit, and it doesn’t matter what that first deposit is. It could be $10, it could be $100, and you’ll still get a $50 bonus bet. DraftKings is also infamous for the variety they provide.
They have the best odds on all the top sports you can imagine. From all the popular options such as football, basketball, and baseball, and even more niche sports like water polo and curling!
The odds are so competitive, they’ll rarely drop below 1.3 or 1.2. Along with that, you have some great varied payment options to rely on. The likes of Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, and Paypal are all available as DraftKings payment options. They also have brilliant customer service, offering 24/7 customer email support that is super-responsive.
You also have a detailed FAQ section, which is sure to answer some of the more common issues DraftKings customers face. The DraftKings Iowa platform is an excellent sportsbook that covers all of its bases, and there’s no wonder why it’s considered the gold standard in online gambling Iowa.
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Five tips for a fair and secure gambling experience in Iowa
The most important step you can take in vetting an online gambling Iowa platform, an Illinois sports betting operator, or any other state bookmaker, is to check for the appropriate security measures. There are several different ways you can do this, but first off, you should check who has regulated the platform.
It depends from state to state who the regulatory boards are, but some names will pop up on a federal basis that you can rely on to provide you a secure gambling Iowa experience.
Some examples of secure regulatory boards in Iowa would be the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, and the American Gaming Association.
You also have to make sure the Iowa online gambling website itself is secure. An easy way to do this is to click on the lock beside the URL and scan through the site’s certifications.
A major indicator of the security of the website is that lock. If there is a lock, that means the site should be secure. But, if there is no lock and a warning sign beside the URL, it means the platform is unregistered. In this case, we’d recommend you’d leave the site quickly, and dismiss the gambling platform as unsafe.
Customer support is an essential part of any online casino or sportsbook. This is how an online gambling Iowa platform communicates with its customers, and vice-versa. This relationship has never been more important in this digital age.
The customer service should be comprehensive, and offer secure methods of contact. If they offer several different contact methods, such as email, telephone, and live chat, you can be sure it’s not a scam. We’d also recommend you search for a detailed FAQ section, the best online platforms provide one to deal with common issues that players may have.
Know your terms and conditions
This could be one of the most important tips we give you and for good reason. The best Iowa gambling sites have terms and conditions to their platform that are fair, transparent, and reasonable.
This goes for their terms and conditions across the board: general, bonus terms and conditions, and even payments terms and conditions. A general rule of thumb we like to follow is that the terms and conditions should be fair to both the user and the online platform. If there are unfair terms to the user, it wouldn’t be worth your while signing up to a platform like that.
This is a great indicator of the quality of a site – believe it or not! We know that looking at customer reviews can be somewhat unreliable and you’ll find many biased opinions based on the particular user’s gambling success.
But, looking at customer reviews of gambling Iowa sites as an overall marker, can tell you plenty about a platform. If the majority of reviews are positive, then you know the online platform is a quality gambling site to sign up to.
If customers are raising lots of complaints about withholding withdrawals and unreliable customer service, you should back away. Always take the majority opinion at face value, because the majority of people would have no objective reason to lie about a platform’s overall quality.
What do we look for when evaluating operators for Iowa residents?- Excitement and quality
We take the quality of the best betting sites Iowa has very seriously. Sportsbooks in the state have been legal for a couple of years now, so there’s no excuse for operators who are not delivering the best quality gambling experience.
But, when you get down to the specifics, there are a few different areas we look for in the best Iowa gambling sites. Here’s the rundown of our criteria.
Customer satisfaction
This one is a given, for all the obvious reasons. A customer should never feel like it’s a burden to be gambling in Iowa, particularly with their chosen platform.
For this, we’d focus a lot on customer service, and how an operator will interact with a customer on a day-to-day basis. Are they responsive and efficient? Are they polite and respectful?
Most of all, are there many ways for a user to get in touch with the operator? It doesn’t take much effort for an operator to develop great customer service that can deal with issues quickly and respectfully. And, all the top Iowa online gambling platforms understand this necessity.
