NBA Betting in Iowa

While Iowa may not have an NBA team to call its own, there’s plenty of passion for basketball for regional teams. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls all have fanbases in the Hawkeye State.

There’s also a strong hoops legacy from the major college programs Iowa and Iowa State have immensely contributed to the game while producing bona fide NBA stalwarts, from Nick “Mr. Thunder” Collison to Jeff Hornacek to Fred “The Mayor“ Hoiberg.

There’s going to be plenty more opportunities for Iowans to play parts in the NBA’s story going forward, as men’s basketball programs at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa produce great talent.

The NBA season action began in December with a 72-game, regular-season schedule, followed by playoffs in July 2021. The futures market is already abuzz as bettors look to pick out the next winner of the NBA Finals.

Now that we can legally and safely bet on the NBA in Iowa, pro basketball will be even more exciting. Our complete guide to NBA betting will cover all you need to know wager at Iowa sportsbooks and the latest lines.

Latest NBA odds and lines at Iowa sportsbooks

Whether you want to bet on the Bucks, Bulls or T-Wolves, there are wagering options for you. Popular ways to bet on NBA games include moneylines, point spreads and point totals. The odds below are in real-time and available at multiple legal IA sportsbooks. Just click on any of them to enjoy a bonus offer and put your bets down now.

You can customize the feed to the odds you want. Use the drop-down menu to switch your odds board.  If you’d rather bet on prospective NBA Finals or individual NBA award winners (e.g., MVP), you can do so via the futures market (Tab 2). Click on any odds to go right to the sportsbook, claim your bonus and bet.

How to bet on the NBA online in IA

You can bet on the NBA from anywhere in Iowa. Leading sportsbooks offer great online and mobile platforms. You can register and start betting in only a couple of minutes.

The best place to start is with one of our recommended books. These are the top online sportsbooks in Iowa, and they all offer fantastic sign-up bonuses for our readers. To gain access, click one of our links to create an account.

To create an account, you’ll need to enter a few basic details, such as name and date of birth. Once you have everything entered, you’ll check off a couple of boxes and click the submit button to create your account.

You’ll gain access to the site right away. Be sure to take the time to download the app for your device from the sportsbook’s website. Log in on the app, and you’ll now have a legal sportsbook at your fingertips wherever you go.

After you get a feel for how the online and mobile experience works, it’s time to make a deposit and place some bets. These functions are simple, whether you’re on the website or app.

There are a number of funding options available, and placing a bet is as simple as clicking on your choice to add it to the slip, entering your bet amount, verifying everything looks good, and clicking on “Submit.” You can be all set and betting on basketball online in a few minutes.

Free bets and bonus offers

If you’re getting ready to sign up at a sportsbook, you should know what’s in it for you. The Iowa sports betting market is competitive, so leading sportsbooks offer some great bonus offers for new players in a bid to attract attention.

Be sure to take advantage of them, as they can help get your bankroll started or even provide free or risk-free bets. We’ve assembled the best possible offers in the state right here.

To gain access, all you need to do is click one of our sportsbook links to create an account. It’s that simple. Here’s a look at the exclusive offers available.

NBA live betting

With live betting, you can bet along in real-time as NBA games play out on the court. As you can imagine, this market moves fast.

You’ll see updated odds and lines on the game outcome, various player props and chances to bet on smaller game segments. There’s a lot to choose from for each game on the docket, but staying on top of what’s going on is key.

Sportsbook apps from the leading brands in the state offer live betting. You can watch the game on the TV while looking at the odds on your phone. You bets quickly and easily, and the settlement of winning wagers happens nearly instantaneously.

How to read NBA betting lines

Sportsbooks will post odds for NBA games either the night before or the morning of the contest. After the initial release, the lines can and will move in response to the public betting action. We’ll explain why that happens in a bit.

The main listing for NBA games will show you the latest odds for moneyline, spread and totals bets. On a moneyline bet, you only have to pick the winner. For spreads, the side you choose has to cover the listed number. Totals are wagers on the combined points both teams score in a game, with bettors choosing over or under a projected number. A standard listing that includes the three types of wagers may look like this:

Los Angeles Clippers	+2.5 (-110)	+135	O 209.5 (-110)
Milwaukee Bucks	-2.5 (-110)	-105	U 209.5 (-110)

For this game, the Milwaukee Bucks are favored by 2.5 points. They’re also favored on the moneyline for a game with a projected total of 209.5 points. If you want to bet on this contest, it’s a matter of clicking the box that corresponding to your choice.

