A bill that would legalize online casinos in Iowa was introduced in 2023, but it didn’t pass. Even though the bill is still active thanks to Iowa’s two-year legislative sessions, Iowa Rep. Bobby Kaufmann told Bonus that he won’t make an effort to move it forward during 2024. Instead, he plans to utilize the time to educate people about bill HSB227.
While this doesn’t mean that it’s certain to pass or that Iowa players will see legal real-money online casinos in the near future, it does mean that it’s a good time to prepare yourself for that possibility.
To help you on your way, we’ve compiled a complete guide for Iowa online casinos. This guide includes casinos you can expect to see in The Hawkeye State, as well as the latest news, bonuses, and more. While you wait, you can still win cash prizes at sweepstakes and social casinos in Iowa. This is a great option for players who enjoy casino-style games but don’t currently live in a state with legal online casinos.
Iowa Online Casinos Available Now
While there aren’t currently any real money online casinos Iowa players can take advantage of right now, there are social casinos that are fully legal and operational in the state. These social casinos give you the opportunity to play casino-style games for a chance to win cash prizes, and you can get started right away. Before you do, though, make sure you’re taking advantage of one of our exclusive sweepstakes promo codes upon registration to get started off on the right foot.
Make sure to read our complete guide on sweepstakes casinos to learn more about these legal Iowa online casino-style gambling options. Keep in mind that you must be 18 or over to play.
Best Iowa Online Casinos
As of now, the Iowa online casino bill is in its infancy. However, you can still look to the best online casinos available elsewhere in the country to get an idea of what you’ll see in Iowa if the bill passes, as well as what welcome bonus codes you can expect.
Below is a table that lays out the current bonus codes we have available for legal online casinos in other states, such as MI, NJ, PA, and WV. If the bill legalizing Iowa online casinos does pass, you can expect to see similar, if not the same, bonuses available to you.
Online Casino Signup Offer Sign Up
MI, PA, NJ - Sign up & get $25 on the House + 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000
WV - Sign up & get $50 on the House + 100% deposit match bonus up to $2,500Sign Up
100% Deposit Match up to $2,500 + 2,500 Reward Credits on $25+ Wager Sign Up
MI, PA, WV -Up to $500 Bonus
NJ - 100% deposit match up to $500 in Bonus MoneySign Up
$35 Casino Credits on Deposit PLUS Play $5 and Get $50 Back in Casino Credits Instantly Sign Up
Up to $100 back if you are down after the first 24 hours Sign Up
Must be 21+ and located in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or West Virginia to play. The above online casinos are expected to launch in Iowa pending legalization and regulatory approval.
How to Find the Best Iowa Online Casinos
1. Select a Legitimate App
The passage of the Iowa online casino bill is the best thing that could happen to the gambling industry in the state of Iowa. This would not only legalize online casino apps, but it would also regulate them. Legitimate online casinos that have been legalized and regulated eliminate the dangers of playing at offshore or illegal online casinos, as they offer a safe, secure, and fair option that’s monitored by the state government. Legitimate apps are held to a high standard and required by law to protect your personal and financial information, and to offer games with fair and random outcomes. For these reasons and more, legitimate apps should be the only ones you consider.
2. Know Your Favorite Content
Much like legal online casinos in other states, Iowa online casinos will each offer different game catalogs. Your task is to find your favorite types of games and search out an Iowa online casino that offers the most and/or the best variety of those games. If you’re a slots player, you may look for online casinos that boast a large slots catalog, or a catalog that features many of the popular slot titles. On the other hand, if you’re a table game player, you’ll be searching out the online casino with the most table game options, lowest or highest minimum bets, and so on and so forth. The bottom line here is to know your favorite content and find Iowa online casinos that offer it.
If you don’t know which games you prefer, every legal online casino will offer their games in demo mode, so you can test them out and find some favorites before you dive into playing for real money.
3. Consider the Navigation
You’ve chosen a legitimate app that features the games you like to play. Next, you have to consider how easy it is to get logged in, get some cash in your account, and get those games started. If an online casino has difficult, unintuitive, or slow navigation, you won’t have a good time no matter if it checks all the other boxes or not. Look for smooth navigation with additional features such as filtering and search to enhance your experience.
