Looking for the best online casino Iowa has to offer? Then you have come to the right place. Our guide will show you the state's best alternatives to real money online casinos - social and sweepstakes casinos.
We cover everything from the legality of online casinos in Iowa to how you can make sure these online casinos are safe for you to use. We also send you on your way with a couple of handy tips to improve your online social casino experience. Keep reading our guide to learn how to find the best online casino in Iowa.
We begin our guide to online casinos in Iowa by taking a closer look at the current legal position. All forms of legal gambling across the state are regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), except for the state lottery which is run by the Iowa Lottery Authority.
At the time of writing, those visiting or living across the Hawkeye State will be able to legally wager online across sports betting, DFS, and horse racing betting. Unfortunately, as online casinos are not legally allowed to operate in Iowa just yet, we aren’t going to find any real money online casinos that compete with the Pennsylvanian online casino experience.
However, with that being said, players can still look to load up and play online casino games by visiting social and sweepstakes casinos or by visiting retail locations.
Legal ways to enjoy casino action in IA
As social and sweepstakes casinos do not require any money to play, they fall under slightly different laws from online casino gambling. A minimum age requirement of 18 (21 at some sweepstakes casinos) must still be met but there is no need for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to license or audit any social or sweepstakes casino action across the state.
Those looking to visit land-based casinos in Iowa can take their pick from 22 exciting retail spots. Many provide the complete casino experience, including overnight stays, restaurants, and event rooms, alongside various other perks. Expect your favorite slots and table games to be available at almost all locations, plus the ability to wager on sports or enter poker rooms at a select few.
The best alternatives to online casinos in IA: A closer look at social and sweepstakes casinos
Now we have established that Iowa prohibits online casino activity, it’s time to take a closer look at the best alternatives. We briefly touched on Iowa social and sweepstakes casinos above, but how exactly do they work? In this next section, we hope to answer that very question for you.
Social Casinos
Iowa joins 48 other US states that allow online social casino sites to legally open their virtual doors. The idea behind social casinos is to bring an immersive casino experience to player screens without ever having to worry about making a deposit. Social casinos are strictly for entertainment purposes only and any winnings cannot be withdrawn. They make use of one virtual currency called Gold Coins that can be used to stake across the whole casino library. Welcome bonuses are often fairly sizable and ongoing bonuses will help players to keep their virtual pots topped up. No purchase is required to play; however, players can use real money to purchase further Gold Coins if they choose.
Sweepstakes Casinos
A sweepstakes casino holds many of the same qualities as a social casino; however, players have the chance to play for real cash prizes, too. In order to help differentiate between the two styles of play, sweepstakes casinos will utilize two different currencies: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins (we discuss those later in our Iowa online casino guide). Many of the top sweepstakes casinos will now offer gaming portfolios that are comparable to real money alternatives and do not require a purchase to play. Do the best sweepstakes online casinos in Iowa offer a lucrative welcome bonus, too? You bet. They may also offer players the chance to unlock both Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, presenting players with the chance to walk away with real cash prizes.
Other options
It is also worth noting that those looking to enjoy online alternatives to online casinos in IA can register with plenty of big-name sportsbooks in a scene that competes with the best Florida sportsbooks today.
For those who like the idea of sticking with online sweepstakes, you’ll be pleased to hear that PokerStars is not rigged and is very much available to enjoy across the Hawkeye State, too. Not only does PokerStars offer great poker competitions, bonuses, and promotions, but they also provide a selection of online slots to enjoy.
Why are social and sweepstakes casinos legal in IA?
Social and sweepstakes casinos aim to provide an online experience that mimics that presented by the best online casinos in the US. They fall under the no purchase necessary laws, meaning that all patrons can register and begin playing without a single cent having to leave their account.
Provided players are located within state lines, anyone over the age of 18 (21 for some sites) can look to sign themselves up, unlock their welcome bonus and make their way to the casino lobby. The greatest difference between social and sweepstakes casinos will become evident when you come to enter your virtual “stakes” and click spin.
