How To Bet On Sports In Iowa From Out of State

Whether you’re from Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri or Wisconsin, If you plan on making a trip to Iowa soon, you can legally wager on sporting events while you’re here.

There are few qualifications to be able to enjoy legal sports betting in Iowa.

Can I Bet on Sports in Iowa?

It depends. You don’t have to be a legal resident of Iowa to bet on sports there. The only parameters you need to fit within are:

At least 21 years of age
Not on any gambling self-exclusion lists
Physically within the Iowa state lines when you place your bet

The choice of sports betting apps for Android and iOS devices in IA is just as robust as in Las Vegas. Among those sports betting operators in IA are:

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You can register for an account with these operators and deposit funds even before making your way into the Hawkeye State.

It’s not illegal to create an account or fund it from your state of residence. It’s just illegal in most of the states that neighbor Iowa to place a bet.

If you’re from Prairie State, you are welcome to legally and safely wager in Illinois as well. This guide will detail how to bet in Iowa if you don’t make your home here. We will begin with the Prairie State.

How to Bet on Sports in Iowa from Illinois

First off, there’s no need for you to cross the Mississippi River to wager on sporting events legally. Illinois also hosts a regulated market for sports betting.

However, if you’re going to do so anyway and want to get some bets down while you’re in IA, you can do so easily. It might just take some adjustments.

While some Iowa books operate a single customer database, others keep the rolls for different states separate. That means you may have to register a new DraftKings, FanDuel and PointsBet account while in Iowa, even if you are already a customer with these sports betting operators in Illinois.

Additionally, Caesars and BetRivers Sportsbook have separate apps for Iowa and Illinois.

Once you’re registered or signed in and have funded your account, you can place your bets. Every legal sportsbook is available for online betting, but if you’re looking for a retail sportsbook in Iowa, here are those closest to the Illinois border:

Elite Sportsbook at Rhythm City Casino, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport, IA
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Dubuque Casino, 301 Bell St., Dubuque, IA
PointsBet Sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino, 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington, IA
Q Sportsbook at Q Casino, 1855 Greyhound Park Rd., Dubuque, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Isle of Capri Casino Bettendorf, 1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf, IA

How to Bet on Sports in Iowa from Minnesota

If you’re a fan of Twin Cities‘ sports teams and determined to place some legal bets on their games, IA sportsbooks welcome your bets. Unfortunately, all efforts to legalize wagering on sports in Minnesota have failed so far.

You can register for and fund an account for IA online sportsbooks from your home in Minnesota. That way, as soon as you cross your state’s southern border, you’re raring to go.

This is where you should note that most IA sportsbooks offer some great bonuses for new customers, such as matching funds for your first deposit or guarantees against lost bets. Don’t let that free money slip away.

After you’ve downloaded the apps, registered, handed over some of your hard-earned money to take advantage of those promos, and made your trip to IA; you’re ready to bet. Search for the odds on the Golden Gophers, Lynx, Timberwolves, Twins, Vikings and Wild games and stake your claims.

Once you’re in Iowa, geolocation technology allows you to bet at any online sportsbook in the state. However, if you’d like to watch those events as you bet from a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, there are a few casinos close to the MN border. Those include:

DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose Casino Emmetsburg, 777 Main St., Emmetsburg, IA
Elite Sportsbook at Grand Falls Casino, 1415 Grand Falls Blvd., Larchwood, IA
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Dubuque Casino, 301 Bell St., Dubuque, IA
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Worth Casino, 777 Diamond Jo Lane, Northwood, IA
Q Sportsbook at Q Casino, 1855 Greyhound Park Road, Dubuque, IA

How to Bet on Sports in Iowa from Missouri

Whether you’re a supporter of the Kansas City Royals or the St. Louis Cardinals, Iowa sportsbooks are ready to take your wager. Just head up Highway 61 or Interstate 35 a few hours.

Unfortunately, MO legislators have fallen short of legalizing sports betting in Missouri to date. The pressure is mounting, however, as four states that neighbor MO have active markets.

Depending on the time of year, look for promos for individual Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Blues games at IA sportsbooks. The same goes for Sporting KC matches.

A good practice is to download the apps and register for all IA sportsbooks. That way, you can compare odds for the bets you want to place and be sure you’re getting the best “price.”

