Iowans placed more than $2 billion in wagers on sporting events in 2021, according to recently published state figures, eclipsing the $575 million that was legally bet on sports in 2020.
John Schultz
DES MOINES — As one industry analyst put it, “Iowa loves football and betting on football.”
Iowans placed more than $2 billion in wagers on sporting events in 2021, according to recently published state figures, eclipsing the $575 million that was legally bet on sports in 2020.
Sports betting in Iowa skyrocketed in 2021 with particular thanks to the expiration of a requirement that new sports bettors first had to register for an account in-person at an Iowa casino, according to analysis from Russ Mitchell, lead analyst for the gaming industry news site PlayIA.com. Sport bettors can now set up an account over a smartphone or computer.
“Significant growth would have come regardless of the registration rules, but the rollback of in-person requirements ultimately was rocket fuel for Iowa’s sportsbooks,” Mitchell said in emailed comments.
And Iowa’s sports betting numbers are not done growing, he said.
“Iowa’s market hasn’t reached maturity, either. Sportsbooks continue to expand their reach to new customers as potential bettors become more comfortable with the idea of legal sports betting,” Mitchell said. “And as Iowa bettors become more familiar with diverse forms of betting such as in-game wagering, the market should continue to grow.”