Negative numbers for spreads and moneylines mean those teams are favored, while positive numbers indicate underdogs. A big spread or huge difference on the moneyline indicates a strong favorite, while a lower spread or tight moneyline means the books anticipate a close game.

In addition to the listed spread and total, there will also be odds for each choice. For our example, we’ve used the standard of -110, but keep in mind that there will be some movement in response to betting action.

Vegas NBA odds vs. Iowa online NBA odds

The odds from Las Vegas have been the standard for sports betting for decades. While the numbers from Sin City still carry weight, you’ll be able to find comparable odds and lines in Iowa.

That doesn’t mean that you’ll find the same numbers on every game, but it does mean that Iowa sportsbooks are on point in relation to the overall betting market. As always, you should be shopping around to compare prices before you place your bets.

As part of your research, there’s nothing wrong with checking on the Vegas numbers. Once you’re ready to wager, you should know that the odds you find at Iowa sportsbooks are going to be similar but potentially better or worse in some spots based on market action.

What is public betting on the NBA and why does it matter?

As mentioned earlier, sportsbooks may adjust betting odds after the initial release. So, why does that happen? It’s a direct response to market action. When wagers start coming in, a clear preference may emerge among the betting public.

That leads to the sportsbook being off-kilter toward one side or the other, which is a situation it wants to avoid. In an attempt to even things out, it may make the side that’s not seeing as many bets more attractive.

This can continue until tipoff, and it’s not uncommon to see multiple shifts in the lines. You can always shop around for the best numbers. Our live odds feed can be a tremendous asset as we pull together the latest real-time odds from multiple shops.

What are the rules to bet the NBA in Iowa?

Sports betting was officially legalized in May 2019. The first legal bet was in August 2019. As part of the sports betting legislation, the state has specific rules to follow. Here’s what you need to know:

• To place a bet, you need to be 21 or older.
• You need to be within state lines to use an online sportsbook.
• There is no in-state residency requirement for bettors.
• Sports league employees are prohibited from betting on their own sports.
• A bettor on a self-exclusion list cannot wager.
• Betting is only allowed for sports and not for entertainment-related subjects, elections or esports.
• Live bets are not allowed on in-state college teams.

Sportsbooks use what’s known as geolocation tracking, which is built into the software, to determine your location. You’re only tracked for the purposes of placing bets. You can manage your account elsewhere, but you have to physically be within state lines to wager.

Why you can’t bet on the NBA Draft and other regulations

Since August 2019, legal sportsbooks have been taking bets in the Hawkeye State. As long as you’re at least 21 years of age, not on any gambling self-exclusion lists, physically in the state when you make your bet, and using a licensed sportsbook, you’re good to go. The only restriction in IA as far as the NBA goes pertains to the annual NBA Draft. IA law doesn’t allow sportsbooks to take prop bets on events like that.

IA law also bars you from betting on NBA games if you have some tangible connection to the league and/or its teams. So if you’re a family member of an NBA coach or you’re a league official, you might be breaking the law if you bet on an NBA game.

You’re free to bet on other events, even other basketball leagues, so it’s best to avoid the situation altogether. This is because you might have non-public information that would give you an insider edge on betting on these contests.

Why you should stick to legal IA sportsbooks

While legal IA sports betting is available, there remains a black market for sports betting. There are offshore sportsbooks and illegal bookies that will be more than happy to take your money, but it doesn’t mean you should give it to them.

There are several reasons to only bet with licensed sportsbooks in Iowa. Firstly, they have to go through a lengthy application process to set up shop in the state. They invest substantially in the market and are committed to its growth.

Secondly, there are protections for you in the regulated market. If there’s a dispute you can’t resolve with a legal book, you can seek the assistance of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. There’s nothing to stop a bookie or an offshore website from keeping your winnings or delaying your payout.

Thirdly, legal books have to play by the rules to keep their licenses. That’s not the case with offshore books. Customer service can be nonexistent, and there are simply no guarantees that your funds will be safe. When you want to bet on sports, be sure to stick with legal and regulated sportsbooks. If any problems come up, there’s a clear path to resolution for consumers to pursue.

Beyond that, licensed operators pay taxes on their revenues, so your gambling dollars go back into the state to benefit everyone.

Licensed operators also participate in state programs for those with compulsive gambling issues. They don’t market themselves to or accept bets from people on self-exclusion lists and help people with such issues to find assistance. Part of the tax revenue they create pays for such programs so people can access this kind of assistance without cost.

