Mobile Registration Available in Iowa

January 1, 2021, marked a significant change in the Iowa sports betting industry, and it should bring some huge numbers for the state.

The in-person registration requirement has now been lifted, and sports bettors can now register for an account through a mobile device.

Iowa sports betting launched back in August 2019, but there has been minimal growth since that time. The in-person registration requirement has forced bettors to visit a casino before they could place a bet, which has kept many from betting.

Not only will this new law make it easier for sports bettors, but it will also allow a number of new online sportsbooks to enter the industry. Most of the current online sportsbooks have already had things in place to be ready to offer remote registration prior to the January 1 date.

Here are the eight current online sportsbooks available in the state of Iowa:

• BetRivers
• DraftKings
• Elite Sportsbook
• FanDuel
• Hard Rock Sportsbook
• PointsBet
• Q Sportsbook
• William Hill

According to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, several other operators have been approved for a license, but those operators’ names have not been revealed.

Iowa Falling Behind in Midwest

Iowa was the early leader in the Midwest in terms of sports betting, but their previous registration laws impacted the growth. The state is just one of six states with online sports betting that has not yet reached over $100 million in total betting handle.

In November, Iowa posted a total sports betting handle of $87.2 million, which was a record for the state. In October, the state brought in $9.1 million in tax revenue, which is also a record for the state.

Both Illinois and Indiana have now blown past Iowa in both handle and revenue, and Michigan could be set to do the same in the coming months. Allowing mobile registration will help the Hawkeye State keep up. However, there is still a long way to go.

Iowa does have a significant advantage as five other border states have not yet legalized sports betting. Residents from other states can now simply travel across the Iowa border and sign up for an account on their mobile device to make bets.

Illinois, Nevada Falling Behind

There are now just two states that still have in-person registration in place, and they are two of the biggest markets in the United States. Even though both sports betting in Illinois and Nevada continue to put up some impressive numbers, they are falling short of what their numbers could be.

Illinois currently offers mobile registration as well, but that is only possible thanks to an Executive Order from Governor JB Pritzker. Pritzker has extended that order several times in an effort to boost the online sports betting industry in the state.

Nevada has always been one of the sports betting industry leaders, but the lack of mobile registration has allowed other markets to pass them up. Look for lawmakers in both Illinois and Nevada to make changes to the registration requirements in the future.

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