Online Poker in Iowa - Best IA Online Poker Sites 2025
Iowa may be seen as a fairly standard, run-of-the-mill Midwestern state, but below that exterior, there is the reality of a fairly progressive gambling scene that's mostly unexpected. Iowa is home to many different types of gambling options, and in terms of sheer volume, the choices are remarkable.
One thing that's lacking though is real money regulated Iowa online poker. While there have been discussions to make this a reality, it just isn’t there yet. Luckily, there are great options for online poker in Iowa as offshore sites – like the well-respected Ignition Poker – offer a full array of gambling options for those in the state to take advantage of.
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2. Online Poker Legal? 3. Best IA Poker Sites 4. How to Play Online Poker
5.1. Game Selection 5.2. Cashier Methods 5.3. Bonuses & Promos 5.4. Rakeback
6.1. Ignition 6.2. SB Poker/BOL 6.3. Bovada 6.4. ACR Poker 6.5. CoinPoker 6.6. Everygame 6.7. SwCPoker 6.8. Nitrobetting
7.1. B&M Poker 7.2. Gambling History 7.3. Famous Poker Players 7.4. Alternatives to IA Online Poker
Top Online Poker Sites in Iowa
We have compiled a list of reputable poker options for you to read about and make the best choice for your playing needs.
Is Online Poker Legal in Iowa?
Iowa has some pretty tough anti-gambling laws, and poker is definitely encompassed within them. In fact, there have been cases of Iowa police busting up poker games and making trouble for the participants.
However, the important thing to note about these enforcement actions is that they have always been directed against brick-and-mortar poker games, not online ones. Indeed, there has never been an instance of the Iowa authorities targeting online games or players. You needn't worry about Iowa law if you decide to play poker over the internet.
Furthermore, the relevant federal laws, like the UIGEA, do not apply to individual players but rather to those running the sites. Therefore, there's no chance of legal persecution if you wish to sample what Iowa internet poker has to offer.
Best Iowa Online Poker Sites
The poker sites available to Iowans are mostly upstanding, reputable organizations, but there are a few that you ought to be wary of because they're not all on the up and up. Fortunately, we've done the work of identifying those that will treat you right, and we've presented them below. Whichever of these sites you opt to play at, you'll get to enjoy fully featured, up-to-date software, fairly run games, and the timely payout of your winnings.
- Ignition Casino - Greatest player population.
- SB Poker - Contests, leaderboards, bad beat jackpots.
- BetOnline - Awesome mobile software.
- Bovada - Access multiple gaming products from a single account.
- ACR Poker - Robust tournament lineup.
- Coin Poker - Crypto poker site with most active games.
- Everygame - Many promotions both temporary and permanent.
- SwCPoker - Numerous poker variants offered.
- Nitrobetting - Play for bitcoins in your browser.
- BlackChip Poker - ACR clone for those who already have ACR accounts.
- Juicy Stakes - Rake races, loyalty tiers, reload bonuses, and much more.
- True Poker - Third option on same network as ACRPoker and BlackChip.
How to Play Online Poker in Iowa
Online poker for real money in Iowa is a breeze to begin playing. We've included below instructions for signing up at our #1 rated site, Ignition, but the process is similar at any site albeit with a few minor differences.
- Follow any one of our links to Ignition Casino.
- A signup form will appear in your browser window. Fill it out, remembering to input your true personal details. Before making your first payout request, you'll probably be required to complete ID verification, and any false information provided could trigger severe action from the site, up to and including balance confiscation and account termination.
- When ready, click “Register” at the bottom of the page
- Ignition may attempt to confirm your mobile number by sending you a text message. Read the numeric code sent to your phone, and type it into the space provided on Ignition's website.
- Your account should now be ready to go. You can now browse over to the cashier and fund your account via whatever mechanism works best for you (we highly recommend Bitcoin).
How We Evaluate Iowa Online Poker Sites – Choosing the Best Internet Poker Room
There are a number of ways in which the best sites for online poker Iowa residents can play at differ from each other. We've done the hard work of evaluating them across several criteria so that we can tell you about the leading providers in this space.
Games Offered and Stakes Spread
From the nearly ubiquitous No Limit Texas Hold'em to more obscure variants, like Razz and Triple Draw Lowball, the forms of poker present at sites may vary tremendously. Even at rooms that spread the same poker games, the blind levels or buyins offered can differ significantly.
When it comes to such wrinkles as fast-fold poker, lottery-style SNGs, satellite tourneys, all-in-or-fold events, and other non-standard offerings, the differences are even more pronounced. Some sites welcome such inventions while others prefer to stick to the basics.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Many rooms for real money Iowa online poker let you transact with such familiar tools as credit cards and money orders. However, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies often represent the best channels available for depositing and withdrawing your money.
