Online Gambling in Iowa - Casino & Sports Betting

Iowa, ‘The Hawkeye State’ is known for sliced bread, one of the largest state fairs in the United States, and their chief export, corn. This Mid-Western state was originally home to the indegenous Sauk tribe. As a matter of fact, the tribe leader, chief Blackhawk, is where the state nickname derives. The indigenous origins of the state have also had an influence on legal sports gambling in the eyes of the Iowa Gaming Association. Iowa is one of the more tightly regulated gaming states. Our goal at CasinoRange is to give our readers the most current information on Iowa gaming options, so you won’t be left ‘knee high by the Fourth’ because you didn’t follow Iowa’s gaming laws.

Iowa features a diverse gambling landscape with statutory authorization for most gaming forms—including riverboat/tribal casinos, advanced sports betting, racetrack wagering, lottery, and charitable games—regulated under Chapter 99F of the Iowa Code.

Online Casinos

Iowa does not authorize real-money online casino gaming. The Iowa Code has not been amended to permit slots, roulette, or table games to be offered remotely.

• Status: Illegal
• Date of Authorization: N/A
• Law: N/A
• Official Link: N/A
  

Online Sports Betting

Online (advance-deposit) sports betting was fully authorized under Iowa Code Chapter 99F, following legislation passed in May 2019. Retail sportsbooks began in August 2019, and statewide online play launched in January 2021 under Chapter 99F and Administrative Code 491 — 13.2/13.5.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: May 2019 (online expanded Jan 2021)
• Law: Chapter 99F – Gambling Games and Sports Wagering Regulation
• Official Link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/99F.pdf
  

Physical Casinos

This includes licensed riverboat casinos, tribal casinos on sovereign lands, and excursion gambling boats—enabled under the same Chapter 99F which governs gambling structures and licensing.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 1994 (riverboats) / ongoing updates
• Law: Chapter 99F – Gambling Games and Sports Wagering Regulation
• Official Link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/99F.pdf
  

Horse Racing

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound racing was authorized in 1985, integrated under Chapter 99F, and includes licensing for racetracks, trackside wagering facilities, and betting on live and simulcast races.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 1985 / codified under Chapter 99F
• Law: Chapter 99F – Gambling Games and Sports Wagering Regulation
• Official Link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/99F.pdf
  

Lottery

The Iowa Lottery was established in 1985 via state constitutional amendment, enabling draw games, instant tickets, and multi-state participation.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 1985
• Law: Chapter 99B – Social & Charitable Gambling (lottery statute)
• Official Link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/99B.pdf
  

Charitable Gaming (Social Gambling, Bingo & Raffles)

Chapter 99B also governs charitable and social gaming, including bingo, raffles, pull-tabs, and certain games of chance, legal for nonprofits when following permit requirements.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 1985 / codified 2000s
• Law: Chapter 99B – Social & Charitable Gambling
• Official Link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/99B.pdf
  

Overall Comment

Iowa authorizes almost all major forms of legal gambling under a unified legislative framework (Chapter 99F and 99B), with the only exclusion being real-money online casinos.

Online Casino in Iowa

Online Casino is only legal on Sweepstakes Casino sites. There are No Legal Real-Money Online Casino sites in Iowa.

Sports Betting in Iowa

In the state of Iowa, sports betting is now alive and well, as a result of the passage of bill SF 617. You can bet on sports in licensed brick-and-mortar casinos and on mobile sports betting apps and desktop sites.  With dozens of sports betting apps, online sportsbooks and more coming in the future, this state is a great place to bet.