Iowa Horse Betting Guide

Iowa Online Horse Racing Apps & Promos

Horse racing betting in Iowa 2025: best sites, racing apps, bonuses, and promo codes.

Iowa is one of the leading states for legal sports betting, offering a wide range of options for bettors. Since the state legalized sports betting in 2019, it has grown into a competitive market with numerous licensed sportsbooks vying for attention. For sports fans and bettors in Iowa, this means access to attractive sign-up bonuses and ongoing promotions designed to make betting even more exciting.

Some of the top sportsbooks in Iowa, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook, offer welcome bonuses like free bets, deposit matches, and bonus bets. For example, FanDuel offers new users a Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets promotion, while BetMGM provides up to $1,500 in bonus bets if first wager loses. These bonuses significantly boost new players.

Iowa Sportsbook Apps and Promo Codes 2025

IN SportsbookBonus OfferPromo Code
BET365 IowaBet $5, Get $150 bonus Or First Bet Safety Net Up To $1,000USB365
BetMGMUp to $1,500 in Bonus Bonus if first wager is a loseUSDOTBET
BetRivers IA2nd Chance Bet Up To $100USBTRV

bet365 Iowa

Launched in 2023, bet365 offers new users a Bet $5, Get $150 bonus with the promo code USB365. They currently also have bet insurance for the first wager of up to $1,000. The app is known for its in-play betting with live odds that update in real-time, making it ideal for bettors who like wagering while the game is in progress. The cash-out option is a key feature, allowing users to settle bets early. bet365 also provides live streaming for various sports, including tennis, soccer, and basketball, and offers a bet builder feature for creating custom multi-selection bets.

FanDuel Iowa

Launched in 2020, FanDuel offers a Bet $5, Get $150 bonus, making it an appealing option for bettors who prioritize simplicity. The app’s Same Game Parlay feature lets users combine multiple bets within a single game for higher potential payouts. FanDuel is well-regarded for fast withdrawals, often processed within 2 hours. Additionally, it provides odds boosts on major sporting events, particularly in the NFL and NBA, and offers real-time micro-betting for those who prefer placing bets on specific in-game outcomes.

BetMGM Iowa

BetMGM, launched in 2021, provides a bonus bet up to $1,500 for new users with code USDOTBET. The app’s live streaming capability allows bettors to watch games and place wagers simultaneously, enhancing the live betting experience. BetMGM also features a multi-game parlay builder and offers teaser bets for more complex betting strategies. The M Life Rewards loyalty program, along with support for niche sports like motorsports and rugby, makes BetMGM a versatile option for a wide audience.

BetRivers Iowa

BetRivers launched in 2020 and offers a $250 second-chance bet for new users with the affiliate code USBTRV. The app’s Parlay Insurance feature adds a layer of security by refunding part of your wager if one leg of a parlay loses. BetRivers is also recognized for its live-streaming capabilities and easy-to-navigate interface. It supports multiple deposit options, including Apple Pay.

DraftKings Iowa

DraftKings, available in Iowa since 2019, provides new users with a Bet $5, Get $200 bonus. The app is popular for its customizable interface and support for Same Game Parlays. DraftKings also excels in fantasy points betting, which appeals to those who enjoy player-specific wagers. The platform offers a wide range of live betting markets with rapid odds updates and a loyalty program that frequently rewards users with exclusive promotions.

Fanatics Iowa

Launched in 2023, Fanatics offers new users up to $1,000 in bonus bets. The sportsbook is known for its FanCash rewards system, where users can earn points with their bets and redeem them for sports merchandise. Fanatics excels in live betting and regularly enhances odds for local teams, making it an attractive option for Iowa sports fans.

ESPN Bet Iowa

Launched in 2023, ESPN Bet provides up to $1,000 in bonus bets for new users. The app integrates expert analysis from ESPN, offering valuable insights to inform betting decisions. ESPN Bet also features live streaming and frequent odds boosts for popular sports such as NFL, NBA, and MLB, making it a strong choice for bettors who want to combine sports coverage with wagering.