BTC lets you benefit from fast transaction speeds and low fees. All of our recommended sites for online poker in Iowa permit you to use Bitcoin. If you aren't yet acquainted with the ins and outs of Bitcoin poker, then perhaps this guide to Bitcoin and online gaming would be of interest to you.
Bonuses & Promotions
Many internet poker rooms reward new players with an initial deposit bonus, and there may be further bonuses for subsequent deposits and well as ways to earn additional bonuses through continued play. Beyond bonuses, promotions like rake races, freerolls, and loyalty programs deliver value to the loyal customers over time.
Some bonuses and promotions are extended for a limited time only. Others remain valid for months or even years.
Online Poker Rakeback
As a means of getting ongoing value over time, there's nothing quite like rakeback. This is a never-ending refund of a portion of the rake you pay at the tables. We recognize the immense potential of rakeback by including the word in the name of our site, Professional Rakeback.
Here are all the trustworthy Iowa online poker rakeback rooms:
- ACR Poker – 27% on demand rakeback
- CoinPoker – 33% weekly rakeback (for holders of CHP token)
- Everygame – 36% daily rakeback
- SwCPoker – up to 50% rakeback (depending on volume of play)
- BlackChip Poker – 27% on demand rakeback
- Juicy Stakes Poker – 36% weekly rakeback
- True Poker – 27% on demand rakeback
Reviews of Online Poker Sites for Iowa
If you seek further information on any poker sites before making a decision, keep reading. We have reviewed them all so that you can make an educated choice.
Ignition Casino Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Most games simultaneously active
- Fast bonus clearance
- Game quality is superb
Cons
- No table or seat selection
Review
You'll find tons of tables running at all hours of the day at Ignition Poker because it's the biggest site for online poker in the United States. Ignition offers a wide variety of cash game variants, including NL Hold'em, Limit Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8. Also on offer are fast-fold Zone Poker, sit-and-gos, and lotto-inspired Jackpot SNGs.
Ignition also hosts the $150 + $12 $150,000 Guaranteed, which runs every Sunday and has multiple satellites letting you win entry for as little as $1. Furthermore, there are recurring MTT series that award eight figures in prize guarantees.
All play here is anonymized, and moreover, seats in ring games are assigned at random. This is a drawback in the eyes of some users, but it leads to soft games filled with novices who feel comfortable that they can't be hunted down by veteran players.
The Ignition Poker client is downloadable on any PC or Mac device. Additionally, Ignition offers a browser-based interface that functions on any tablet or mobile device. First-time depositors are eligible for a Bitcoin poker bonus of 150% up to $1,500.
SB Poker/BetOnline
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Well-designed mobile software
- Bad beat jackpots, leaderboards, and other promos
- Attached sportsbook, racebook, and casino
Cons
- High rake
SB Poker, along with its partner site BetOnline, is the third-largest poker room available to U.S. players. They offer a wide range of poker variants, such as NL Hold'em, PLO/8, PLO, 5 Card PLO, 6 Card PLO, and fast-fold Boost Poker. SB Poker also features numerous multi-table tournaments, sit-and-gos, and lotto-style Windfall SNGs.
Sportsbetting and BOL also host two sets of bad beat jackpots: one for Hold'em and another for PLO. In addition, there are contests you can complete for rewards, leaderboards to compete against your peers, and a RISE rewards program that delivers weekly payouts.
SB Poker and BetOnline can be downloaded on any Windows or Mac device, and there's also an excellent mobile iteration of the poker software available for iOS and Android. New players will receive a 100% up to $1,000 poker bonus on their first deposit, and additional valuable promotions are on offer in the attached sportsbook and casino.
Bovada
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Good player traffic
- All-in-one gambling portfolio (poker, casino, sportsbook, racebook)
- Lengthy history in the online gaming industry
Cons
- Poker bonus is somewhat small
Review
Bovada is a sister site to Ignition Poker on the Pai Wang Luo network. Therefore, both sites offer the same array of poker games and tables. The main benefit to playing at Bovada is that it offers a world-class sportsbook, something Ignition lacks.
In fact, you can bet on eSports, entertainment events, and politics in addition to the traditional range of sporting events on offer. Bovada also features a racebook, which lists over one hundred tracks from all over the world.
Bovada Poker can be downloaded on Mac and PC devices. Mobile users can utilize the browser-based poker client to play. You can get a poker bonus worth 100% of your deposit up to $500: admittedly quite a bit smaller than Ignition's $1,500 deal. Check out the attached casino and sportsbook to receive additional bonus funds.
