Last Updated Jun 21, 2022, 04:00 PM ET
Iowa has quickly become one of the more prominent legal U.S. markets to make the best sports betting sites available. Iowa sports betting sites have latched on to the industry’s growing popularity and created enticing Iowa sportsbook bonuses to reflect the recent market upturn.
Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, PointsBet, Unibet, and FanDuel are the five best Iowa betting bonuses replete with tangible benefits to Hawkeye State sports bettors.
$1,500 risk-free bet
Promo code: COVERSBET15
Caesars Sportsbook has a $1,500 risk-free bet offer similar to those dished out by rival operators. And, with its $1,500 maximum refund offer on losing first wagers, it’s definitely among the best Iowa sportsbook bonuses.
Here are six of the most important stipulations:
Find out more in our detailed Caesars sportsbook review.
All of the free bet must be used on follow-up wagerPromotion is null and void if you win your first betMust lose first bet for promotion to activateCaesars Sportsbook’s $1,500 risk-free bet offer is the most lucrative version of any risk-free bet promo out there in Iowa right now. The showcase attribute is its industry-best $1,500 maximum potential refund. For sure, Caesars' welcome offer does precisely what it intends by providing a stress-free introduction to sports betting.
You have the potential to redeem $1,500 in site credit if you deposit and wager the exact amount after signing up. However, your first bet must lose for the offer to activate. The welcome offer from Caesars screams bankable if you wager the maximum of $1,500. You can bet freely on any market as there are no odds requirements. If you choose to bet on the Chicago Cubs at odds of -400 with all $1,500, you will gain $1,875 in total payout if you come out as a winner.
Its showcase attraction, the $1,500 maximum free bet, places it above the best Iowa betting bonuses.
$1,000 No Sweat First Bet
No code required
FanDuel offers one of the best Iowa sportsbook bonuses thanks to its high $1,000 maximum refund offer. All you have to do is sign up, deposit at least $10, and make a qualifying wager. If that wager loses, FanDuel covers your stake up to $1,000.
While you won't have to hunt for a FanDuel promo code, as with any promotional offer, there are accompanying stipulations you’ll want to know how to navigate. Here are five such conditions:
The FanDuel sportsbook mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. Learn more through our FanDuel sportsbook review.
No promo or reward for winning wagersUp to 72 hours for site credit to hit the accountFanDuel offers a quintessential welcome bonus with the added incentive of a higher potential maximum payout. If you have the means to deposit a higher initial amount, you’re eligible to receive, if your first bet loses, an increased reimbursement.
You can earn up to $1,000 in free site credit if your qualifying wager loses. Keep in mind that you cannot withdraw site credit. Instead, you'll have to reinvest any winnings into any follow-up bets.
Another key consideration: The amount of money you staked determines the amount that comes back to you in site credit. On the bright side, FanDuel does not enforce any odds requirements for this type of bonus and we like that you can wager freely on any matchups. Let's say that the +400 odds tied to the Bears game catch your eye, and if you opt for the full $1,000 amount, you would get a $5,000 payout if the bet wins.
FanDuel is sitting near the top of our list of best Iowa betting bonuses because of its high $1,000 maximum refund proposition.
$1,000 risk-free bet
No code required
BetMGM has a winning risk-free welcome offer comparable to all of the best Iowa sportsbook bonuses. The $1,000 maximum refund offer slots just $100 below Caesars’ maximum.
However, BetMGM reimburses the stake on losing first bets slightly differently. For losing initial wagers of $50 or more, BetMGM refunds the stake via five equal installments all at once, within 24 hours of the initial bet settlement. Bettors gain the opportunity to enjoy five follow-up betting opportunities.
Here are a few important stipulations related to BetMGM’s promotion:
Want to learn more? Check out our unbiased BetMGM review for further insights and takeaways.
No applicable promotion if the initial bet winsSite credit expires after seven days if unused Only winnings paid out on follow-up betThere are two notable components of the BetMGM $1,000 risk-free bet welcome offer. The first is its high $1,000 maximum payout, and the other is its payout method, via five equal installments on losing bets of $50 or more. The five disbursements provide bettors with additional opportunities for follow-up bets.
You can earn a redemption of up to $1,000 on losing initial wagers. To do so, you must deposit and wager $1,000 after signing up. Lining up an underdog bet would be wise since that would trigger the highest payout. The built-in failsafe allows you to line up a second bet if the initial wager misses the mark.
Refunds paid out within 24 hours, along with the allocation of the high $1,000 maximum refund — via five-bet tokens of $40 each — help make BetMGM one of the best Iowa sportsbook bonuses.
$500 risk-free bet
No code required
PointsBet Iowa recently tweaked its welcome offer and currently leans on a simplified risk-free bet of up to $500. While it doesn’t quite provide the same high-end lucrative maximum payout, we still view $500 as a strong value proposition.
Built-in protections include a shot at redemption should your first fixed odds wager lose. It operates a mechanic similar to BetMGM, where the reimbursement is paid out in four installments, and one installment is paid out each day after sign-up.
Take a look at four of the more noteworthy terms linked to this $500 risk-free bet offer:
Read our PointsBet review for more information and actionable intel.