Every online Iowa sportsbook is available to bettors once you’re within state lines. If you want the experience of using a betting window and enjoying a beverage while you’re watching your wise wagers pay off, here are the closest retail sportsbooks in IA to the Missouri border:

PointsBet Sportsbook at Catfish Bend Casino, 3001 Winegard Drive, Burlington, IA
The Sportsbook at Ameristar II Casino, 2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Council Bluffs, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Lakeside Casino, 777 Casino Dr., Osceola, IA

How to Bet on Sports in Iowa from Nebraska

There’s nothing bigger in the Cornhusker State than the college football program by the same nickname. While NE voted in November 2020 to allow the racetracks in their state to offer casino games and sports betting in Nebraska. However, Nebraska is still working on creating the legal framework and transforming the racetracks into “racinos.”

Thus, if you want to place a legal bet on the Cornhuskers or any other event, you’ll have to cross the border into Iowa. You will find the markets somewhat limited on college sports, however.

In IA, legal books can’t take prop bets on individual college athletes’ performances. For example, you can’t bet on how many yards the Cornhuskers’ best running back will accumulate in a game.

However, team-based props are absolutely fine. So, if you want to get some action down on how many points the Cornhuskers will score in the first half of a game, those bets are available. There’s an abundance of college betting odds at every online sportsbook in Iowa available to you once you are the Hawkeye State.

A brick-and-mortar sportsbook is one of the best places to enjoy the annual Heroes Game between the Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Here are the closest of those retail sportsbooks near the NE border for out-of-state bettors:

Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino, 111 3rd St., Sioux City, IA
The Sportsbook at Ameristar II Casino, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Council Bluffs, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs, 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs, IA

How to Bet on Sports in Iowa from South Dakota

South Dakotans voted in November to allow Deadwood casinos to offer sports wagering. Deadwood sportsbooks are anticipated to go live in early September 2021.

However, even after Deadwood sportsbooks go live, it may still be more convenient to cross the state line into IA to place legal wagers here. IA online books may offer more competitive odds and promos as well.

The only way to know is to go. After the sportsbook has verified your eligibility and you’ve funded your account, the sports betting world is your oyster, especially if you opt to bet online in Iowa.

Some brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are in prime locations to welcome South Dakota bettors. From there, you can also play some other games if you like. Those locations are:

DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose Casino Emmetsburg, 777 Main St., Emmetsburg, IA
DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose Casino Jefferson, 777 Wild Rose Rd., Jefferson, IA
Elite Sportsbook at Grand Falls Casino, 1415 Grand Falls Blvd., Larchwood, IA
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Worth Casino, 777 Diamond Jo Lane, Northwood, IA
Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino, 111 3rd St., Sioux City, IA

How to Bet on Sports in Iowa from Wisconsin

Despite sports franchises like the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks and the Green Bay Packers and UW-Madison Badgers, sports betting remains illegal in Wisconsin. Therefore, IA may be on the list of gambling destinations for Wisconsinites.

Online sportsbooks in IA do their best to make bettors from Wisconsin feel welcome with potentially lucrative promos for new customers. Even if you’re an old hand with these brands, however, you can rest assured that they have deals for you as well.

The one potential exception to that statement is wagering on player drafts in leagues, such as the NBA and NFL. IA law doesn’t allow sports betting licensees to accept bets on those events.

Therefore, if you want to bet on who the Bucks and/or Packers might draft when those events come around, you’re better off heading to Illinois or Michigan instead to place your out-of-state bets.

However, until the legal status changes in WI, IA books will take your bets on everything the law allows. Here are some brick-and-mortar books close to the WI border you may visit if you wish:

DraftKings Sportsbook at Wild Rose Casino Clinton, 777 Wild Rose Drive, Clinton, IA
Elite Sportsbook at Rhythm City Casino, 7077 Elmore Ave., Davenport
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Dubuque Casino, 301 Bell St., Dubuque, IA
Q Sportsbook at Q Casino, 1855 Greyhound Park Road, Dubuque, IA
Caesars Sportsbook at Isle of Capri Casino Bettendorf, 1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf, IA

No matter which neighboring state you’re coming from, the landscape of online and retail sports betting in IA has something to offer you. Winning some of your wagers can make a trip to the Hawkeye State worth the investment.