Iowa Sports Betting Promos: $9,855 in Bonuses Nov. 2024

Iowa sports betting promos summary

All Iowa sportsbook promo codes and bonuses

Did you know that Iowa’s sports betting law states that more than 50 online sportsbook licenses will be granted in the near future? With 15 legal and regulated Iowa sports betting apps currently, the competition in the Hawkeye State will be fierce in the years to come, and players should expect more aggressive welcome bonuses and sign-up promos.

As of right now, only three operators require promo codes at the time of your first deposit to redeem a welcome bonus:

Of all online sportsbooks, the majority of sign-up offers for new Iowa players are some form of first-bet insurance or bonus bets deal. In some cases, a player’s first bet must lose in order to cash in on any welcome bonus funds. If a player’s first bet wins, first bet insurance promotions go away. Some of these promotions are valued at $1,000 or more:

• BetMGM: Up to $1,500 First Bet Offer
• Caesars: Up to $1,000 first bet on Caesars
• ESPN BET: Up to $2,000 in bonuses
• Fanatics: Up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets

If you’re looking for a deposit match bonus, newcomer Tipico is offering a $250 deposit bonus when you deposit $200. Be sure to read the playthrough requirements because you do need to make some wagers in order for bonus funds to become withdrawable.

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Caesars IA Welcome Offer 🏛

Iowa has welcomed Caesars Sportsbook with open arms both online and at each of its five retail sportsbooks. New players that register with its sports betting product now have a chance to get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets via Caesars' first-bet insurance welcome offer. The Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBRBONUS1000 is required at the time of first deposit.

• First bet must be placed and settled within 30 days of registration.
• Minimum initial wager of $1 or more.
• If your bet loses, you'll receive a single bonus bet equal to your lost amount (up to $1,000).
• Bonuses will hit your account within two days after your qualifying wager settles.
• Bonus bet cannot be transferred or cashed out, and expires in 14 days.

Why Caesars' bonus is better than others

Caesars' welcome bonus has a couple of key advantages. Although its first-bet offer is lower than BetMGM's, it's competitive with most other sportsbooks. Plus, Caesars has one of the best loyalty rewards programs in the business, making it a tough offer to beat if you visit one of Iowa's Caesars-owned hotels and casinos.

DraftKings IA Welcome Offer 👑

DraftKings still hasn’t felt the pressure to embrace first-bet insurance yet, as new players in Iowa can earn $150 in instant bonus bets after betting $5 or more. No DraftKings promo code is required.

• Minimum deposit of $5 or more.
• Minimum first bet of $5 or more.
• Winning bet of $5+ will grant $150 in bonus bets.
• Bonus bets are granted instantly on winning bets only.
• Bonus bets arrive as six (6) $25 slices.
• Bonus funds must be used within seven days.
• New users can also claim a 20% First Deposit match bonus, up to $1,000 in bonus funds.

Why DraftKings' bonus is better than others

Very few Iowa online sportsbooks offer bonus bets that can be spread around on multiple future wagers. DraftKings' welcome bonus also requires a very low initial risk of just $5, which you don't even have to lose to qualify for the offer.

FanDuel IA Welcome Offer 🔵

FanDuel likes to mix up its welcome offerings. So, before you sign up, check back in often to see if the operator is offering a player-friendly bonus. Right now, new players in Iowa can enjoy a bet $5, win $150 in bonus bets offer without needing a FanDuel promo code.

• You must use the FanDuel sportsbook app to receive the sign-up offer.
• Min. deposit of $5 is required.
• Make a first wager of $5 or more on any market.
• If it wins, you'll earn $150 in bonus bets.
• Bonus bets cannot be withdrawn as cash.
• The bonus bets expire after seven days.

Why FanDuel's bonus is better than others

FanDuel Sportsbook offers $150 in bonus bets for a minor risk of $5. While this offer is similar to what other Iowa sportsbooks offer, FanDuel's flexibility gives it an edge. You can split up your bonus bets however you want. In other words, you're not obligated to use all $150 at once or limited to using them in $25 chunks.

