DRF Sportsbook Review

DRF Sportsbook Review

In January 2022, Daily Racing Form introduced a new sportsbook to Iowa sports bettors. The newspaper that had been dedicated to all things horse racing since 1894 partnered with the New York based Sports Information Group to offer a local sportsbook to The Hawkeye State. 

They also brought in help from Affinity Gaming and Affinity Interactive. Affinity Gaming operates several physical casinos across Nevada, Missouri, and Iowa including the Lakeside Hotel & Casino located in Osceola, IA.

Despite launching first in Iowa, DRF is aiming to gain access to future markets through their DRF Bets and DRF Sports brands. Keep reading to find out if DRF Sportsbook is a good fit for you.

DRF Sportsbook Quick Facts

DRF Locations

Currently, the DRF Sportsbook is only available to sports bettors in Iowa.

Sports Leagues to Bet On

NFL Betting

A full slate of weekly games can be found for NFL bettors at DRF Sportsbook. All of the week’s action is laid out in a well-organized list that includes each game’s moneyline, spread, and point total odds. Clicking on each game will take you to a subsection filled with a healthy menu of betting options where you can choose from same game parlays to numerous prop options including game combos, game props, and player props. Teasing odds or selecting an alternate spread or Over/Under is as simple as adjusting a slider giving you the freedom to choose a more comfortable number. 

Futures betting continues throughout the season with odds on division winners, individual teams to make the playoffs, and of course, to win it all. Player award winner markets are offered as well with league MVP listed among others.  

NBA Betting

Fans of NBA betting action will enjoy all that DRF has to offer. Every matchup for that day’s contests can be found with all of the favorite betting angles including ML, spreads, and point totals. Expanded options add player and game props to the menu. Game combos and quarter bets are also available, and like their NFL options, you can adjust the slider to take an alternate spread or total.

On top of all the daily action, bettors can place their bets on a wide variety of things to come. Championship bets are there as can be expected along with individual team markets, MVP, and regular season awards such as Rookie of the Year.   

College Football

A healthy dose of college football betting action is available to sports bettors if they want it. ML, spread, and point total bets are available for each and every game on the Division I college football schedule each week. Collegiate prop betting is not legal in Iowa, so options are limited to the standard bets.  

College Basketball

March may be madness, but DRF gives you a full season’s worth of it. Every night offers a full complement of ML, spread, and point total bets for college basketball betting. A deeper dive into each reveals far more including game props and game combos such as combining a ML and a point total. Find betting options for every step along the path with Conference Championship odds as well as who will cut down the final net of the season.

NHL Betting

DRF Sportsbook offers hundreds of ways to bet on the NHL each night. ML, pucklines, and O/U can be found here however each game provides so much more. Between game combos and player props, you will not be left wanting for betting angles. 

Another fun, new feature are the “Pre-packs,” bets. These are ready-made parlays much like the weekly special bets you can find on some other sportsbooks. Odds for these pre-packs can range anywhere from slightly juiced all the way to +8000 on certain combos.

MLB Betting

There is no shortage of opportunity to bet on the action from the diamond as DRF gives you all of your favorite options as well as more prop bets than you could possibly hope for each and every day. Make your predictions on who will win the World Series as well as the National and American League pennant with the healthy MLB futures markets.

Other Sports Leagues

On top of all the more popular sports, DRF brings you golf, tennis, Formula 1, European soccer action from 28 different countries, UFC, boxing, WNBA, Australian Rules Football, cycling, and rugby.          

Online Betting Experience

Website Experience

Users are greeted by a clean, visually appealing home screen when visiting the DRF Sportsbook desktop website. Options are laid out in a way that is not overwhelming, yet still full of information at the same time. Navigating between sports is seamless as the left hand menu remains constant, and odds for every sport are uniform and clearly divided leaving no confusion as to which game’s odd you are trying to identify. Breakout menus for individual games are also simple to operate even with the addition of the sliders present with teaser bets.  

