Iowa 18 and Up Sports Betting Sites For 2024

Iowa Flag and OutlineIowa is no stranger to gambling so it’s no surprise that the Hawkeye State would take a keen interest in legalizing sports betting inside state lines after the Supreme Court overturned the federal law that had previously banned states from crafting legislation.

The Iowa legislature legalized state-sanctioned sportsbooks for in-person and online wagering, but the minimum age to participate is 21 years old.

However, if you live in Iowa or are just visiting the state — and you are at least 18 years old — then you can legally bet money on sports by wagering at the 18+ online sportsbooks found below that are located outside of the country in a licensed jurisdiction. Read on as we cover the current outlook of sports betting in Iowa and provide an overview of the minimum gambling age requirements across each venue.

Top-Rated 18+ Iowa Sports Betting Sites

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Can you bet on sports at age 18 in Iowa?

In terms of betting at state-licensed sportsbooks that operate from within Iowa itself, wagering at eighteen or any age is not allowed, as the minimum age requirement is 21. However, there is no law that prevents bettors over the age of eighteen from wagering on sports at legally licensed offshore sports betting sites while residing or visiting Iowa.

Is it legal to bet at 18+ online sportsbooks in Iowa?

Yes, but only when betting at an 18+ online sportsbook that is both licensed and located outside the United States. Iowa law currently allows for physical, online, or mobile sportsbooks to operate from inside their state lines, but the minimum age to play is 21.

Are sports betting sites safe for Iowa residents?

Yes and no. For your safety, we strongly recommend that 18+ Iowa residents use the sports betting sites found on this page since each online sportsbook has been thoroughly vetted by our staff. Not every online sportsbook you’ll find is safe, but the sites we’ve reviewed keep both your personal and financial information completely safe and secure.

Was PASPA’s repeal a factor for Iowa Sports Betting?

On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court changed the sports betting landscape in the United States after the highest court in the country struck down the federal law known as PASPA, which had prevented pro sports betting states (other than Nevada) from legalizing sports betting ever since it was signed into law in 1992. Today, Iowa and every other state are free to choose whether or not to legalize sports betting.

18+ State-Licensed Sportsbooks in Iowa

Iowa does not have any 18+ state-licensed sportsbooks located inside its state lines. While the state does feature online, mobile, and retail sportsbooks, all of them require a minimum age of 21.

Legal Football Betting Options For 18+ In Iowa

18 & Up College Football Betting In Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes are a part of the Big Ten, which is a Power Five Conference that usually places a team in the College Football Playoffs each NCAAF postseason. Online College Football betting is possible at 18 years old in Iowa, and we’ve compiled the best options in the table above. CFP betting odds, game lines, point spreads, prop bets, and much more are available now, and all that is required is a membership.

Over 18 NFL Betting In Iowa

Iowa is literally surrounded by high-caliber professional football franchises, and if regional sports gamblers want to lay some action on games, 18 & over NFL betting sites like the ones we feature in this guide are open for business now. Futures odds for online Super Bowl betting, and all other angles for wagering on NFL odds are taking action currently. so we advise looking through each sportsbook site that we endorse to find the books that suit you the best.

Iowa College and Professional Sports Teams

The Hawkeye State may be known for its seemingly endless fields of corn and as the first stop on the campaign trail during a presidential election, but it also has several teams regularly found in an online sportsbook. The state does not have a team that competes in a major professional sports league, but Iowa does have some notable college teams that play in the highest level of the NCAA.

NCAA Division I Teams:

  • Drake Bulldogs: Missouri Valley (Des Moines)
  • Iowa Hawkeyes: Big Ten (Iowa City)
  • Iowa State Cyclones: Big 12 (Ames)
  • Northern Iowa Panthers: Missouri Valley (Cedar Falls)

Legal Minimum Gambling Age in Iowa

The minimum gambling age for all forms of gambling in Iowa is 21 years old. This means if you want to gamble on slot machines, table games, sports, or poker at tribal or commercial casinos, then you will need to be at least age 21.

Other Forms of Legal 18+ Gambling in Iowa

Iowa is unique in that even charitable bingo, the lottery, pari-mutuel wagering, dog and horse racing, and any other forms of gambling require you to be at least 21 years old — meaning 18-year-olds are not allowed to gamble on anything at all in Iowa when using a state-licensed facility.

Additional Resources

Don’t hesitate to contact the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program if you or someone you know in Iowa is potentially developing problem gambling tendencies that could lead to addiction.