Iowa Best Betting Bonuses

Website
Bonus
  • Fanduel Sportsbook: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
    21+
    5.0 rating based on 1 rating
    5 stars
    New players only, 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
  • bet365 Bonus: Bet $5, Get $150 bonus Or $1,000 in Bet Insurance. Code: USB365
    USB365
    21+
    5.0 rating based on 1 rating
    5 stars
    bet365 betting app and online sportsbook is live in AZ, CO, IA, IN, LA, NJ, NC, OH, and VA. New players only, 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
  • BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus: Get $1,500 in Bonus Bets. Code: USDOTBET
    USDOTBET
    21+
    4.8 rating based on 1 rating
    4.8 stars
    New players only, 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Welcome offer not available in NY and DC. Full T&C apply.
  • TVG Iowa Bonus: up to $100 Free Bet
    200TVG
    21+
    3.8 rating based on 1 rating
    3.8 stars
    In Iowa you must use the Prairie Meadows version of TVG’s website at ia.tvg.com. Iowa residents are restricted from wagering on international tracks. You must be 21 or above to wager

Iowa Best Online Horse Betting Sites/Apps

Iowa was late in arriving to the horse racing game. The state legalized pari-mutuel racing in 1983. At first, all racing was held at fair tracks but fair racing was discontinued in 1988. Prairie Meadows Racetrack opened its doors in 1989. Originally, the track offered three separate meets – thoroughbreds, standardbreds and quarter horse racing. However, standardbred racing was discontinued at the track in the mid-2010s. TVG is the official online betting partner of Prairie Meadows, Iowa.

1/ST BET, TwinSpires, 123bet, and DRF Bets are horse race betting online sites and mobile apps available to Iowa horse bettors. Use promo codes to claim welcome offers. 

Iowa Horse Betting Promos

Horse Racing SitesBetting Offers
TVG onlineGet up to $200, and get a $25 Bonus for every friend you refer
1/ST BET Iowa$100 sign-up bonus, up-to-date news about upcoming races
DRF Bets$200 first-deposit match, unlimited DRF Classic and Formulator Past Performances
Live Racing at Prairie Meadows

TVG Iowa

TVG invites first-time players to their site with a 50 percent matching signup bonus on their first deposit. This offer comes with a maximum amount of $200.

Betting Features: TVG Expert Picks for everyday, Free Past Performances Program, Money Back Special on select races.

1/ST Bet Iowa

1/ST BET’s new players can choose from among three signup bonus options. They can get a $20 match for their first $20 wagered, a $100 match for their first $500 wagered, or a $10 match per $100 up to a total match of $500. A bettor would need to wager $5,000 to max out the latter offer. They have 90 days to fulfill the bonus requirements of each offer.

Betting Features: Rewards points every Tuesday and other weekly offers, up-to-date news about upcoming races.

1ST Bet Horse Betting App Iowa
1/ST Bet Horse Betting App

123bet Iowa

At 123bet code, they offer a $123 signup bonus to new members.

Betting Features: no fees Friday , loyalty reward points, handicapping products from Equibase.

DRF Bets Iowa

New players at DRF Bets get a 100 percent matching first deposit bonus worth up to $200.

Betting Features: stakes preview, free DRF picks, betting strategies, unlimited DRF Classic and Formulator Past Performances.

Popular Online Horse Bet Types & Races

Iowa horse racing provides straight bet options that include win, place, and show. When you bet a horse to win, you win if your horse finishes first. If you bet a horse to place, you win when your horse finishes first or second. When you bet a horse to show, you win if your horse finishes first, second or third.

Single-race exotic wagers

There are both single and multiple exotic race wagering options. Common single-race exotic wagers include exacta, quinella, trifecta, superfecta, and Jackpot Super Hi-5 bets. To win an exacta bet, you must choose the two horses finishing first and second in exact order. In a quinella bet, you choose two horses in a race, and you win if your horse selections finish first and second, in any order. You must choose the first three finishers in exact order to win a trifecta bet.