For those who wish to play for fun, very few restrictions will be present. Those looking to play for cash prizes will need to find a sweepstakes casino that is regulated by the Federal Trade Commision (FTC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), US States Postal Service (USPS), or the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Of course, we aim to highlight all of this information in our dedicated sweepstakes casino reviews.
Your chosen sweepstakes casino will only be able to offer the option of playing for Sweeps Cash provided that all prizes are based on chance. To comply with the no purchase necessary laws, sweepstakes casinos cannot ask a person to donate money or buy merchandise to enter any competition. Plus, they must make all details surrounding the available prize accessible before any entry has been made.
Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins: What’s the difference?
Here at CaptainGambling, we use the term ”stakes” when referring to social and sweepstakes casinos loosely - all we really mean is the virtual value of your next spin. Let’s have a look at how that differs between the two types of currencies used.
Gold Coins: The casino games in social casino libraries can only be played by using Gold Coins. These Gold Coins hold no real-world value and any winnings cannot be redeemed or exchanged for cash prizes.
As we know, social and sweepstakes casinos do not require a purchase to play; however, players can still look to purchase further coins with real money if they wish. For those who don't wish to part with their cash, you will find that Gold Coins are redeemable at the registration stage, can be unlocked from ongoing promotions, won by entering competitions, and by getting a little lucky on those play-for-fun casino titles.
Gold Coins are the only source of virtual currency found at social casinos and they are the play-for-fun option at a sweepstakes casino.
Sweeps Coins: Alongside social casinos, you’ll also find plenty of exciting new sweeps casinos out there that offer you a great alternative to play for real cash prizes. While the option to use Gold Coins is still present, players can also acquire Sweeps Coins.
These Sweeps Coins can be used across promotional gaming titles and entered into sweepstakes competitions. Although they cannot be purchased, they can be won, redeemed, and awarded to players for unlocking bonuses, making their way through the VIP program, or entering social media giveaways. As these coins hold a real monetary value, they are often distributed in smaller quantities.
Once a minimum withdrawal and playthrough requirement has been met, players can look to exchange their Sweeps Coins for prizes. Prizes can come in the shape of real cash, gift vouchers, or merchandise.
Our favorite sweepstakes casinos and social casinos in Iowa
What To Expect From The Best Online Casino in Iowa - How we test the best online casinos in Iowa
At CaptainGambling.com we take our reviews very seriously. This is exactly why we have curated a very specific set of criteria that we use to judge the overall quality of the online casino scene. Below, we run through some of those important attributes that we research to help you make a more informed decision when searching through our Iowa casino list.
Licensing: Much like in our Rhode Island casino list, we are focusing our efforts across the IA social and sweepstakes casino pool. With this in mind, we are unlikely to see any mentions of licensing from the IRGC. However, we still look to review whether any official US regulators have confirmed a site’s legitimacy.
Security: Website security is imperative in protecting users' personal and financial information. So, before we recommend any sweepstakes and social casino sites in IA, you’d best believe that we have put them to the test. In this section, we take an in-depth look at what security is employed on these sites and whether safer gambling tools are also available.
Welcome bonuses: The bonuses found at a social or sweepstakes casino in IA, look a little different from the one detailed in our Virgin Casino bonus code guide. Often, you will find sizable welcome offers that will give you the headstart needed to become acquainted with the casino library. We just ensure that you have the right promotional codes and understand the small print.
Range of casino games: Whether you are looking for the best online casino in West Virginia or a top social casino in Iowa, the range of casino games can prove critical when determining the type of experience you will have. Our reviews make sure to give you a detailed look at what games are available, the software behind them, and any limits that may be involved, too.
Deposits & withdrawals: As detailed numerous times in this guide, no payment is necessary. However, even if you don’t plan on making a purchase, it’s nice to know how you can withdraw any potential winnings. Here, we check processing times, fees, and available methods.
Customer support: Our online casino reviews go a step further and test out the overall quality of customer service across social and sweepstakes casino sites. We also give you the details on the different ways you can contact the support team and how responsive agents can be.