Variety
When we talk about variety, we mean variety. In every sense of the word, in every aspect of the operator’s platform. Variety of games and/or sports is of course the first aspect we notice. But, there are also many more different angles you need to look at when looking for variety.
Variety of payment methods, variety of customer service methods, variety of bonuses and promotions, and variety of odds. Customers need something new to fuel their gambling experience. They need to feel as if they’re getting the absolute best online gambling Iowa experience possible. And, that’s why variety is so important to us.
Creativity
This one can be harder to judge because it’s difficult to search for. Nowadays, finding an online platform that can be creative is difficult: because everything has nearly been done at this stage!
But, if an operator can still find a way to be innovative, to provide something completely fresh and new to a platform, we’re all for that. Just look at PointsBet, which offer their own exclusive ‘PointsBetting’ bonus. It’s a bonus that deviates from the original over/under format and puts their little spin on it.
Little creative changes like that go a long way to an operator’s overall quality, and it’s something we will always look out for among the best Iowa online gambling sites.
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Finding the right operator for you – what suits your betting needs?
Here we look at the best Iowa betting sites that may suit different types of player personalities. Who do you liken yourself to?
The High roller
There’s always someone who has to be big. Whether it’s in the current NFL playoffs or just in a big poker game, there are some bettors out there who use online gambling Iowa platforms for the big money bets. They don’t have time for the small bets, they want it all. And, they’ll get it all if they use PointsBet.
PointsBet excels in adding a little flavor to their risk. They have some great value odds available to their customers that usually stretch from 1.5 upwards. Along with their big value jackpots, they also have some great specific bets.
The PointsBetting bet means you can bet on an Over/Under score of a game, and the amount you win or lose depends on the score of the game. Features like this are tailor-made for the risk-taking high bettors.
Nighttime player
Some people just don’t have the time to bet during the day. Whether you’re working throughout the day, or just have a very busy life: the only way you can get your peace of mind is in the wee small hours. We’d recommend Caesars for all-hours betting.
Caesars excels at easing new bettors into a great world of sports betting. Their extensive customer service means you’ll never be stuck for help: they have a 24/7 live-chat so you can get in touch whenever you have any issues. They also have a 24/7 deposit option to make sure nothing stops you from playing late into the night.
Live bettor
Do you need the thrill of live betting? Normal betting just doesn’t do it for you, you need to be betting while the game is unfolding right in front of you. You need to have that adrenaline rush of the split-second decisions, the make-or-break moments. Then BetMGM will be the platform for you.
BetMGM has always been a sportsbook that has been jam-packed full of features. And, their live betting options certainly won’t disappoint in that regard. With live odds that are constantly shifting and updating, you’ll never be left in the dark. They also have some great live streaming that will show you everything you need to see, right as it happens.
Conclusion – A fantastic state for the best sports betting
Iowa online gambling has never looked better than it has right now. The legalization of sports betting two years ago means that some of the best platforms have all set up shop in the state. BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars are some of the great platforms available for you Iowa bettors. These are also leading brands when it comes to sports betting Virginia, and are also among the best Nevada sportsbooks. We believe DraftKings is the best operator in the state, but it completely depends on your tastes.
Follow our five safety tips, and you’ll surely find a great platform in this thriving state.
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Gambling in Iowa FAQ
👑Where can I find the best online casinos in Iowa?
It’s important to know the difference between online sportsbooks and online casinos. Both are online gambling Iowa platforms, and they are both commonly associated with each other. However, there is different legislation for online sportsbooks and online casinos, especially in Iowa. For more information, check out our best Iowa sportsbooks article.
🔋Is the BetMGM Iowa bonus the best online gambling Iowa bonus?
You should have a good knowledge of bonus offers before you sign up for one. There are plenty of different terms and conditions that go into bonus offers that you may not be aware of. Some common terms include a qualifying bet and wagering requirements. For more information about bonuses, check out our review here.
🌙 Is William Hill legal in Iowa?
When it comes to gambling laws in the US, it’s rarely decided at a federal level. Most gambling laws are handled on a state-by-state basis. Some states will be more lenient than other states in regards to online sportsbook and casino legislation. For more information about gambling laws in a specific state, check out our online gambling Iowa article.
