Iowa Sports Betting Revenue Insights August 2025

Revenue Insights

$168.17M Handle

June activity stayed strong despite seasonal slowdown.

Revenue Trends

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$19.21M GGR

Revenue growth boosted by summer sports betting interest.

Revenue Trends

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11.42% Hold

Higher-than-average operator margin for the month.

Revenue Trends

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$1.29M Taxes

Solid state contributions driven by improved hold rates.

Revenue Trends

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Sports Betting in Iowa

Iowa was one of the early adopters of legal sports betting following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, launching its market in August 2019. Since then, the Hawkeye State has steadily expanded access to retail and online betting, lifting its in-person registration requirement in January 2021. That move significantly boosted market participation and paved the way for more substantial year-over-year revenue growth.

With 11 licensed online sportsbooks in Iowa and a well-regulated market, Iowa continues to generate meaningful tax revenue for public initiatives, including infrastructure and workforce development.

Now, bettors can make wagers in person, on desktop, or on mobile betting apps, making it more convenient for consumers. The industry provides consistently rising tax revenue for Iowa, which funds state budgets, including the “Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, which offers essential infrastructure projects.

Many areas are supported, including agricultural and land stewardship, public safety, economic development, public defense, state university buildings, technology projects, and more (Iowa Gaming and Racing Commission, 2023).

Want to find the most trusted bookmakers in Iowa? Check out our data-driven reviews.

Annual Sports Betting Growth in Iowa

Data is pulled directly from the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission Annual Reports

Source:

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Monthly Sports Betting Growth in Iowa

Taxes

Data is pulled directly from the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission Monthly Reports

Source:

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Iowa Sports Betting Revenue Performance

Iowa has developed into one of the Midwest’s most competitive sports betting markets since launching in 2019. The state’s growth has been steady, supported by multiple operators, mobile betting adoption, and strong college and professional sports engagement. Trends show a consistent rise in handle over the years, with tax revenue contributing significantly to state programs.

2025 performance so far reflects a healthy mix of high handle and solid operator hold rates, keeping Iowa in line with larger betting states on a per capita basis.

Iowa Sports Betting Totals: 2018–2024

Year	Handle ($)	GGR ($)	Hold %	Tax Revenue ($)
2018	212,225,668.00	19,283,690.00	12.24%	1,301,649.08
2019	575,248,472.00	41,623,877.00	7.10%	2,809,611.70
2020	2,053,708,513.00	125,512,412.00	6.45%	8,472,087.81
2021	2,348,065,964.00	165,551,990.00	7.49%	11,174,759.33
2022	2,420,464,385.00	198,810,523.00	8.33%	13,419,710.30
2023	2,770,339,580.49	218,482,780.64	8.07%	14,747,587.69

Iowa Sports Betting Totals: Jan–Jun 2025

Month	Handle ($)	GGR ($)	Hold %	Tax Revenue ($)
Jan	289,730,208.89	26,188,815.79	9.04%	1,767,745.07
Feb	216,451,613.83	21,272,944.44	9.83%	1,435,923.75
Mar	287,826,744.94	15,749,319.64	5.47%	1,063,079.08
Apr	215,555,372.79	18,757,824.32	8.70%	1,266,153.14
May	202,573,364.85	20,059,488.53	9.90%	1,354,015.48
Jun	168,169,130.24	19,210,710.78	11.42%	1,285,089.24

Latest Updates in Iowa Sports Wagering

May 13, 2019: Governor Kim Reynolds signs SF 617 into law, legalizing sports betting in Iowa. (Iowa Legislature, 2019)
August 15, 2019: The first legal sports bets are placed in Iowa. (DesMoines Register, 2019)
January 1, 2021: The in-person registration requirement for mobile betting is lifted, allowing remote sign-ups for users.
December 31, 2021: Iowans have placed more than $1 billion on sports bets for the first time in a single year. The state earns $11.1 million in tax revenue.
October 2024: Iowa shows signs of significant growth late in the year. Its monthly handle in October ($294.9 million) is 15.5% higher than 2023. (Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, 2024)
December 2024: Iowa closes the year with a record-breaking $2.77 billion in handle and over $218 million in GGR, the highest totals since market launch.
January 2025: Iowa reports a $289.7 million monthly handle and $26.2 million in GGR—marking the state’s third-highest GGR total ever recorded.
Q1 2025: Combined quarterly handle exceeds $794 million, generating more than $4.26 million in tax revenue. Despite a sharp drop in March’s hold percentage (5.47%), Iowa maintains a stable and maturing market profile.

Iowa Snapshot

Key Aspect	Details
Population	Approximately 3.2 million residents as of 2025. (World Population Review, 2025)
Political Affiliation	Predominantly Republican, the state has a Republican trifecta, controlling the governorship and both legislative chambers. (270towin.com, 2024)
Year Sports Betting Legalized	Permitted from May 13, 2019. (Des Moines Register 2019)
Number of Sportsbooks Operating	11 licensed operators, including market leaders like DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, FanDuel, and Caesars.
GGR 2025 (Jan-Jun)	$121,239,103
Handle 2025 (Jan-Jun)	$1,380,306,435
Professional Sports Teams	Iowa does not have professional teams. However, sports fans in Iowa enjoy local NCAA teams and nearby American football franchises like the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears.

FAQs

Basic Info

When was sports betting permitted in Iowa?

Sports betting in the Iowa market was permitted beginning on May 13, 2019.

How many sportsbooks operate in Iowa?

There are 17 licensed Iowa sportsbooks: Caesars, BallyBet, FanDuel, Betfred, BetMGM, Circa Sports, DraftKings, Betway, Q Sportsbook, bet365, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, BetRivers, Superbook, Hard Rock Sportsbook, Daily Racing Form, and Sporttrade.

What is covered on this page?

This page provides a breakdown of Iowa's betting market, including handle, revenues, and operator updates, all backed by official reports. (Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, 2024)

Sol Fayerman-Hansen

Editor-in-Chief

Sol Fayerman-Hansen is Editor-in-Chief at RG.org with 20+ years of experience in sports journalism, gambling regulation, and tech. His work has appeared in Forbes, ESPN, and NFL.com, covering U.S. and Canadian gambling laws, major sports events, and wagering trends. Since 2023, Sol has led RG.org’s global editorial efforts, focusing on transparency, data accuracy, and regulatory insight. He works closely with researchers and legal experts to uphold E-E-A-T and Trust Project standards.📍 Israel/Canada 🌐 English, Hebrew 🎯 Gambling law, responsible gaming, tech in betting

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