Novig pricesIs sports betting legal in Iowa? Yes, for adults 21 and over, with a new casino now licensed
Sports betting is legal in Iowa, online and at casinos, for adults 21 and over. Here is what changed this fall, including a new license in Cedar Rapids.
Yes. Sports betting is legal in Iowa for adults 21 and over, on mobile apps and at licensed casino sportsbooks. The state has allowed it since August 2019. You can sign up and place bets from anywhere inside state lines, as long as the operator is licensed by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Online casino games, online slots and online poker are still not legal in Iowa.
Our Iowa state guide covers which apps are available and how they work for Hawkeyes fans. This story covers what has changed this fall, while football season drives the state's busiest months.
Cedar Rapids gets its sportsbook license
The main regulatory news this season came out of Cedar Rapids. On Oct. 15, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved a sports wagering license for Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center, according to Sports Illustrated's Iowa tracker. The commission voted 4-1 in February 2025 to license the casino as the state's 20th, BetByState reports. That ended a long fight over gaming in Linn County.
The number of licensed operators depends on what you count. The commission's July revenue report said 19 state-licensed casinos were operating and 10 licensed entities offered online sports betting. BetByState counted 13 licensed sports wagering operators on the commission's list as of Oct. 30. Some licensed operators don't run their own app, which explains part of the gap.
Football is driving the numbers
Iowans wagered $290.2 million on sports in September, KCAU reported, citing commission figures. In that report, IRGC Administrator Tina Eick said, "Historically, football is the driver of the highest-activity months across the sports wagering calendar."
The state's fiscal year 2026 ended June 30. For that year, sports wagering revenue reached $284.45 million, up 18.46% from the year before, and the state collected $19.19 million in sports wagering tax, the commission said. Iowa taxes operators at 6.75% of net receipts, one of the lower rates in the country.
What you can and can't bet on with Iowa college teams
Hawkeyes and Cyclones fans can bet on college football in Iowa, including games involving the state's own schools. The commission's approved wagers list does limit some markets. Player prop markets on athletes at Iowa colleges are prohibited, so you can bet an Iowa game's spread or total but not an individual Hawkeye's rushing yards. The commission updates the list several times a year. Its most recent update, dated Sept. 30, added women's TGL golf.
Operators also have to hold an Iowa license. In September 2025, the commission and the Department of Public Safety warned Iowans about fake gambling sites that claim to be licensed, BetByState noted. Offshore sites aren't legal options for Iowans, and the commission's list of licensed operators is the place to check.
Prediction markets alongside the sportsbooks
As of this site's Oct. 10 review, the prediction-market venues Novig, Kalshi and Polymarket US were available in Iowa. That's why the Hawkeyes team page shows their prices next to the sportsbooks for each game. These venues are a different product from the state-licensed sportsbooks, and the minimum age on this site's Iowa listing is still 21.
Where things stand
No bill is needed to make sports betting legal in Iowa, because it already is. Online casino gaming is the open question in the Statehouse, and it stays illegal unless lawmakers change the law. If gambling stops being fun, the national helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER.