Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes may not have won the NCAA Women’s Tournament, but their second straight Final Four appearance likely boosted handle in April.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reported $209.5 million in accepted bets, a year-over-year increase of 21.4% that coincided with a marked increase in exposure for Clark — the eventual No. 1 draft pick in the WNBA — and women’s college basketball compared to 2023.
The IRGC does not break out figures by sport, but the Hawkeyes had two games in April to help boost numbers. April’s handle was down 23.1% from the $272 million bet in March, the sixth-highest total in state history.