Enjoy the best in social online poker and sweepstakes games in Iowa. Get ready for new poker legislation in Iowa with the top play-money sites including mobile apps and bonus offers for new customers and existing loyal players.
Best Iowa Poker Sites in 2021/2022
- Global Poker
- ClubGG Poker
- PP Poker
- PlayWSOP
- Zynga Poker
- PokerStars – expected
- PartyPoker – expected
- BetMGM Poker – expected 2022
How to Play Online Poker in Iowa
Iowa is one of many US states that has forged ahead with legal online gambling. Sports betting is now 100-percent legal in the Hawkeye State. You can place bets on US sports from your PC, smartphone or tablet.
The picture for online poker is a little less clear. While Iowa senators proposed legislation for poker back in 2012, nothing came of it. For now, Iowans have to make do with play-money sites and special sweepstakes poker rooms.
Free Poker Sites
You can also play poker for free at social gambling sites. Download the app or create an online log in and start with a number of freeplay chips. You can use those chips to gamble on cash games or tournaments of your choice. There’s no download required and you can even pick your own avatar and screenname.
Sweepstakes Poker
The sweepstakes poker model has revolutionized online gambling. With sweepstakes poker sites such as Global Poker, you purchase Gold Coins which are used to enter play-money cash games and tournaments.
However, when you purchase and win Gold Coins, you’ll also receive Sweeps Coins. These can be redeemed for real money. It’s totally legal in Iowa as long as you’re aged 21 or over.
Best Cash Games & Poker Tournaments Available in Iowa
You can play a range of poker variants at the top Iowa gambling sites. The US favorite, Texas Hold’em, is popular but you’ll also find variations such as Omaha and Stud. Plus, you can take your pick of cash games at all stakes, as well as Sit ‘n Gos, tournaments and satellites.
Cash Games
In Iowa poker cash games, the blinds never increase. Sit down with the minimum buy-in amount and play Hold’em or Omaha cash games until you need a rebuy or you decide to leave. Play for micro-stakes starting at $0.05/$0.10, or jump into the high-roller tables where you can use more of your player points.
You’ll find cash games at all good sweepstakes poker sites. You’ll win Gold Coins when playing for free, then Sweeps Coins which can be transferred for cold, hard cash.
Tournaments & Sit ‘n Gos
Play-money poker sites also run the full gamut of tournaments. SNGs (Sit ‘n Gos) are single-table tournaments which start as soon as they’re full. Max. players tend to be in the 6-9 range, and games can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to complete.
Bigger MTTs (Multi-Table Tournaments) are also available. You’ll receive a bigger starting stack and games may last hours. MTTs are normally played as freezeouts, that is once you run out of chips you’re out of the game.
Online Poker Bonuses in Iowa
- Promo codes & bonus offers for new poker players
- Freeroll tournament entries
- Deposit match bonus
- Reward points
- Cashback on fees and rake
You can also claim online poker welcome bonuses when you join sites in Iowa. Start with a welcome bonus or refer a friend and claim free coins to use how you like. When real-money poker is legalized in Iowa, you’ll also be able to join a VIP scheme or enter freerolls.
- Welcome Bonus: Social poker sites in Iowa and sweepstakes poker rooms normally offer some sort of welcome bonus. This is reserved for new signups making their first deposit. For example, you may receive a cut-price bundle of coins just for signing up and depositing cash into your account. You may also receive special tokens to play tournaments reserved just for new players.
- Refer a Friend: Once you’ve opened your account, you can refer a friend and earn extra cash to use on poker games. Send your pal the special link, and as long as both of you deposit and play you’ll receive free coins or play tokens.
- Cashback: This poker promo is sometimes offered at real-money poker sites. When Iowa legalizes online poker, you’ll be able to claim free money back on losing games or tournament entries.
- Freeroll Entries & Free Poker Ticket Bonus: Freerolls are free-to-enter poker tournaments provided at many online sites. Real-money poker rooms normally offer freeroll tickets as part of a welcome bonus.
Iowa poker sites are raring to go. Play for free or earn cash through special sweepstakes games. Enjoy your favorite Texas Hold’em games or jump into an Omaha cash game or tournament. Sign up today and claim your Iowa poker bonus!
Iowa Online Poker FAQs
No. Real-money poker online is still illegal. However, you can play at unique sweepstakes poker sites in order to win real cash.
Sweepstakes poker sites operate a unique model where you can exchange virtual coins for real money. It’s legal in Iowa and you won’t be violating any laws.
Of course. Just sign up and receive a bonus such as free chips. You may even be able to win free online poker chips by referring a friend.
Best Cash Games & Poker Tournaments
What kind of poker games will be available online in Iowa? You should expect to find a good selection of cash games and tournaments running round the clock.
Texas Hold’em: Hold’em is America’s favorite poker variant. The majority of online poker games found in the US will be played as Texas Hold’em.
In the game, each player is dealt two cards face down (‘hole cards’). Players must make the best 5-card hand from any of their hole cards and five community cards dealt on the table.
Omaha: Omaha is a variant of Texas Hold’em where each player is dealt four hole cards. Iowa players again share five community cards but they must use two of their hole cards to make a poker hand.
Cash Games: In online cash poker games, Iowa players sit down with a set amount of money to play. Once you run out of cash, you’ll have to option to reload and keep your seat. Cash games will run 24/7 as long as there are players to occupy the seats.
Tournaments: In this type of poker games, you begin with a set number of chips. Once you run out of chips, you’re out of the tournament.