To win a Superfecta bet, you must choose the first four finishers in exact order. A Superfecta wager can be made for as little as 10¢, making it a fun and inexpensive way to delve into exotic wagering. To win the Jackpot Super Hi-5, you must have a unique wager selecting horses that will come in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, in that order, in the last race. Your wagers must be placed prior to the start of the last race. If there is no unique wager, the Super Hi-5 pool will carry over.

Multiple Race Exotic Wagers

Popular multiple race exotic wagers include the Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Jackpot Pool 5 bets.

To win the Daily Double, you must choose the winners of two consecutive races. All you have to do is pick which horse you think will win each race and place your bet prior to the running of the first of these races. In a Pick 3 bet, your wagers must also be placed prior to the start of the first of the three races. To win, you must choose the winners of three consecutive races. Similarly, in a Pick 4 bet your wagers must be placed prior to the start of the first of the four races, and you must pick the winners of four consecutive races to win.

To win the Jackpot Pick 5 pool you must have a unique wager selecting the winners of the last five consecutive races of the daily meet. Your wagers must be placed prior to the start of the last five races. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place finisher in all five consecutive races, the Jackpot Pick 5 pool will carry over.

Major Horse Betting Events In The USA That You Can Bet On In Iowa

Date Event Location Recommended Sites
3-05

2025 Kentucky Derby Betting Offers & Bonus Bets

700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY, 40208 TVG
17-05

2025 Preakness Stakes Betting Promos & Offers

5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215 AmWager
7-06

The Best 2025 Belmont Stakes Betting Offers & Promotions

2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003 AmWager

Prairie Meadows offers 32 thoroughbred stakes races worth an estimated $2.92 million in purse money. The highlights of the thoroughbred stakes calendar are the Iowa Festival of Racing and the traditional Iowa Classic stakes races.

There’s a trio of Grade III stakes races. The Iowa Derby for three-year-olds goes at a distance of 1 1/16 miles for a purse of $225,000. The Iowa Oaks for three-year-old fillies also covers a distance of 1 1/16 miles for a purse of $225,000. The Cornhusker Handicap is open to horses aged three years and older. It covers 1⅛ miles and the purse is $300,000.

The track offers 23 quarter horse stakes races worth an estimated $1.6 million. The schedule is highlighted by the Bank of America/Prairie Meadows Regional Challenge Finals, Prairie Meadows Quarter Horse Championships, and Iowa Classic stakes races for quarter horses.

Iowa Horse Racing Betting Legal Overview

Prairie Meadows endured some early struggles and was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1991. The advent of slot machines and casino gambling in the state revitalized the facility.

The slot parlor opened at Prairie Meadows in 1994 and a year later, the track launched its casino. Today, Prairie Meadows is thriving. They are open 24/7, 365 days a year and also feature a hotel and a sportsbook.

Prairie Meadows accepts exotic wagers and the track also conducts exotic racing. Each July the track plays host to a day of exotic racing animals. There is camel racing, as well as ostriches and Zebras.

Iowa Racetracks

Prairie Meadows – 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Altoona IA 50009. Offering live thoroughbred racing and live quarter horse racing from August-September.

Live Racing at Prairie Meadows

Iowa Online Horse Betting FAQs

Where to watch online/stream horse races in Iowa?

Prairie Meadows offers year-round horse, harness, and greyhound simulcast racing from the nation’s premier tracks including Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Belmont, Keeneland, and Oaklawn Park, among many more.

The track also offers the chance to wager from your smartphone or tablet with MyBet Mobile, a secure wagering website for smart devices. With MyBet Mobile you can wager where you want when you want at Prairie Meadows.

What are the best legal horse betting apps in Iowa?

TVG, DRF Bets, TwinSpires, 123Bet, and 1/ST BET are the top horse wagering platforms in the Cyclone State.

How old must you be to bet on horses online in Iowa?

21 for pari-mutuel horse wagering.

Iowa Horse Betting Guides

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How to calculate the win payoff from horse racing odds?  

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A superfecta bet in horse racing explained with examples

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What does “pulled up” mean in horse racing?

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