2024 DraftKings Review

DraftKings is a staple in the US for online sports betting and DFS, and it’s well worth your time and money. They handle roughly half of all the DFS action in the United States and offer daily contests for individual player performance in all major sports markets: NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA, and MLB. You can get in on already-existing contests or lineups and even create your own for others to join. DraftKings also allows members to participate in competitive prize pools, develop leagues with family or friends, and earn rewards for participating.

Our DraftKings review will reveal why this app is ideal for DFS betting, but we’ll also cover the DraftKings Sportsbook and the DraftKings Casino to show you some of the other great gambling options that are right there at your fingertips. DK is a well-rounded online gambling app that’s a good fit for most avid online sports bettors, an all-in-one shop with everything you could need in one place.

DraftKings Highlights

If you want to capture DraftKings in a snapshot, we’ve compiled a list of the main features and amenities the app offers its members. This app is a clear choice for anyone who’d like to get in on DFS contests daily or weekly, but it’s a good one to consider for regular sports betting or online casino games, too.

Check out the DraftKings fast facts below to understand what you can expect from this DFS app. If you like what you see, we recommend reading the rest of the review to learn what DraftKings can offer you!

Contents of the Page

To find something in our DraftKings reviews quickly, use the jump links to find the information most important to your search.

Overview of DraftKings

DraftKings specializes in daily fantasy contests and sports betting, both online and in-person, at select retail sportsbooks. Some states have an online casino with slots, jackpots, and live dealer tables. But their primary focus is on DFS, offering daily and weekly contests based on individual player performance for its primary markets: MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, and PGA. They also provide DFS contests on other markets like Premier League, tennis, NASCAR racing, WWE, MMA, etc.

Brief History

DraftKings was developed and launched in 2012 by Paul Liberman, Matthew Kalish, and Jason Robins, three friends who used to work at Vistaprint in Boston, Massachusetts. The company’s humble beginnings were a one-on-one fantasy baseball competition offered to bettors on the Opening Day of the MLB 2012 Season. The MLB saw an investment opportunity in DraftKings and their vision of making daily fantasy sports betting more widely available online. The MLB backed DraftKings the following year. From there, more professional sports organizations began investing in DraftKings.

By 2016, DraftKings had grown to be one of the two largest DFS betting sites in the United States, along with FanDuel. Both companies were talking about joining forces and merging in November 2016, but this deal fell apart the following July when the Federal Trade Commission stepped in and broke up the merger agreement, fearing that a monopoly of DFS betting was eminent. Between DraftKings and FanDuel, that’s 90% of the DFS betting market.

DraftKings might have taken its lumps back in 2017, but they’ve seen explosive growth since that time. As more states have legalized online gambling and sports betting, DraftKings has snagged these opportunities to expand nationwide. In 2023, DraftKings offers DFS contests and betting in 44 states, while its sportsbook is available in 22 states. DraftKings stock is publicly traded on the NYSE.

Pros and Cons

Even though DraftKings has quite an impressive resume and controls essentially half of the total US DFS handle, a few downsides come with the app. There’s much more to love than hate at DraftKings, but we’re committed to due diligence in this DraftKings review, so we outlined the main pros and cons. We want our readers to know what you’re getting as a member of the app, the good and bad stuff.

As one of the major players in DFS and sports betting, it’s no surprise that we highly recommend DraftKings and its services.

DraftKings Bonuses & Promotions

DraftKings extends bonus and promotional dollars to its new and regular customers to help them keep their bankrolls padded out. The best one available is the welcome bonus on sports betting, but there are a ton of other great offers at DraftKings that we’ll highlight and discuss in greater detail in the section below.

DraftKings Welcome Bonus

First-time sports bettors at DraftKings can earn up to $200 in Bonus Bets, regardless of whether or not their first sports wager wins. It’s a generous offer that gets new sports bettors off to a strong start by fully funding their new DraftKings account.

Welcome Bonus Terms & Conditions

There’s no DraftKings promo code for this bonus, so you don’t have to enter one when you place your bet. Check out the terms and conditions below to understand the nitty gritty of this generous deal.