Desktop and Mobile Experience: Although social and sweepstakes casinos are slowly building momentum, the technology behind them does not need to catch up with real money alternatives. In fact, there are plenty of apps for social casinos - the difficult bit is deciding which one is the best for you.
Ongoing rewards and VIP programs: Beyond the welcome bonus, it is also important to review what is available for returning customers - you only need to look at our Borgata bonus code guide to see why that’s important. In this section, we would expect to see daily login bonuses and further chances to avoid making a purchase online.
The best real money online casino alternative: Stake.us
Now you have a greater understanding of how social and sweepstakes casinos work, it's time to look at our favorite place to play - Stake.us.
With over 300 casino titles, backed by the likes of Hacksaw Gaming and Pragmatic Play, it's fair to say that the enjoyment side of things can quickly be ticked off the list. However, Stake.us offers much more than an entertaining gaming lobby. For starters, the registration process is a complete breeze, allowing you to join by entering some basic information or by linking your social media account. It is at this stage that we also suggest making use of our exclusive promotional code and redeeming a 5% Rakeback bonus that gifts you 5% back on all losses the next day.
Once registered, you'll be able to unlock the daily login bonus and receive your first virtual currency bounty. Stake.us makes use of Gold Coins and Stake Cash, allowing you to play for fun or cash prizes respectively. Stake Cash can only be used across promotional titles or entered into competitions but it can later be converted into vouchers, digital cash, or merchandise. As comes as standard with Gold Coins, they are used for entertainment only.
There is no mobile app available yet. However, you can still play on the go, thanks to an optimized mobile browser experience. You can also make the most of the social forum and discuss your tactics with like-minded players, contact customer support around-the-clock, and enjoy new games regularly.
Social Casino Promo
4.6/5
Social Casino Promo
4.6/5
5% Rakeback
Promo
|
T&Cs apply, 18+
Copy
Claim Promo
Things to consider before joining a social or sweepstakes casino in IA
In this penultimate section of our Iowa online casino guide, we look to offer up a few key considerations to take away with you before making use of the CaptainGambling platform and beginning your search for the best social or sweepstakes casino for you.
What kind of games do you plan to play?
Before registering, make sure you have checked the caliber of games available to you. If you find names like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play are powering the library, you’re on to a winner.
Do you want to play for fun or prizes?
Once established, you’ll be able to quickly identify whether you need to look out for a top social or sweepstakes casino. If you’ve opted for the chance to win prizes, make sure you check out whether you can exchange your Sweeps Coins for cash, vouchers, or merchandise.
Is your chosen site active on social media?
Alongside, entering new customer sweeps casino promo codes, players can acquire further coins by entering social media giveaways and competitions. The more active the site, the more chances to win.
Best sweepstakes casino and social casino bonuses in Iowa
That brings us to the end of our Iowa online casino guide. We hope that you are now confident with the laws surrounding online casinos in the Hawkeye State and are happy with the differences between social and sweepstakes casinos.
Although changes to legislation seem some way off, it’s always worth bookmarking CaptainGambling and making use of our dedicated platform. Here, our experts are always on the pulse and ready to update our readers with any changes to online casino laws.
Beyond online casino guides, we also have a dedicated section devoted to top social and sweepstakes casinos. If you like the sounds of these great alternatives, then be sure to make use of our detailed reviews covering bonuses, usability, gaming options and so much more.
We know that sometimes the legality of online casinos in the US can be a tad confusing. That is why at CaptainGambling.com we give you a detailed breakdown of the current legality of online casinos in Iowa. By the time you are done reading our casino guide, you will know exactly whether or not online casinos are legal in Iowa.
❓Who is the best online casino Iowa?
At the end of the day, the answer to this question would be somewhat subjective but we have plenty of the best online casino options for you over at CaptainGambling.com. We have put together our Iowa casino list so that you can see exactly where we rank online casinos in Iowa.
🔏Do online casinos in Iowa offer gambling bonuses?
There are many internet casinos out there that offer gambling bonuses but the trick is to separate the best from the mediocre. Our Iowa casino list takes welcome bonuses into account and ranks these online casinos accordingly. That way, your choice is made far easier.
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
