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The Iowa Hawkeyes are heading to the Elite Eight after beating Nebraska 77-71 in the South Region semifinal on Thursday night. They will be facing the winner of the Illinois-Houston game.
Iowa was among the very first states to begin regulating sports gambling after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. This paved the way for all U.S. states to begin allowing betting on sports. Iowa also regulates mobile sports wagering.
But the state's regulated industry is not without its restrictions. Alternatives like offshore sportsbooks, prediction markets, daily fantasy sports sites and local bookmakers can accommodate those looking to get around these constraints. Just be mindful that regulators in Iowa will be unable to assist with disputes should they arise unless a sportsbook is explicitly regulated.
Which Websites Are Regulated to Take Bets in Iowa
- BetMGM - Best overall experience
- Caesars - Best rewards program
- bet365 - Best for live streaming
- FanDuel - Best user experience
- Fanatics Sportsbook - Merch rewards
- DraftKings - Best for grading winners
- BetRivers - Best no-frills experience
- theScore Bet - Lots of markets
- Circa Sports - High limits
- Q Sportsbook - Tiered rewards
- DRF Sportsbook - Trusted brand
- Bally Bet - Nice odds boosts
- Sporttrade - Trade wagers
Can I Bet Player Props on College Basketball Games From Iowa?
Iowa law prohibits betting on individual college athlete performance (points, rebounds, assists, etc.). A number of offshore sportsbooks (not all) still allow betting on college player performance.
Can I Open a Betting Account With a Credit Card From Iowa?
Iowa was one of the first states to prohibit credit cards for depositing with state-regulated sportsbooks. The rest of the industry is beginning to follow that trend. A few sportsbooks have even stopped allowing credit card deposits entirely.
Local Iowa bookies even allow customers to gamble on credit.
Age Restrictions
Local bookmakers and offshore sportsbooks allow those 18 and up. Iowa requires all customers to be at least 21 years of age.
Know About the New Tax Rules
Starting in 2026, sportsbooks must: Withhold state tax on large wins (typically $5,000+ and 300x wager. Gamblers will need to keep this in mind when filing their taxes in 2027.
- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com