• First-time DraftKings Sportsbook customers only.
• Deposit $5+ into your Sportsbook account.
• Place a wager of $5+ on any sport (qualifying bet).
• Receive $200 in bonus bets instantly, regardless of the outcome of your qualifying wager.
• The bonus is paid as eight (8) $25 bonus bets.
• Bonus Bets are valid for seven (7) days.
• The Bonus Bet amount is not included in any returns or winnings and is not redeemable for cash, non-transferable, and non-refundable.
• Bonus Bet cannot be used as a qualifying wager.
• One qualifying wager per customer.
• All paid wagers qualify.

DraftKings Deposit Bonus

Here’s another great deal for newcomers to DraftKings. But instead of focusing on Bonus Bet, this welcome offer comes in the form of a deposit match where first-time depositors can earn an extra $1,000 in cash.

20% Bonus up to $1,000

There are some rollover requirements to keep in mind regarding this offer so customers can work this welcome offer to its fullest potential. To earn the entire $1,000 in deposit match funds, you must deposit $5,000.

Deposit Bonus Terms & Conditions

If you want to earn the $1,000 bonus, read up on the terms and conditions below to see how the offer works and how rollover requirements play a role in the deal.

• First-time DraftKings Sportsbook customers only.
• Deposit $5+ into your sportsbook account.
• Make the Qualifying Deposit for up to $1,000 DK Dollars upon completing rollover requirements.
• Deposit $5,000 for the maximum bonus of $1,000 in DK Dollars.
• Rollover requirements: receive $1 in bonus funds for every $25 played on any DraftKings product (only on paid DFS contests, Sportsbook bets (-300 odds or longer), or casino products).
• Rollover requirement must be met within ninety (90) days of the Qualifying Deposit.

Other DraftKings Promotions

Aside from their competitive, generous welcome offers for first-time depositors and bettors, the app has a variety of additional promotions, including several DraftKings odds boosts on multiple sports betting markets and a refer-a-friend program.

There are some promotional offers available in the DraftKings Casino, too. Still, they mostly revolve around jackpots and leaderboards that are subject to change daily, weekly, and monthly. We encourage you to visit the Casino Promotion page to see what deals are happening now.

DraftKings Online Casino

Let’s take a look at the casino side of DraftKings. While this is far from being the most popular part of the app, it’s a place where avid gamblers can enjoy real money casino gameplay, including slots, table games, live dealer tables, and progressive jackpot slots. Access to the DraftKings Casino is limited to Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia people.

Casino Highlights

Before we get into the weeds on the perks and benefits of the casino game selection at DraftKings, we’ll cover some key highlights to showcase the goods they have to offer avid bettors and gamblers.

• Over 600 games
• Get 100% match up to $1,000
• Slots payout over 95% in some cases
• Live dealer games and progressive jackpot slots are available
• Payout percentage: 97.31%
• Most payouts take 1-5 days
• Earn VIP Rewards as you play
• Offers table games with a sports theme
• Games are provided by multiple software companies, including Evolution, NetEnt, IGT, and more
• Various banking methods make it easy to transfer funds and collect payouts

Now that we’ve covered the best of the best DraftKings Casino extends to its customers, let’s look at what kind of games you can enjoy and review the overall user experience based on our time testing the app.

Slots

This is easily the most extensive gaming section at the DraftKings Casino. There are hundreds of titles. Each comes with a demo mode for new members who want to learn more about specific titles. A small information icon also displays the minimum and maximum bets that each slot accepts.

Slots Titles

Instead of giving you a long list of the slot titles available at the DraftKings Casino, we’ll show you some of the best titles to check out if you’re interested in a high return-to-player rate and some titles you’ll want to avoid with low RTP.

Table Games

Unlike live dealer tables, these games are played against the computer and run on random number generators to produce unexpected results. All reel spins, dice rolling, and shuffled cards are left to chance.

Table Games Titles

There are a large variety of table games available at DraftKings Casino. There are multiple variations of many classic games like blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, war, stud, and poker.

Live Dealer

Compared to many other online casinos, the selection of live dealer games is limited to six tables; the options are listed below. But since DraftKings is primarily an online sportsbook and DFS betting app, we understand why some game sections on their casino side are sparse.