Only bet losses trigger the promotionWinnings paid out on subsequent or follow-up wagerNew PoinstBet Iowa customers can take a measured risk when claiming the $500 risk-free bet. First-time patrons stand to earn a more substantial payout without worrying about the result or putting up more of their own money.
If you're prepared to stake the entire $500 on the initial wager, then you stand to make the most of the risk-free bet. Remember, you can lock in your bet on any market with no odds requirement enforced. So, if the Iowa Hawkeyes are sitting at +550 and you wager $500, you would win $2,750.
New PointsBet bettors in Iowa should look at the $500 risk-free offer as a safety net. Make the initial deposit, place your wager, and if you lose, the sportsbook will give you up to $500 in site credit. Then, you can make follow-up bets and look to build a bankroll.
Risk-free bet of up to $100
No code required
Unibet’s welcome offer is a typical risk-free promotion with a slight deviation from the norm in regards to its terms and conditions. No specific Iowa promo codes are required, and a $100 maximum is offered on losing first wagers.
Here's how it breaks down:
Curious to learn more? Read our honest Unibet review for all pertinent details.
Odds restriction in place (-250 or longer)The refund can take 72 hours to reach your accountWhile inarguably a solid welcome offer, Unibet falls slightly below the standard set by other Iowa sportsbook bonuses. The $100 maximum potential reimbursement is a modest offer that appeals to new and casual Iowa sports bettors, but the strength of the overall proposition will not satisfy more experienced gamblers.
You can redeem a maximum of $100 when the same amount is staked on losing initial wagers. Bettors in Iowa can wager freely thanks to no market restrictions, meaning if you go for a Chicago Cubs bet with the maximum of $100, and at odds of -250, you would win $40.
While it’s still among the best Iowa sportsbook bonuses, it doesn’t have any factors that render it superior.
There are several go-to welcome bonuses that top online sportsbooks leverage for your sign-up. Three of the most common sportsbook bonuses – risk-free bets, deposit matches, and no deposit bonuses – are the most prominent options.
Arguably the most popular welcome offer, risk-free bets provide bettors with an insurance policy on their first bet, paving the way for unencumbered initial wagers. That insurance policy only pays out when first bets lose, pleasing both the sportsbook and bettor.
Bettors love the fact that deposit matches provide tangible results, increasing bankrolls almost immediately. They are guaranteed, unlike other welcome offers like risk-free bets. Deposit matches come in various percentages, including 20, 50, and 100, the latter of which obviously the most attractive.
No deposit bonuses are well received as they are usually granted to those who already have an account. It’s a way for a sportsbook to not only show its gratitude but also to keep its customers motivated and engaged.
No deposit bonuses are often utilized by sportsbooks in popular tournaments like March Madness or the NBA playoffs. It galvanizes bettors and can be an effective inspiration tool.
Players 21 years of age and older can sign-up with the following legal sportsbooks in Iowa:
| Online sportsbook | Mobile app | Odds provider | Online casino | Retail partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bally Bet  |
Yes | Bet.Works | No | Elite Casino Resorts |
| Barstool |
Yes | Kambi | No | Ameristar Council Bluffs |
| Betfred Sports |
Yes | Playtech | Yes | Grand Falls |
| BetMGM |
Yes | BetMGM | Yes | Diamond Jo Casino |
| BetRivers |
Yes | Kambi | Yes | Wild Rose |
| Betway |
Yes | BetRadar | Yes | Wild Rose |
| Caesars Sportsbook |
Yes | Caesars | Yes | Isle Bettendorf, Isle Waterloo, Prairie Meadows, Horseshoe, Harrah's |
| Circa Sports |
Yes | Stadium Technology | Yes | Diamond Jo Casino |
| DraftKings |
Yes | SBTech | Yes | Wild Rose |
| DRF Sportsbook | Yes | Kambi | No | Lakeside Casino |
| Elite Sportsbook |
Yes | Bet.Works | Yes | 3 locations: Grand Falls, Rhythm City, Riverside |
| FanDuel |
Yes | Flutter | Yes | Diamond Jo Casino |
| Fubo Sportsbook |
Yes | Fubo | No | Casino Queen Marquette |
| Hard Rock |
Yes | GiG | Yes | Hard Rock Sioux City |
| MaximBet (coming soon) |
Yes | Kambi | No | TBD |
| PointsBet |
Yes | SBTech | Yes | Catfish Bend |
| Q Sportsbook |
Yes | IGT | Yes | Q Casino |
| theScore Bet |
Yes | Bet.Works | Yes | Ameristar Council Bluffs |
| Unibet |
Yes | Kambi | Yes | Harrah's Council Bluffs |
Engage with helpful guides to gain more insight into available sports betting resources and popular banking methods:
Caesars offers the best sportsbook bonus in Iowa with its $1,500 risk-free bet.
You’re eligible to receive a sign-up bonus for each sportsbook you create an account with in Iowa.
Bonus abuse is when a bettor tries to unfairly, unethically take advantage of a sportsbook’s promotions, often in the form of trying to make multiple attempts of redeeming the same offers.
You have to be 21 years old to wager in Iowa.
Mike has been researching and reviewing products for more than a decade. The former travel and entertainment publisher is all in on sports betting. When he's not sweating picks or supporting Covers' betting experts in making smarter sports bettors, you can find him by the BBQ, perfecting his cross-hatch marks.
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