BetRivers IA Welcome Offer ⚡

BetRivers is offering new players in Iowa up to a $250 second chance bet. If you lose your first wager with the sportsbook, BetRivers will return your money, up to $250, as a bonus bet. You don't need a BetRivers bonus code to collect this offer.

• New players can wager on any sports market.
• The $250 bonus bet cannot be chopped up into smaller parts.
• You must play through the bonus bet once at odds of -200 or longer.
• If you don't use the bonus within 30 days, it will expire.

Why BetRivers' bonus is better than others

BetRivers' $250 Second Chance Bet allows new players in Iowa a second chance to try out different betting markets you might otherwise avoid if it was your own money. This makes it a great option for first-time bettors dipping their toes into the sports betting space.

BetMGM IA Welcome Offer 🦁

The King of Parlays has a nice welcome offer for new Iowa players. BetMGM’s welcome bonus is an up to $1,500 First Bet Offer, paid in the form of five (5) bonus bets when your first losing bet is $50 or more. If your first bet of $49 or less loses, BetMGM will stake your account the full amount in a single bonus bet. Use BetMGM bonus code SBRBONUS during sign-up.

• Min. $10 deposit required.
• First bet must lose to earn bonus funds.
• First losing bets of $50+ are refunded in the form of five (5) equal bonus bets.
• First losing bets of less than $50 are refunded as a single bonus bet.
• Bonus bets must be used within seven days.

Why BetMGM's bonus is better than others

When choosing a betting site, it’s worth noting that few offer welcome bonuses valued at $1,000 or more. The fact that BetMGM pays out a maximum of $1,500 gives it an edge in terms of total dollar value, making it arguably the best option in Iowa if you want to make a big first bet.

bet365 IA Welcome Offer 🟢

Sign up using bet365 bonus code SBRBONUS, make a deposit of $10 or more, and place a wager of at least $5 on any available sports market. Keep in mind that your final wager must have at least one selection with odds of -500 or longer. Once that is settled — win or lose — $150 in bonus bets will be added to your account. Customers must claim the bonus bets within seven days of registering for an account.

• Minimum deposit of $10 or more.
• Ensure your first $5 bet meets the odds requirements.
• Collect $150 in bonus bets, win or lose.
• Bet credits will expire after seven days.

Alternatively, you can nab the sportsbook's other welcome offer instead — a $1,000 First Bet Safety Net. Just keep in mind that you can only claim one sign-up bonus with bet365.

• Deposit $10 or more within seven days of claiming the offer.
• Redeem the reward within seven days of registration.
• Make your first wager of any amount on any sports market.
• Should your wager lose, you'll get your stake back, up to $1,000, in bonus bets.
• The bonus bets will arrive in your account within one hour of your qualifying wager settling.

Why bet365's bonus is better than others

This bonus is better than others because it comes with an ultra-low risk. You only have to bet $5 of your own money to earn $150 in bonus bet credits. After that, you can be as aggressive or conservative as you like with your bonus bet picks. Whatever you do, it's a great way to get familiar with bet365's site without risking much of your own bankroll at the start.

Fanatics IA Welcome Offer 🧢

Fanatics is greeting new customers in Iowa with up to $1,000 in potential welcome bonuses. To grab it, you must download the Fanatics app, create an account, and make a real-money deposit.

Then, place a first-time wager of $1 or more on a market with -500 odds or longer. If your bet loses, Fanatics will refund your stake amount, up to $100, as a bonus bet. Repeat this process for the first ten days after account activation, and you can snag up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bet opportunities. No Fanatics Sportsbook promo code is necessary to redeem this stellar offer.

• Minimum $1 wager required to earn a bonus in each of the ten days following account registration.
• After day one, opt-in is necessary to activate the offer.
• If you fail to opt-in on a given day, you can't gain a bonus that day. However, you can still redeem bonuses on the following eligible days.
• Bonus bets only awarded if your first qualifying daily wager loses, up to $100 per day.
• Bonus bets expire after seven days.

Why Fanatics' bonus is better than others

Even though this bonus only pays out when you lose your first daily bet, it still has plenty of appeal. For starters, you can wager as little as $1 per day and still collect the No Sweat Bet bonus if you lose. Secondly, this bonus spreads itself out over ten straight days, giving you multiple chances to collect. 

