Top Iowa Free Bets

Is Sports Betting Legal in Iowa?

Yes, it is. Iowa followed in the footsteps of states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania and became the 11th state to legalize sports betting in May 2019. This was when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the state’s sports betting bill, SF 617, into law, one year after the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting across much of the United States.

The legislation legalized both in-person and online sports betting, as well as daily fantasy sports (DFS). Legal sports wagering got underway some months later, in August 2019. Several of the brick-and-mortar casinos licensed by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) opened the doors to their new retail sportsbooks on day one. The William Hill Sportsbook was the first to launch online, accepting in-person registrations at retail sportsbooks including Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona. Since those early days, many sportsbooks have joined the party in the Hawkeye State. Sports bettors can now enjoy online sports betting at several top sportsbooks including Betfred, BetRivers, and BetMGM.

Am I Eligible to Claim a Free Bet?

The arrival of legal online sports betting in Iowa has brought with it plenty of exciting bonus offers and promotions for bettors. Free bets are among the most common, and can help you kickstart things at a new online sportsbook. To claim free bets at Iowa sportsbooks, you’ll need to satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Some of these have been ordained by the IRGC, which requires that bettors are at least 21 years old and physically located within Iowa state lines to place bets.

Sportsbooks may attach separate terms and conditions to specific free bet bonus offers. For example, you’ll often need to deposit a minimum amount of money, or place a bet at qualifying odds, to claim a free bet. Some free bets won’t be accessible if you make your first deposit at the sportsbook using a particular payment method, so check the fine print when you sign up.

When Do Bookies Offer Free Bets?

Iowa online sportsbooks often flag up free bets to encourage new customers to sign up. Some sportsbooks will offer no deposit free bet deals, where you’ll get your free bet just for signing up. This kind of offer can be particularly popular in the run-up to big events like the Super Bowl, the NHL Winter Classic, or the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

That being said, it’s far more common to see welcome bonuses that offer free bets to customers who make a first deposit or qualifying bet. A typical deposit bonus may be advertised as ‘Get a free $50 bet when you make your first deposit of $50 or more.’ You may also come across some sportsbook bonuses that cover your stake if your first bet loses – this is often advertised as a ‘risk-free bet’.

The best Iowa sports betting websites have plenty of free bet promos to keep existing customers loyal, too. For example, you might find bet clubs that reward customers with free bets if they deposit or bet a certain amount in a specified period.

Keep an Eye On the Terms and Conditions

Claiming a free bet couldn’t be easier, but sportsbook bonuses often have conditions you should be aware of. Here are some to watch out for.

Time limits

Most sportsbooks will attach a time limit to each free bet bonus offer. This means you’ll have to place the free bet by a certain deadline, or it’ll expire and disappear from your account. The time limits for free bets can range from a day to weeks to a month or more.

Wagering requirements

Wagering requirements stipulate the number of times you’ll need to play through your free bet amount before being able to withdraw any winnings. Let’s say an Iowa online sportsbook offers a $100 free bet with a 3x wagering requirement. In this example, you’ll need to wager a total of $300 before a real money payout of your free bet winnings is possible.

Minimum odds

Free bet bonuses at online sportsbooks often come with minimum odds requirements. This means you’ll need to wager on a selection with those odds or higher. Minimum odds can vary from deal to deal, so it’s important to ensure you’re meeting the requirements. You should also check if the minimum odds apply to your qualifying bet, your free bet, or both.

Market restrictions

Iowa sports betting sites occasionally place market restrictions on their free bet bonus offers. This will mean the free bets may only be used on specific markets. These kinds of sports betting market restrictions can often be seen around the time of big events like the NBA All-Star Game, The Masters, or the US Open.

Claiming a Free Bet on the Go

Visiting the FanDuel Sportsbook at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque or the PointsBet Sportsbook in Burlington’s Catfish Bend Casino will always hold plenty of appeal. But the arrival of legal online sports betting means that you can just as easily claim bonuses and bet on sports in Iowa wherever you are, using your mobile phone or tablet.

Iowa sportsbooks offer smooth betting experiences on the move, courtesy of mobile-optimized websites you can access through your phone or tablet’s browser. However, you can ratchet things up by downloading native mobile apps for Android and iOS platforms.

These online betting apps are tailor-made for specific devices and operating systems, which means they can offer smoother functionality. As they store data locally on your mobile device, you can also enjoy quicker loading times – very handy if you enjoy the breakneck pace of live betting on events as they unfold. Plus, with a mobile app you can choose to receive push notifications that send the latest promo codes and free bet offers direct to your home screen.

See our references & visit related external links

Please note that Compare.bet is not responsible for the content of third-party websites.

1. kcrg.com – Legal sports betting in Iowa starts at noon Aug. 15
2. legis.iowa.gov – Senate File 617
3. legis.iowa.gov – BillBook