- Iowa sportsbooks saw a massive 10.38% hold rate in April, resulting in $21.9 million in revenue.
- Though the $210 million handle for the month was the lowest of any month in 2026, the revenue stayed on par with other months due to the high hold rate.
DES MOINES, Iowa – April was a very profitable month for sports betting sites in Iowa, despite a relatively mild handle, securing $21.9 million in revenue on $210 million in handle.
The $210 million handle was the lowest of any month so far this year for the state, but remained neck-and-neck with other months revenue-wise, earning just $3 million less than March, which saw nearly $60 million more in handle.
This is because of the 10.38% hold rate for the month, just behind January at 10.6% for the highest in 2026. Both February and March recorded a higher handle than April, but a lower hold rate, hovering just above 9%.
Revenue Has Increased Year-Over-Year Despite Steady Handle
Iowa has seen a $5.4 million increase in handle since April of 2024, when sportsbooks brought in $16.5 million in revenue, to $18.8 million in April of 2025, and finally up to $21.9 million in April of 2026.
This increase has happened despite a relatively stable handle, going from $209.5 million in 2024, to $215.6 million in 2025, and back down to $210.5 million in 2026.
As revenue continues to grow, so must the hold rate, and it has been no exception for sports betting sites in Iowa, rising from 7.89% in 2024 to 10.38% in 2026.
Online Sports Betting Accounts For Majority Of Handle
Over $200 million of the $210.5 million handle generated in the month of April in Iowa came from legal sports betting sites, making up about 95% of all wagers in the state, while the remaining 5% came from in-person sportsbooks.
Across the 18 retail casinos with sportsbooks, the combined handle came out to just $9.3 million, marking a steady decline in in-person wagering. This figure has dropped each of the last two years, going from $13 million in April of 2024, to $11.7 million in April of 2025, and now down to just $9.3 million this April.
