Iowa legalized sports betting in May 2019, and it has been steadily growing since, with the state setting a record for four consecutive months of sports betting at the end of 2020. Currently, 18 licensed casinos in Iowa offer sports betting, and players can now register online via phone or computer, simplifying the process.
While options are limited within the state, Iowans can also use offshore sportsbooks, which are legal and often provide more betting choices. This piece will explore the legality of online sports betting, why offshore bookies may be preferable, and list the top offshore bookmakers for online betting.
Here are the top Iowa online sports betting sites to check out today:
Top Online Sportsbooks in Iowa
BetOnline
- Very generous bonus payment system
- Bonus codes for every major event
- Mobile compatible and accessible
MyBookie
SportsBetting.ag
BetUS
Bovada
Xbet
Is Sports Betting Legal in Iowa on Offshore Sites?
As previously mentioned, online sports wagering became fully legal in Iowa in May 2019 and officially began in August of the same year. Thanks to a bill called SF 617, the state gained authority to issue licenses to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and online sports betting sites with both desktop and mobile app access.
While players can join any offshore sportsbook, it’s important to choose reputable ones with proper licenses. Now that sports betting is legal in Iowa, players can feel safe placing bets, but they must be at least 21 years old, as required by state law. Most reputable offshore sportsbooks also have a minimum age requirement of 21 to register.
Why Are Offshore Sports Betting Sites Better?
There are many reasons offshore betting sites are better. Here are just a few of those reasons for joining:
- More generous welcome bonuses for new players.
- A better-established reputation in the gambling world.
- They often have better odds.
- A high regard for your privacy and anonymity.
- Offer more deposit and withdrawal options, including cryptocurrencies.
- They often incorporate more features, like live betting and streaming.
- You get to choose from a wider pool of sportsbooks, consequently giving you more betting options.
Different Types of Bets You Can Make
Offshore bookies offer a wide range of bet types you can choose from, just like local sportsbooks. However, in most cases, offshore bookies offer more diversity as they have been in the game a lot longer than the few in-state ones.
Here are the types of bets you can expect to find in offshore Iowa sports betting sites:
- Moneyline — This is the most common bet in sports gambling. It allows you to bet on the team you believe will win a match or game.
- Point spread — This bet allows you to choose between favorites and underdogs and basically take away or add points. The bet does this automatically to even the playing field between two very different teams.
- Totals or over/under bets — The bookie sets a specific number, which represents the total number of points likely to occur in a game. That means you have to bet below or above that number.
- Futures — This is any bet that allows you to wager on a match or event that will start and finish in the distant future. For instance, the most common futures bet is who will win the Super Bowl.
- Parlay — This is actually a combination of two or more different bets, and it conditions you to correctly guess all of them to win the parlay. The odds are much higher, but so are the potential winnings.
- Proposition bet — A prop bet can be any bet that does or doesn’t affect the outcome of a game. For instance, a typical prop bet is how many yards a specific player will throw for in a particular portion of the game. In other words, a prop bet can be almost anything, and your betting choice depends on the event and the sportsbook.
Naturally, these are just some of the bets you’ll have the opportunity to make. It entirely depends on how many betting markets the offshore bookie covers and the sports you want to bet on. You’ll also get the chance to place live bets as most reputable offshore sportsbooks feature live sports betting.
Popular Sports Betting Markets in Iowa
Iowans like to bet on popular American sports like baseball, basketball, and football, which are all covered by the majority of reputable offshore sportsbooks. These bookies appeal to an international audience, which is why they always strive to cover as many markets as possible.
You’ll also get to bet on football, soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball, golf, tennis, mixed martial arts, lacrosse, boxing, motorsports, horse racing, and many other sports.
As for specific leagues, all the major ones are covered, including the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NCAA, and others. That’s why you’ll get the chance to bet on local teams if you want to, including the Iowa Barnstormers, Cedar Rapids Titans, and Northern Iowa Panthers, among others.
Different Iowa Events You Can Bet on
As for specific events, there’s nothing to worry about. All major offshore bookmakers make sure to include notable events Iowans like to bet on. So, you’ll rarely run into a situation where your favorite sporting event is not covered on the offshore bookie of your choice.
For example, most offshore sports betting sites cover the Super Bowl, March Madness, the NBA Finals, the World Series, the US Open, Daytona 500, and many others.
FAQ
As there are no laws that cover offshore sportsbooks in Iowa, betting on them is not illegal.
Offshore sportsbooks are all sports betting sites registered outside the US that hold licenses from international regulatory bodies.
Yes, of course, as long as they hold legitimate licenses and have well-established reputation online.
There are many top-notch sportsbooks for US players to choose from, but we make sure to recommend only the best of the best to you. So, make sure not to stray away from our list of the best sportsbooks for US players.
As long as the sportsbook is safe, your payment details will be safe as well.
