DraftKings Sportsbook Review

Reviewed By Richard Janvrin

Online sportsbooks. Online casinos. Online slots. Social casinos.

Published: Aug 23 · 16 min read

Updated: September 1st, 2021

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DraftKings is a popular online sportsbook with a reputation for providing lucrative bonuses, reliable payouts and competitive odds on a broad range of sporting events. It continues to launch as new betting markets open up, including in Arizona, where it is already accepting preregistrations for new customers ahead of an expected Sept. 9, 2021 launch. New Arizona bettors will get a terrific sign-up bonus if they register a new account before the go-live date: a $150 free bet.

The brand became famous for launching daily fantasy sports games across the country before sports wagering was legalized. The U.S. Supreme Court then overturned PASPA – a federal ban that prevented sports betting in every state apart from Nevada – in 2018, and DraftKings quickly pivoted towards sports betting.

It has emerged as one of the most popular online sports betting sites in the country thanks to its strong branding, high-profile promotions and slick mobile app. This DraftKings sportsbook review will explain how to use the site, the steps you need to take to register and how to make deposits and withdrawals. We will delve into the different bonuses and promotions on offer, the depth of its sporting coverage, the breadth of the betting options, the quality of its odds, the professionalism of its customer service and the strength of the overall user experience. We will then deliver our expert verdict on whether you should sign up for a DraftKings online sportsbook account.

You can sign up for a DraftKings account by downloading the app on any Apple or Android device, or simply visiting the desktop site. When you have registered and verified your account and made your first deposit, you can start betting on a wide range of sports. The most popular sports will be displayed at the top left of the homepage, and you can quickly navigate to a number of other sports, which are displayed in a A-Z menu.

When you find a game that you are interested in, click on a betting option that appeals to you. It will be added to your bet slip, which will pop up on the screen. You will see the odds on that selection, and you can type in the amount you would like to wager. The bet slip will automatically inform you of the potential payout you stand to earn if successful. This includes your profit and the return of your stake.

It will also inform you if early cash out is available. If you are happy with the potential profit, click to confirm the wager. The funds will be deducted from your account balance, and the wager will appear as an unsettled bet in the “My Bets” section of the sports betting app or desktop site. If your prediction proves to be correct, the funds will be credited to your account as soon as the bet is wagered. DraftKings is quick at grading sports bets.

You can then withdraw your funds – provided you do not have any rollover requirements from a bonus to complete – or bet again. If you want to place a parlay, click to add multiple selections to your bet slip and follow the simple instructions.

The sign-up process at DraftKings is very straightforward. Just follow these steps:

1. Click on the link with this review and hit “Sign Up”.
2. Choose a username and password and enter your email address.
3. Enter a promo code to unlock the welcome bonus.
4. Verify your email address by clicking a link sent to you via email.
5. Enter the last four digits of your SSN and your home address. You may also need to upload a copy of a government-issued identification document.
6. Your account will now be registered. You can make a deposit and start betting.

It is also worth bearing in mind that if you have an existing DraftKings DFS account, it will transfer over to the sportsbook. Do not sign up for a new account with the same personal details, as it can cause both accounts to lock, and the process of removing the lock can be tedious. It's just not worth the hassle.

You can choose from a wide range of betting payment options when you decide to fund a DraftKings sportsbook account. Many sports bettors prefer to use a debit card or credit card to make deposits, but you can also opt for a direct transfer via ACH or e-check, PayPal, a Play+ prepaid card or PayNearMe, which is available at CVS, 7-Eleven and Family Dollar stores. In certain states, you can head to the casino cage at partner casinos and deposit cash.

We tested out the various options for this DraftKings sportsbook review and found the money arrived instantly. The process is smooth and effective. Deposits start at $10, and the maximum for most accounts is $2,000. However, sports bettors can contact the DraftKings customer service department to discuss making larger deposits.

You have a narrower range of options at your disposal when it comes to making a withdrawal from DraftKings sportsbook. The quickest option is to withdraw cash at the casino cage in certain states, but that is not practical for many DraftKings online sportsbook users. Play+ payments are also quick, if you have set up an account. You can request an electronic withdrawal via ACH, but that can take around five business days. An alternative is to request a mailed check, which takes around 14 days to arrive. Users can potentially withdraw via PayPal, but only if a PayPal deposit was made, and if they are prepared to pay any fees that PayPal charges. DraftKings does not charge for withdrawals, and it processes requests reasonably quickly.

