They dress like bowlers and their boards have a brat sponsor. But the American Cornhole League is on CBS channels so of course it was just a matter of time before the sport became an approved wager in Iowa.
DraftKings Sportsbook Iowa gets credit for asking the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) to add bag toss bets to the state’s gambling options. And the sportbook followed through with its request. Cornhole is already on DK’s alphabetized betting menu — right between Australian Rules Football and table tennis.
- ACL Shootout #5 is the next event and odds were waiting for Iowa bettors on the final Thursday night before baseball’s All-Star break.
- Triadelphia, W.V., make sure those holes are 6 inches in diameter because the 15.5-to 16.25-ounce bags will fly past the baked bean banners all weekend.
It all builds up to the ACL Pro Shootout Championship on Saturday, Sept. 17. Checkmate, Penn State at Auburn football. You’ve just been counter-programmed.
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Right now it looks like DraftKings is Iowa’s only cornhole betting destination among the state’s 17 sportsbooks.
Cornhole corruption must be stopped before it starts
Cornhole isn’t just for the Jack Trice Stadium parking lot in Ames anymore. And as long as Iowans want to bet on bags, the IRGC and its administrator Brian Ohorilko want the bets to be fair. Cornhole satisfied the commission’s integrity safeguards.
“That actually went through some extensive due diligence here — just trying to understand the prize money awarded so that we could ensure that it was professionals that were participating.”
The state has more new bets coming, but they take time to set up
Speaking of the IRGC, the commission just issued new approved wager guidance so sportsbooks can start adding bets that match Iowa’s new gambling laws now.
“BetMGM is excited to offer additional betting markets to our players in Iowa,” Jason Scott, the BetMGM vice president of trading said. “We expect bettors in the Hawkeye State to continue to show great interest in sports wagering.”
- Iowa customers can bet on a pro sports draft for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and the WNBA. But the bets need to be placed a full 24 hours before the event begins.
- You can bet on a coin toss before a football game. The IRGC considers the toss a “sports-related event” now. The Super Bowl draws plenty of creative wagers, so this will be a fun addition next February in Iowa.
- The commission approved award bets specifically for MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA Division I, NFL, NHL and WNBA. Common examples would be Player of the Year, Super Bowl MVP, Heisman Trophy winner and Cy Young award winner.
- From time to time, the IRGC hears from sportsbooks about an event the commission isn’t aware of. Sportsbooks can ask the IRGC to add bets. The commission then investigates the sport to make sure results aren’t fixed.
Like cornhole, for example. We just found out that cornhole checks out.