4. Find the Best Offers
It’s always important to find the best offers for you. Notice that we said “for you,” and that’s because the best offer for one person may not be the best offer for another. You can find the highest-paying offers or the easiest to claim, but there’s more to consider. Think about what you have to do to claim that offer — is it only offered on slots when you’re primarily a table game player, or vice versa? Make sure the offers at the Iowa online casino of your choice cater to your play style and the games you enjoy. In other words, if you’re a slots player who always plays the minimum bet, don’t sign up for an online casino whose offers generally cater to high-roller table game players.
Before you even get there though, it should go without saying to make sure you’re taking advantage of those generous welcome bonuses to get yourself started. You can use the welcome bonus on every casino upon signup, so don’t miss out.
5. Register for an Account
Last but not least comes the registration process. Once you’ve found your best Iowa online casinos, it’s time to get started. That begins with taking advantage of the welcome bonuses that we’ve listed in the table above once the time comes. These will get you started off on the right foot no matter which Iowa online casino you choose.
Also, keep in mind that every online casino will collect some personal information during registration. This is to verify who you are and to protect you against identity theft and unauthorized usage of your name, address, etc. Iowa online casinos, if legalized, will be regulated by the state government and will utilize strong encryption and data protection standards, so you shouldn’t be concerned about this information collection.
Iowa Online Casino Games
Legal online casinos offer large catalogs of games, often larger than their land-based counterparts. Iowa online casinos, if legalized, are expected to boast those same large game catalogs as they’ll be run by the same operators as online casinos in other states.
These online casino games include slots, table games, live dealer games, and more.
Slots
If you’re looking for variety in theme, features, and design, you’re looking for slots. Nowhere else in an Iowa online casino will you find such variety as the slot catalog. Slot theme, features and bonus features, and design aren’t the only variety you’ll find either — you can also find variety in the online slots themselves. Video slots, three-reel steppers, jackpot and progressive jackpot slots, MEGAWAYS, Slingo, and more can all be found at real money online casinos Iowa is expected to bring to you. Here are a few of the most popular real money slots you’ll find online.
- 88 Fortunes: 88 Fortunes is arguably the best game for fans of Asian-themed slots. Popular at land-based casinos, it’s also taken off at legal online casinos. This game features free games, four tiers of jackpots, and more.
- Cleopatra: If you’ve ever visited a land-based casino or played at a legal online casino in a different state, you’ve most likely heard of Cleopatra. Cleopatra and all of its subsequent sequel slots have consistently proven to be some of the most popular games available.
- Starburst: Starburst is a unique slot in that it doesn’t really feature a dedicated bonus round. What it does feature, however, is low volatility that brings frequent wins. Those wins, in turn, have launched this slot up the player popularity chart.
These are just three slots you can expect to find at Iowa online casinos once they are legalized, and many slot catalogs contain over one thousand options. It’s worth exploring slot catalogs in demo mode to find new favorite slots or existing favorites. Look for a theme you like, then jump in to see if the gameplay and features suit you.
Table Games
Table game players should have much to look forward to pending the legalization of online casinos in Iowa. All of the table games you’d find at a land-based casino are expected to be available online, so you can take a seat at the virtual table from the comfort of your own home. Once legal online casinos have launched, make sure to shop around to find one that has table game variations you enjoy (French roulette vs. American roulette, for example). Finding your perfect game, with the rules you like and comfortable bet amounts will make a huge difference in your playing experience. Some table games you can expect at Iowa online casinos are:
- Blackjack for Real Money
- Roulette for Real Money
- Baccarat for Real Money
- Craps for Real Money
- Video Poker for Real Money
- Casino Poker (Three-Card Poker, Hold ‘em, etc.)
Live Dealer
Live dealer games are the last to be mentioned here but are the most popular choice for many online players. That’s because they offer real table games run by real live dealers. The gameplay and results are live-streamed directly to you, and often a chat is included so you can interact with other players and the dealer themself. As you can predict, this is an excellent option for players who enjoy land-based casinos as it brings the real experience to them, with no animations necessary.
Some of the most popular live dealer games include:
- Live Dealer Blackjack
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Live Dealer Baccarat
- Live Dealer Casino Poker (three-card poker, hold ‘em, etc.)
- Live Dealer Prize Wheel Games (spin the wheel for a chance at a prize. One example of this is Dream Catcher)
Cashier Options for Iowa Online Casinos
For the most part, you can find the same online casino payment types at most legal sites across the country. The reason is, the methods below are tried and true, tested, and easy to use. While you can’t yet play at real money online casinos in Iowa, it’s still worth familiarizing yourself with the various cashier options you can expect to see so that if and when they do launch, you’re ready to go. We’ve listed some options you can expect to see below.