Live Dealer Games

These tables have a human dealer with which players can see and interact via video connection. Dealers handle to duties of the tables, like dealing and shuffling cards, spinning the roulette wheel, or taking craps bets. They take over the random number generators’ role with the lone-person table games mentioned in the previous section.

Jackpots

Are you looking to win a large prize playing slots at DraftKings? You’re in luck because there are several jackpot slot games where one person can become the winner, and the jackpot total builds every time the reels are spun!

Jackpots Titles

Overall User Experience

Like the sportsbook and DFS side of the app, the DraftKings Casino has a simple setup that makes it easy to locate the games you want to play. We enjoyed the convenient design of the slots menu, particularly where you can demo each title and access information on minimum and maximum bets to see which are worth your time and effort. All in all, using the DraftKings Casino was a delight.

Available States

The casino side of the DraftKings app is the most limited in terms of which US residents they can take on as customers. There are only five states where residents or visitors can open DraftKings Casino and enjoy the casino game selection they have to offer:

• Connecticut
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

Again, as long as you’re within the borders of these five states, you can use the casino services and not be a resident of that state. If you have the mobile app on your smartphone or tablet, you can visit any of these five states, and you’ll be granted access to the casino once you’re within the borders.

DraftKings Sportsbook

Check out the regular sports betting lines at DraftKings by clicking “Sportsbook” along the main menu at the top of the screen. Finding the sports you’d like to bet on is super easy, and we’ll show you how to get around the sportsbook so you can start placing wagers like an old pro.

Sportsbook Highlights

Let’s review some of the best features of DraftKings Sportsbook before diving into the markets offered, how to place bets or the ins and outs of the live betting experience.

• Ten odds boosts are provided each day (15-40%)
• Parlay insurance
• Earn “Crowns” on all sports wagers to redeem for DK Dollars
• Deposit $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets
• Live betting on most betting markets
• Player and team statistics
• Good juice on fixed-odds wagers and player prop bets
• Same-game parlays
• Wide range of betting markets

Sports/Leagues Offered

After you’ve clicked on “Sportsbook,” you’ll find a menu on the left-hand side of the screen called “A-Z Sports.” It’s a complete list of the betting markets available at DraftKings. It includes the following options:

Click on any sports betting market options, and if multiple leagues or events are available, they’ll appear in a small dropdown menu. For instance, clicking “Hockey” will open other betting options, including NHL, NCAA Hockey, Sweden SHL, and Finland-SM Liga. So, there are more betting markets than first meets the eye.

If you’re unsure which event you’d like to bet on, it’s always a safe bet to check out the most popular sporting events and markets by clicking on the “Popular” tab from the same menu as “AZ Sports.” There’s even a tab featuring which sports teams you can bet on, which can help you find the betting lines you’re interested in much quicker.

How to Place Bets

You can find instructions on how to place DraftKings bets under the “How to Bet” tab if you’re in doubt. But it’s as simple as finding the betting lines and odds you like and adding them to your betting slip by clicking “Place Bet.” Under the “My Bets” menu, you’ll see several options:

• All Bets
• Open Bets
• Settled Bets
• Bets Won
• Bets Lost

Here, you can manage everything that’s going on with the sports bets you place during your time at DraftKings. It’s like an archive or history tab so that you can keep everything straight.

Live Betting

You can find the betting lines under the “Live In-Game” tab if you want to place live bets on your favorite sports. Another menu will appear with the sports markets, which currently offer live betting opportunities.

The options break down further, showing what kind of bets are available, what kind of gaming is being played, and the unique odds the bookmakers are extending to bettors.

Overall User Experience

If we could describe the entire sports betting experience at DraftKings in one world, it would be intuitive. Using the DraftKings app is so easy that we feel foolish even giving you a brief tutorial on using the platform and where things are located. There was never a major question on how the platform worked as we tested its various functions. It’s designed so you don’t waste precious time figuring things out.

The app and the web version of DraftKings function the same way. There are no eliminated features that make the app and web version feel like two different animals. No, all features you experience on the DraftKings website come with the mobile app. The most significant difference that we can see between the two is the simple, streamlined menu and tab configurations for the mobile app.