Best basketball bets for beginners

It can take some time to get up to speed with NBA betting, but you should also remember that there’s no need to try to master everything all at once. When starting out, it’s good to keep it simple and build out your skills from there. Here’s a trio of solid bet types to get you started:

• Moneyline: You only have to pick the winner. This is a solid place to start when learning how to break down potential game outcomes.
• Player Props for Star Players: Prop betting is popular when it comes to the NBA. A good spot to start dipping your toes in the water is by focusing on star players who have favorable or unfavorable matchups up ahead.
• First Half/Second Half Totals: Instead of worrying about the entire game, you can zero in on segments such as the first or second half. Totals can be a great place to begin as you zero in on teams that start or finish strong.

It’s important to remember that you can always expand your reach as skills improve. The same holds true for your betting amounts. You can start small with a budget that makes sense for you and work toward increasing your bank roll and wager amounts as you progress.

2020-21 NBA schedule

The 2020-21 NBA season is scheduled to get underway on Dec. 22, 2020. This is later than normal for the league, but the condensed 2019-20 campaign just wrapped up in October. This year will be a little shorter than normal, as well. Here’s what you need to know:

• Teams will play a 72-game schedule that runs from 22 through May 16.
• The postseason will begin on May 18 with a play-in tournament for lower seeds, followed by the remainder of the playoffs and NBA Finals, which are scheduled to wrap up on July 22.
• Teams will play three games against each team from their own conference and two versus teams from the opposing conference.
• The all-star break is scheduled to run from March 5-10, but it’s unclear if there will be a game or other festivities this time around.
• Teams ranked seventh to 10th in each conference will battle in a play-in tournament for postseason berths.
• Playoffs will follow the standard format from there: 16 teams playing best-of-seven series through multiple rounds. The winners of the Eastern and Western conferences will meet in the NBA Finals.

The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are the current favorites in the NBA Finals futures market, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. Based on what we saw in the postseason bubble, we should be in line for another incredibly exciting season of basketball.

Best retail sportsbooks to bet on the NBA in Iowa

It’s tough to beat the convenience of betting online or via an app, but there’s also a lot to be said for the retail sports betting experience. It’s lots of fun visiting a retail sportsbook, and the locations generally have good deal of amenities as you soak in the action and root on your selections. Here’s a list of the retail spots to check out in Iowa along with addresses and any online partners:

Who are the best NBA players from Iowa?

While there’s no NBA team located in Iowa, the state still regularly attracts plenty of talent to its major college programs. Additionally, several players born in the Hawkeye State have gone on to lengthy careers at the pro level. Here’s a look at the top five in games played.

Nick Collison

Although Nick Collison’s statistics were never eye-popping, he stuck with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder franchise from the 2003-04 season through the 2017-18 season. In the 2007-08 season, he was 10th in the league in offensive rebounds. Collison never made an All-Star list, but few players achieve that kind of longevity, especially with the same team.

• Born: Orange City
• NBA Career: 910 games from 2005-18
• College: Kansas
• Draft: Round 1 by Seattle SuperSonics in 2003
• Notable: Number retired by Oklahoma City Thunder

Kirk Hinrich

Kirk Hinrich was seventh in the league in triple-doubles as a rookie and again in the 2007-08 season. He was a key player during his early career for the Chicago Bulls, averaging over 20 points per 100 possessions in his second-fourth seasons in the league. Although Hinrich never made an All-Star team, Sioux Citians will never forget him.

• Born: Sioux City
• NBA Career: 879 games from 2004-16
• College: Kansas
• Draft: Round 1 by Chicago Bulls in 2003
• Notable: NBA All-Rookie first team honors in 2004

Jon Koncak

• Born: Cedar Rapids
• NBA Career: 784 games from 1986-96
• College: SMU
• Draft: Round 1 by Atlanta Hawks in 1985
• Notable: Won gold medal at 1984 Summer Olympics

Matt Bullard

• Born: Des Moines
• NBA Career: 615 games from 1991-2002
• College: Colorado/Iowa
• Draft: Undrafted
• Notable: Won NBA title in 1994 as member of Houston Rockets

Harrison Barnes

• Born: Ames
• NBA Career: 612 games from 2013-20
• College: North Carolina
• Draft: Round 1 by Golden State Warriors in 2012
• Notable: Won NBA title with Warriors in 2015