ACR Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
Pros
- Many large tournaments
- $10 free bankroll (bonus code PRB10FREE)
- Elite Benefits rewards
Cons
- No play money games
Review
ACR Poker is the flagship site on the Winning Poker Network, the second-largest online poker operator for U.S. players. ACR offers a wide array of cash game formats, including NL Hold'em, Limit Hold'em, PL Omaha, Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, and 7 Card Stud. Cash game blinds start as low as $0.01/$0.02, and high-stakes games featuring blinds higher than $25/$50 also occur regularly.
ACR also offers an impressive variety of multi-table tournaments, including recurring tournaments like the VENOM and the Online Super Series. The VENOM features a $5+ million guaranteed prize pool!
ACR Poker offers a downloadable poker client for both Windows and Mac devices. A mobile client is available as well. Grab $10 free by using our PRB10FREE bonus code and you can also receive a 100% bonus on your first deposit up to $2,000.
Coin Poker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Pros
- Well-trafficked crypto poker room
- 33% rakeback for CHP token investors
Cons
- No standard SNGs
Review
CoinPoker is the largest crypto-only poker room on the web, and it is growing quite quickly. Tables are exclusively denominated using Tether (USDT), although you can deposit and withdraw using a few other cryptos, like Bitcoin. There are leaderboards for cash games and tournaments to enhance your gaming bankroll even further.
One glaring omission is the absence of normal nine-, six-, and two-player sit & gos although three-man, lottery-style Cosmic Spins are present.
The CoinPoker software is fully compatible with any modern computing device, including iOS and Android mobile systems. You can benefit from an excellent deposit bonus at CoinPoker consisting of 150% up to $2,000. Also, you can claim 33% rakeback every week if you hold a balance of CoinPoker's proprietary coin, CHP.
Everygame
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
Pros
- Many and varied promos to reward all kinds of players
- 36% rakeback
Cons
- Software becoming outdated
Review
The poker traffic at Everygame is somewhat low, and the software is old and creaky, but there are plenty of other reasons to make it your online poker home as long as you don't expect to be able to heavily multitable. Everygame offers 36% rakeback, which is issued daily, as well as other valuable promotions, like rake races, reload bonuses, overlay tournaments, and a robust VIP player program.
The Everygame Poker client is available to download on any Windows device. Users of other OSes can utilize an instant play interface to play via any modern browser on virtually any computer, tablet, or mobile device. The welcome bonus for poker is 200% up to $1,000 of your first deposit.
SwCPoker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
Pros
- Spreads variants that are difficult to find
- Krill rewards delivers up to 50% rakeback
Cons
- Small number of games running
Review
SwCPoker conducts all of its deposits, withdrawals, and gameplay using Bitcoin. The gameplay on offer here is quite varied with all the standard game types, like NL Hold'em and PL Omaha, but also multiple obscure types of poker, including HORSE, Razz, and Open Face Chinese.
SwCPoker operates on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. Although SwC lacks an initial deposit bonus, you can earn up to 50% rakeback depending on how much volume you put in at the tables.
Nitrobetting
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, Visa, PayPal
Pros
- Broad cross-platform compatibility
- Up to 35% monthly rakeback
Cons
- Traffic is light
- Only two types of poker offered
Review
Only two poker variants are on offer here: NL Hold'em and PL Omaha. Nitrobetting runs in any modern web browser; therefore, the poker software works with numerous OSes, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS. There's no welcome bonus, but rakeback up to 35% is possible monthly based on your playing volume.
Facts About Iowa's Poker Industry
The sections below aim to provide factual information regarding live gambling locations, the history of poker and gambling throughout the state, famous Iowan poker players, and similar related subjects.
Live Poker
Iowa has a thriving gambling scene with racinos, tribal casinos, and commercial casinos. However, only a few of these establishments offer poker.
The largest card room in the state is at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs. It has 18 tables that spread low-limit No Limit Texas Hold'em almost always and Limit Omaha/8 during busier periods. Every day of the week except Friday, there's at least one tournament. Furthermore, Horseshoe Council Bluffs sometimes hosts major poker events, like the World Series of Poker Circuit and the RunGood Poker Series.
History of Gambling in Iowa
Iowa has definitely seen its share of terrestrial gambling during its history especially after a freak riverbed shift in 1877 isolated the city of Carter Lake from the rest of the state. With nobody sure if it was part of Iowa or Nebraska, a kind of legal grey zone arose, which was utilized by businessmen to open up gambling parlors. They thrived from the late 19th century until the late 1940s when they were finally shut down by officials.
If we wish to instead consider legal gambling, that has a much shorter history, starting only in 1973 with the establishment of the nonprofit bingo and raffles. 1983 saw the legalization of parimutuel wagering, and a state lottery was authorized in 1985.