More sportsbook promo codes

We've covered our top seven IA sportsbook promos in-depth, but there are a few others still worth your time. Check out any of these options for further bonus opportunities:

Betfred is a great choice with a unique welcome offer. Our Betfred promo code gets you a returned stake of up to $105 if your initial bet doesn't win.

The ESPN BET promo code works a little differently, with up to $1,500 in bonuses + a 200% deposit match (up to $500) available to new users.

Tipico is also a good choice, with a straightforward welcome bonus. Use our Tipico promo code to get $200 in bonus bets when you deposit $50.

For more information on these sportsbooks and other promotions, visit our Iowa sports betting apps page.

How we rate and review sports betting promotions

Our editorial team independently reviews and rates each Iowa online sportsbook and sports betting app for quality, safety, and user experience. Our team of experts applies the same rigorous evaluation when critiquing the sports betting promotions operators offer new and veteran players. We want everyone to do their due diligence and make an educated decision before signing up with a new online sportsbook, and the quality of the sites’ and apps’ promotions is a big part of the puzzle. Some areas we concentrate our attention on are:

• The sign-up offers' minimum and maximum value.
• Whether the welcome promo is guaranteed or if another action must be performed, such as a minimum deposit or minimum first bet amount.
• Whether the operator is offering a deposit match bonus, bonus bets, or first bet insurance.
• Whether a promo code is required at the time of deposit.
• Details on playthrough requirements and terms and conditions of the sign-up offer or what needs to occur before payout.
• How quickly the expiration date is on the bonus funds or bonus bets.

Types of Iowa betting sign-up offers and bonuses

Like every other state where sports betting is legal, Iowa’s three most common sign-up bonuses are deposit matches, bonus bets and first bet insurance. Before you sign-up with any online sportsbook or sports betting app, be sure you understand how these welcome bonuses work so you aren’t surprised by terms and conditions.

Deposit match bonus

The deposit match bonus is considered one of the most appealing sign-up offers as new players can earn bonus bet money regardless of whether their first bet wins, loses, or even if they bet at all.

For instance, a 100% deposit match up to $500 would entitle a new player who deposits $500 to receive a $500 bonus, resulting in $1,000 in available funds in their account wallet. Similarly, a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 would translate to a $2,000 deposit earning $1,000 bonus funds, giving players $3,000 to start with.

Although the deposit match bonus is one of the most satisfying sign-up bonuses, it's becoming harder to find as more operators enter the market.

Bonus bets

Some of the industry leaders prefer bonus bet promotions over deposit matches and first bet insurance. In such cases, new players are required to make a minimum deposit, usually around $10, and in most instances, make a small first wager to activate the bonus bet funds.

Occasionally, these bonus bets will be divided into increments, such as six (6) $25 bets on a $150 bonus bet promotion, or the entire value of the bonus bets can be utilized on a single future wager. For instance, if a sportsbook provided a bonus bet promotion of $150, the new player might first need to deposit $10 and place a $5 first-time wager. Once that initial bet clears, the $150 would be credited to their account, and they could then risk the $150 on any future bet.

Keep in mind that terms and conditions, in addition to playthrough requirements, may apply before requesting a payout.

First bet insurance

The most common welcome bonus in Iowa is some version of first bet insurance though it may also be referred to as a no-sweat first bet. Unlike other sign-up offers, first bet insurance is not guaranteed to increase your bankroll or guarantee you extra funds. In fact, in order for new players to see any welcome bonus monies from first bet insurance, the first wager must be ruled a loser.

For example, Caesars frequently offers a first bet insurance promo valued at up to $1,000. That means new players can be really aggressive with their first bet since Caesars will credit their account with up to $1,000 if they lose. This is an incredible safety net that does possess solid value. If your first bet wins, your bankroll grows, but your welcome bonus opportunity expires.

Referral bonus

Most sportsbooks keep the promotions going, even after you've claimed a welcome bonus. A referral bonus can be earned by sharing a download link, which the sportsbook will provide, with a friend. If your friend uses that link to register an account and make a real-money deposit, you'll earn a bonus. Check out our list of the best sportsbook referral bonuses for more information.