- ACH/eCheck: This is a direct checking account deposit or withdrawal. We highly recommend ACH/eCheck as it’s often amongst the fastest transfer methods, the most secure, and the most widely accepted. In fact, it’s available at all instant payout casinos.
- PayPal: PayPal is a more recent addition to the online casino cashier option list, but it’s also one of the best in terms of ease-of-use, quickness, and success rate. Players 21 or over with a valid PayPal account can utilize this method to make quick and easy deposits and withdrawals.
- Prepaid Cards: Prepaid cards are most often linked to a specific online casino, making it a great option for those who have found their favorite place to play. The process begins with ordering a prepaid card (often Play+) and adding funds. Once you’re set up, you can deposit and withdraw to/from your prepaid card easily. Because they’re offered directly by the online casino, prepaid cards have a nearly 100% success rate for both deposits and withdrawals, barring any technical issues or lack of funds.
- Credit/Debit Cards: While widely available, we don’t recommend this method as card issuers and banks often reject payments. Often, these deposits are seen by the bank as a cash advance if they are accepted, which can come with an additional fee.
Withdrawing at Iowa Online Casinos
Before you make your first deposit at an Iowa online casino, you must also consider how you’re planning to withdraw. Most legal online casinos will only allow you to withdraw using a method that you’ve made a deposit with. This is to protect your money and prevent it from going to a random account if someone does gain access to your online casino account. Generally, ACH/eCheck and PayPal will be the top choices for deposits as they also offer convenience when it comes time to withdraw..
History of Iowa Online Casinos
The Iowa online casino bill, HSB227, is still in its infancy. However, we can still take a look at the history of Iowa online casinos and gambling in the state in general.
- 1983: Pari-mutuel horse and dog racing is legalized in Iowa.
- 1985: The Iowa Lottery launches.
- 1991: Iowa launches its first riverboat casinos.
- 1994: The first land-based casinos opened in Iowa.
- 2004: Iowa riverboat casinos are permitted to operate while moored, rather than just in open water.
- 2019: Online and in-person Iowa sports betting and daily fantasy sports are legalized.
- 2023: HSB227 is introduced, a bill that would legalize Iowa online casinos.
Are Iowa Online Casinos Safe?
Yes. Iowa online casinos, if legalized, will be regulated by the state government, and become part of the legal USA online casino market, which means federal oversight as well. This is the same way CT, MI, NJ, PA, and WV online casinos operate. Strict regulation ensures the safe and secure transfer and storage of personal and financial information, as well as fair play determined by a random number generator. So, to repeat, Iowa online casinos will be safe and legal to play.
If you need more reassurance, Iowa online casinos will be run by established and trusted operators who have operated for years in other states with legal online casinos. They’ll bring that experience and knowledge to Iowa, so you can trust them with the personal information required to open an account, the financial information required to deposit and withdraw, and the ability to play online casino games that are safe and fair.
If you’d like more information on regulation, you can check out the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission website, the state agency that handles sports betting and pari-mutuel wagering. If Iowa online casinos are legalized, you can expect their regulation to fall under this agency as well.
Iowa Online Gambling Options
- Sports Betting
- Horse Betting Promos
More on Iowa Gambling
Online Casinos in Neighboring States
Iowa Online Casinos FAQ
No. However, the bill HSB227 aims to legalize real money online casinos in the state. The bill was introduced in 2023 and is still active, but Iowa representatives have no plan on moving the bill forward in 2024.
The gambling age is 21 or older. You must be 21 or older to participate in sports betting and casino gaming online or in-person in the state of Iowa.
Yes. It is currently legal to gamble at online sportsbooks and pari-mutuel horse racing. Online casino gambling could become legal pending the passage of the bill.
No. As long as you are currently located within Iowa state lines, it will be legal to gamble online.
Yes. All online gambling in Iowa is regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to ensure safe, secure, and fair play. In addition, all online operators are well-established and trustworthy.
Yes. As of 2019, online sports betting was legalized by the same bill that legalized retail sports betting in the state of Iowa.
Yes. Your information is protected by the same strong encryption standards that online banks use. In addition, legal Iowa online casinos will be fully licensed and regulated by the state government to ensure player protection.
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