Available States

There are certainly more people across the United States who can bet on sports through DraftKings than can play their casino games (that’s limited to five states only). Currently, there are 22 states where you can bet on regular sports using the app as long as you’re physically within the borders:

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

This is what DraftKings is most famous for: DFS contests and bets. Whether you want to create your own contest/lineup or join one created by someone else, you’ll find plenty of opportunities at DraftKings. There’s certainly no shortage of DFS action here.

How It All Works

These are contests and lineups that are currently available. But you can create your own contest or lineup. Above the descriptor menu is a menu where you can add your own content to DraftKings, be it a DFS contest or lineup. You can get a better look at these by clicking on the “Lineups” and “Contests” tabs to the right of the “Lobby” tab further up the screen.

Lineups Tab

Under “Lineups,” you’ll find options for seeking out lineups created by other members and working on your own. You can look for specific players using the search bar on the right side, filter by sports market, and choose between live, upcoming, or recent lineup bets.

There’s an entire menu dedicated to players who want to include entries. The green button is where you get started to create a new lineup. Once you’ve finished working on it and hashing out the details and terms, click “Upload Lineups.” If you need to change your lineup contributions to DraftKings, there are convenient options to edit your entries and swap players if required.

Contests Tab

The contest section works a lot like the lineups section. But on this page, you can view contest history, get updates on your current winnings, and see how many live contests, entries, or lineups are running.

There’s a place on the page where you can see your opponent’s stats. All entries can be grouped along the following lines:

• Contest
• Lineup
• Sport
• Entry Fee

Any contest that you choose to join will appear in the main body of the screen and is broken down with the following details to help you keep everything straight:

Overall User Experience

DraftKings DFS section is easy to use and navigate based on what we’ve seen and experienced. The formatting remains the same between the website and mobile iterations of the platform. There are a few changes to the menu configuration, but nothing significant warrants special mention.

Several other essential menu tabs are worth bringing up to understand better all DraftKings offers to bettors and punters.

• Leagues: These are private contests between members who are friends. DraftKings keeps track of everyone’s results all season long and shows the stats on a leaderboard.
• Pools: Similar to Leagues, the Pools section is where family and friends can choose contests, make predictions, pool their bets, and watch live games or events with the hopes of winning the cash prize.

Because DraftKings is such a popular choice amongst American DFS bettors, the app is prone to crashing during peak hours of operation. It’s just the nature of the beast with DraftKings managing so much of the DFS handle. It’s a major downside for sure, but something that’s expected to happen occasionally, especially during significant events like major US sports seasons.

Available States

Because DFS is the market that DraftKings mainly focuses on, it happens to be its biggest and most widespread market when looking at a list of legal states. Six states are where DFS is unavailable to residents or visitors: Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Legal States Where DraftKings Is Available

DraftKings is widely available across the United States for daily fantasy sports betting. There are only six states where you can’t bet on DraftKings DFS: Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. But the number of states grows smaller when looking at the DraftKings Sportsbook and extraordinarily smaller when it comes to the DraftKings Casino.

Check out the chart below to see which states accommodate each significant section of the DraftKings app: DFS, betting, and casino games.

Legal Status

DraftKings has several retail sports betting locations scattered across the United States, including the following places. These are land-based options for placing sports bets on DraftKings in person.

Sportsbook Retail Locations

How Does DraftKings Measure Up to Competitors?

The biggest advantage that DraftKings has over its competitors is its strong daily fantasy betting section. The only app that comes close to offering what DraftKings has is FanDuel, which specializes in DFS contests and bets. We’ll do a DraftKings vs. FanDuel matchup to see which is the best with DFS and then compare the DraftKings app to some of the major sportsbooks out there to see how they stack up with traditional sports betting.

DraftKings vs FanDuel

DraftKings and FanDuel offer the same welcome promo for new customers, but FanDuel has more ongoing bonuses and deals than DraftKings, which focuses on many rotating seasonal promotions and odds boosts. FanDuel also offers quicker payouts, on average, and their app is less prone to crashes during peak hours.

DraftKings has a rewards program, while FanDuel does not. This means that DFS bettors have more potential to earn extra prizes and benefits along the way with DraftKings. As a sportsbook, DraftKings also gets one over on FanDuel because they offer many more betting markets and types of wagers.