Iowa online sportsbooks

The Hawkeye State wasted no time in legalizing sports betting after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018. By the next spring, legislation passed the Iowa House and Senate, the following month, the governor signed the bill into law, and by August 2019 both retail and online sports betting had launched.

As of mid-2024, 15 online sportsbooks and sports betting apps are available to players. However, and this is staggering, Iowa law states that more than 50 sports betting sites and apps are eligible for licenses. Operators of online sportsbooks need to keep their products fresh and welcome bonus promotions attractive to keep players coming back.

Iowa online and mobile sportsbooks

Latest Iowa sports betting news

Iowa sports teams to bet on

Iowa State Cyclones represent Iowa State University and field teams across many different sports, although betting on the Cyclones is usually limited to NCAA football and men’s basketball. College betting is allowed in Iowa, even on in-state teams like the Cyclones, with the exclusion of player props.

University of Iowa Hawkeyes 🎓

The state's other major college athletic program belongs to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. The program is arguably best known for its stellar wrestling program with 37 Big Ten Conference championships. Still, it also boasts dozens of Conference titles in basketball (11), baseball (9), football (11), gymnastics (8), and a handful of other sports.

Vikings, Chiefs, Bears, Packers 🏈

Regarding the NFL, Iowa football fans also tend to split their loyalties between a handful of nearby teams; the Vikings to the North, the Packers off to the Northeast, the Westernly-located Bears, or the Chiefs directly South. Bettors in Iowa have access to the full NFL betting market on any of the licensed sportsbooks in the state.

Twins, Brewers, Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, and Royals ⚾

Depending on where you live in Iowa, you might be geographically closest to any number of Midwest MLB teams. The baseball fandom in IA is pretty spread among these clubs, with summer road trips to stadiums in neighboring states a popular hobby. Or wait for the MLB Field of Dreams game to come around, played in a cornfield in Dyersville, Iowa.

Iowa betting resources

• Everything you need to know about Iowa sports betting.
• Where to find the best sportsbooks promos.
• Who we rank as the best sportsbooks to play on.

Before you wade too deeply into Iowa’s sports betting promotions, check out our other resource guides for the Hawkeye State. Our experts have researched and produced reviews of the best online sportsbooks in the state, a more in-depth look into how sports betting bonuses work in general and a closer look at why Caesars Sportsbook is the best sports betting app in Iowa.

Sports betting by category

It doesn't matter what sport or league is your favorite; there's a great sportsbook bonus waiting for you at any number of legal and licensed sportsbooks in your state. Here's a list of the best sportsbooks by category, to make your decisions even easier:

For the most current legal information on sports betting in every single U.S. state, visit our legal sports betting state tracker page. 

Responsible sports betting with Iowa promos

The oversight of legal sports betting falls under the purview of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), which serves as the governing body. The IRGC's responsibilities encompass reviewing applications, granting licenses, conducting routine audits, upholding laws, and levying fines as appropriate. With a mission to safeguard the integrity of licensees and the interests of the sports betting public, the IRGC remains committed to fulfilling its duties.

In addition to responsibilities to the betting public, it also helps facilitate initiatives to curb problem gambling and encourage responsible sports betting within the state. Portions of tax revenues gathered from sports betting are earmarked for various prevention and treatment programs and other resources to help those with problem gambling.

In conjunction with the Iowa Department for Health and Human Services, the IRGC offers a wide range of resources to help individuals and family members take back control of their gambling habits. These include:

• Self-exclusion programs
• 1-800-BETSOFF hotline available 24/7
• Outpatient counseling
• Financial tools
• Workbooks

Additionally, the online sportsbook operators have added options within each account to set monthly budgets and time limits on gaming sessions.

National U.S. gambling helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER

Sportsbook promos and bonuses in other regions

U.S. states with legal sportsbook promos and bonuses

Sportsbook promos and bonuses in international regions

• Canada sportsbook promos (excluding Ontario)
• U.K. sportsbook promos