The next few years were devoted to casino openings with riverboat gambling given the go-ahead in 1989 and tribal gaming compacts signed in 1992. In 1994, racetracks were allowed to install slot machines and thus become racinos.
The most recent gambling expansion came in 2019 and related to sports. Both online and retail sportsbooks were allowed, and Daily Fantasy Sports was regulated too.
Famous Poker Players From Iowa
Iowan poker players haven't exactly set the world on fire, but yet, there are a few who have made their mark on the game. William Reynolds of Sioux City, for instance, has made $1.7 in online tournaments and a further $2 million in live tournaments. If we want to focus on offline poker specifically, then the winningest Iowa poker player is Alexander Condon, also from Sioux City, who has made more than $2.3 million.
Alternatives to Registering Your Poker Account in the State of Iowa
Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, or some other property. If so, then you may have other online poker options available to choose from. Here is a list of the states that border Iowa and Professional Rakeback's review of each of them: Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. For a broader perspective on internet poker throughout the country as a whole, you can read our page devoted to U.S.A online poker.
Online poker in Iowa is a topic about which there is a lot of ignorance. If you know anybody - friend, family member, acquaintance, coworker, etc. - whom you think might want to learn about poker over the internet, then please consider sharing this article with them.
Summary of Online Poker in Iowa
Online poker in Iowa is a great pastime if you don't feel like getting dressed and heading to the casino. There are no legal penalties against the game that are actually enforced in practice, so this is a safe form of amusement to participate in. Find a great Iowa online poker room from our list above, and start playing now.
Responsible Gaming
Here at Professional Rakeback, online poker is one of our most enjoyable pastimes. However, it's important to recognize the line beyond which a pastime turns into a problem. If you think you might be at risk of serious gambling issues, then look to the following organizations for help.
- Gamblers Anonymous
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- Iowa Office of Problem Gambling Prevention & Treatment Services
- Your Life Iowa Gambling Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we've compiled a list of questions and answers about Iowa online poker. Read them to educate yourself further on this topic.
Yes, online poker is effectively legal in Iowa. Although there have been raids on live poker games in Iowa, there has never been a single enforcement action or prosecution against anyone for playing poker over the internet. You're totally safe, from a legal standpoint, if you wish to log on to the poker site of your choice and play a few hands.
Yes, Pokerstars is doing nothing wrong by serving users in Iowa. But the games being offered in the Hawkeye State are for play money only; you cannot access any real money games on the PokerStars platform from Iowa.
The reason for this dates back to the Black Friday federal crackdown on internet poker in 2011. In order to settle the charges brought against it, PokerStars voluntarily entered an agreement with the Justice Department whereby the company pledged to exit the U.S. market for real money online gaming and to only reenter in those jurisdictions for which it has obtained proper licensure from the official authorities.
The minimum gambling age in Iowa is 21 no matter what form of legalized gambling you wish to participate in. Unusually, charitable bingo seems to be the sole form of gambling exempt from this rule, and it looks like people of any age can play it.
When discussing online gaming, like poker and casino games, there's a different rule that applies. Most jurisdictions around the world consider you an adult at the age of 18, and this is the age that you must have attained before being able to play at almost all online poker and gaming sites.
Should you happen to be younger than 18, then you should refrain from opening up any gaming accounts using fraudulent personal details. When it comes time to verify your identity, your deception will likely be uncovered. At this point, your account will be terminated and any funds within it will probably be seized.
Iowa offshore poker rooms all provide a variety of mechanisms for funding your account and retrieving your winnings. Such methods as credit cards, wire transfers, and checks are commonplace. However, for the best combination of convenience and anonymity, we recommend that you use Bitcoin, which is supported by every site on our list of Iowa online poker rooms.
Bitcoin cashouts generally take no longer than a day or two, and the fees tend to be reasonable. However, there are other digital coins that provide distinct advantages over BTC, and they are gaining acceptance at a growing number of online gaming sites. To learn more about them, check out these pages devoted to Bitcoin Cash gaming and Ethereum for online poker and casino games.
Yes, income from online poker is fully taxable in Iowa. Not only that, but the federal government also expects to collect its share. Unless you wish to run the risk of angering the Iowa Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service, you ought to pay what you owe them.
The responsibility for figuring out your profit lies solely with you because offshore poker firms don't generally provide annual win/loss statements. For further information about how to file taxes on your poker income, we advise you to check with a qualified tax attorney or accountant.
Yes, mobile poker for Iowans is a reality. Almost every internet poker site provides a way for you to play on your phone or tablet. Even at those sites that don't have a dedicated downloadable mobile app, there's usually a web platform that lets you play poker from any device with a web browser.
Additional Resources
Iowa permits multiple forms of gambling, and if you wish to find out more about them, consider reading these links:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!