This book's simple two-panel interface makes it far less intimidating than some other smaller books that lean too heavy on flashiness to attract customers.The DRF site wants you to be able to find and place bets easily.Once you have found the bets you like, you can easily create your own parlays or round robin bets directly from the betslip that rests to the bottom right of the screen. You also have the option to pin your slip to the right hand side to keep better track of your bets. However, I find it disorienting that clicking the “DRF” button in the top left corner takes you to the promotions page instead of to the sportsbook homepage.

Mobile Betting and Betting App

The DRF app is almost a mirror image of the website. Easily scroll through each sport without straying too far away from the rest of your options. A navigational bar at the bottom of your screen keeps you within a tap or two of finding your next destination. A separate tab is also there for your bet slip One downside is the fact that clicking on promotional links takes you outside of the app.

Icons for each sport can be found at the top of the home screen as well as the option to find all other sports that DRF Sportsbook offers. 

Live Betting

Stay in the moment with DRF and the live-action offered on its platform. Live event bets can be placed from both the website and the app. Get deep in the weeds with minute-by-minute NFL action, quarter-by-quarter basketball betting, and everything in between. 

Casino, Poker, & Other Gaming Options

Because online casino games are not legal in the state of Iowa, there are currently no online casino or gaming options via the DRF Sportsbook website or mobile app.

DRF History

The Daily Racing Forum began in 1894 as a newspaper with the sole purpose of covering the sport of horse racing. It has existed as such ever since, but modernized with the times to include a web presence and now, a sportsbook. 

The DRF sportsbook officially launched in January 2022. It is powered by DRB Bets - the horse racing platform of the company - and Affinity Interactive which covers the sports betting aspects.  

Iowa became the first state in DRF’s sportsbook operation due to Affinity’s partnership with the Lakeside Casino in Osceola which made entry into the market much easier. The company has expressed interest in introducing itself outside of the state in the future as it potentially gains traction. 

Customer Ratings & Reputation

Overall ratings for the DRF app are favorable albeit sparse on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Apple and Google users give the app a 3.8 overall rating but user reviews reveal frustrations with payouts and overall satisfaction with the product.  

DRF Contact

You will find the customer service section at the bottom of the DRF website. Clicking on the link will take you to a “knowledge base,” page with options to troubleshoot your issue by yourself. A live chat option is also available if you fail to address the problem alone.

The website itself does not list a contact number or an address, however, the DRF online publication site does offer a toll-free number for DRF Bets issues:

• Phone number: 1-877-408-1999
• Live chat
• Submit a ticket
• Twitter: @DRFSportsbook

DRF Legal Betting

DRF operates as a part of the Sports Information Group LLC and is regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. 

Responsible Gambling

The legal age for sports betting in most states is 21+. This is subject to regional regulation. Please play responsibly. DRF complies with the rules laid down by the regulating bodies in the state in which it operates. DRF Sportsbook also provides options for self-exclusion, and to either limit or suspend your account.

Here are a few other resources to help ensure you are gambling responsibly and identify if you have a gambling problem.

• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): The NCPG has over 50 years of experience assisting people and families affected by problem gambling. You can call or text them (1-800-522-4700) or join their 24/7 Live Chat.
• Center for Problem Gambling: The Center has been funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) since 1996. They are committed to serving anyone affected by a gambling addiction. Treatment is confidential and provided regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Their gambling counselors have significant experience working with problem gambling and include therapists who are Nationally Certified Gambling Counselors.
• BeGambleAware.org: Offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: A global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.

Why Choose DRF Sportsbook?

Iowa sports bettors do have several options for their sports betting needs. Choosing the DRF sportsbook is ideal for those who want plenty of options for both new and experienced sports bettors. Novice bettors can find plenty to keep them occupied while the more seasoned sports gambler will also get the action they desire.

With an easy-to-use web interface as well as a straightforward mobile app, DRF has made a solid entry in the market and has left itself room to grow as they attempt to expand deeper into the national market.