On the DFS side, we’ll give DraftKings the slight edge for having a loyalty program. While FanDuel is technically bigger than DraftKings, the lack of a loyalty program really puts it at a disadvantage. FanDuel might have quicker payouts and a more comprehensive array of bonuses, but we feel it still falls slightly short of DraftKings.

Sportsbook Comparisons

Now, let’s look at some of the other best US sportsbooks out there to see where they stack up compared to the DraftKings app. The only platform that even comes close, comparably, is Caesars Sportsbook because they have a DFS section. BetRivers and BetMGM don’t include this as an option.

DraftKings App Compatibility

Like many modern sports betting and DFS apps, DraftKings offers its customers several methods for using its platform on multiple devices. It’s a sports betting site that can be used on the go, so you can place wagers on sports or fantasy without being confined to your home computer. Discover how DraftKings delivers its users a first-rate mobile experience.

Compatible Devices

There are many devices you can use to access the DraftKings mobile app or website, including the following:

• Smartphones or tablets (iOS or Android)
• Desktop computer (PC and Mac)

DraftKings members can download the mobile app to their smartphone or tablet and use their web browser (and a reliable internet connection) to visit the DraftKings website without downloading the app.

User Interface

We tested the mobile app and the website version of DraftKings for comparison. There aren’t any significant differences between the two formats aside from some minor changes to the menus and tabs, which are simplified for the sake of the mobile app, and the smaller screens you typically find with smartphones or tablets.

Aside from this, no DraftKings features, perks, or benefits are left out of the mobile app’s design to accommodate the limited screen space. Any features DraftKings offers on its website are a part of the mobile app, making for a seamless transition between the two formats.

Use the Most Updated Operating System

You’ll have the best go at DraftKings if you’re using the most updated operating system available to your device. Keep your OS as current as possible, and you should have minimal run-ins with glitches or lagging. DraftKings has been known to crash during peak business hours, but know that that’s not a reflection of the state of your operating system.

How to Sign Up with DraftKings

Part of our DraftKings review had us signing up for a new account to see what the registration process was like and how long it would take. Aside from depositing funds, there are three significant steps, and the entire endeavor took less than five minutes. DraftKings makes it easy to join the platform and set up your account.

Use the following directions as a guide for getting started as a new member if you’re unsure of where to begin:

DraftKings Banking Options

There are several solid options for customers to deposit funds into their DraftKings account and collect payouts when the time comes. We’ve laid methods out in the tables below, along with deposit/withdrawal limits and deposit/payout times. Learn how to bank using a way that best suits your financial needs and banking preferences.

Deposit Methods

• The only deposit option not available as a payout option is credit/debit card deposits.
• Most deposit options at DraftKings allow members to transfer large amounts of money into their accounts, with some of the lowest limits being $2,000.
• All funds can be deposited instantly, regardless of the deposit method you’re using.

Withdrawal Methods

Deposit Funds into Your DraftKings Account

Depositing funds at DraftKings is easy to accomplish, but how you do it will vary based on which devices you use to access the platform. Check out how to deposit funds on the app, using the website on your mobile device, or using the website on your desktop computer.

Withdraw Your Winnings

Collecting your winnings doesn’t require much effort either, though you might have to wait several days, depending on your withdrawal methods. Find out how to collect payouts at DraftKings using the app, mobile web version, or the website on your computer.

DraftKings Customer Service

Based on what we’ve seen when reviewing other sports betting apps, DraftKings has some solid customer service options when you put them head-to-head with its competitors. DraftKings is widely available across the United States and manages a large portion of the total sports betting and DFS handled in America.

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So, Is DraftKings Worth It?

The DraftKings app is one of our top recommendations for DFS betting and contests, along with the FanDuel app. This isn’t a unique take because these two platforms comprise around 90% of the total DFS handle in the United States.

While there are more reasons DraftKings is worth the time, energy, and money, it might not be the ideal fit for anyone, especially if you do not want to get in on daily fantasy contests or lineups. Check out why DraftKings may or may not be worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve compiled many common questions about the DraftKings app and provided some quick answers for your convenience. Don’t feel like you must read our entire DraftKings review; find the answers quickly in this handy FAQ section.