DraftKings Sports Welcome Bonus

DraftKings will give new customers a 20% match deposit bonus worth up to $1,000. The minimum deposit needed to qualify is just $5, but you must deposit $5,000 to claim the full $1,000 in site credits. Your bonus funds are then subject to a 25x release requirement. DraftKings is also famous for offering a broad range of exciting short-term promotions and bonuses on an ongoing basis. There are profit boosts, risk free bet offers, contests, free bets and other promotions up for grabs on a regular basis, and this is one of the key selling points of the DraftKings sportsbook. Visit our DraftKings promo code page to learn more about the bonuses and to claim your free bets today.

DraftKings has created a highly polished mobile sports betting app. You can download it quickly for any iOS and Android device, and then use it anywhere in your state. Under state law, sportsbooks must use geolocation software to ensure that the mobile app is only being used within state lines. These geolocators cause havoc with some apps, but that is not the case with DraftKings. Its geolocators are accurate, and it has not had any notable issues in pinpointing mobile app users. The DraftKings app has an average score of 4.5 out of 5 on the Google Play store after receiving more than 80,000 reviews. That is an excellent score, and it builds on the strength of DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports app, which has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 on the Apple Store following around 450,000 reviews.

We put the sports betting app to the test for our DraftKings review and we were impressed. Pages load very quickly, the buttons are sharp to the touch, there are no lag times and navigation is simple and efficient. We found lots of useful shortcuts, and we were able to place wagers on big sporting events quickly, with just a few taps of the screen. We tested it out on a wide range of new and old iOS and Android devices, and it worked well on all of them.

You will be enrolled in the DraftKings loyalty program when you signed up for an account via the mobile app or desktop site. Players earn loyalty points – called “crowns” at DraftKings sportsbook – and you climb up the tiers as you accumulate them. You will begin at bronze level and you can then work your way up to silver, gold, platinum, diamond and finally black – which is the ultimate VIP program that DraftKings offers. As a VIP, you will receive exclusive benefits, enhanced promotional offers, priority customer support, and access to personalized contests and other incentives.

The crowns you accumulate when playing at DraftKings sportsbook can be exchanged for free bets and odds boosts. You need to rack up 500 crowns per month to climb up to silver, 2,000 for gold, 10,000 for platinum, 25,000 for diamond and 125,000 for black. You will be able to claim daily rewards determined by the tier you fall into. These rewards can include entry to contests and DK Dollars, which are cash-equivalent site credits.

Sports and Markets Available at DraftKings

DraftKings hopes to eventually roll out its sports betting site in every state across the country with legal online sports betting. It is currently live in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Illinois, West Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado, Virginia, Oregon and Michigan, while it runs retail sportsbooks in New York and Mississippi. The company is among the first to launch whenever a new state legalizes sports betting. It believes it can eventually achieve annual revenue of $5.4 billion, based on capturing a 20% share of the U.S. online sports betting market, 15% of U.S. online casino gaming, and 10% of online wagering in Canada. These are the key states in which DraftKings’ sports betting platform is live:

DraftKings was the first online sports betting site to go live in the state of New Jersey. It launched in August 2018, just a few months after the United States Supreme Court struck down PASPA, courtesy of a deal with Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. It now vies with FanDuel sports, its old daily fantasy sports rival, in a bid for market supremacy on betting in New Jersey.

DraftKings has a partnership with Meadows Casino, which allows it to offer its sportsbook and casino to anyone in the state. DraftKings sportsbook is one of the state’s leading operators, and it regularly runs enticing promotions in an effort to stand out from rival PA sportsbooks and mobile betting operators. The DraftKings online sportsbook went live in November 2019, and the casino app launched the following year.

DraftKings teamed up with Twin River Casino to launch in Colorado in 2020. Anyone in the state lines can download the DraftKings mobile sports betting app or sign up via their web browser.

The team at DraftKings sportsbook tied up an agreement with Bay Mills Resort & Casino to launch online and mobile sports betting in June 2020. The partnership also sees DraftKings run a retail sportsbook at the property. DraftKings sportsbook Michigan launched in January 2021.

DraftKings runs retail sportsbooks at Wild Rose Resorts properties across Iowa, and its mobile betting app is available statewide. It launched in February 2020.

Virginia legalized online sportsbooks in January 2021, and DraftKings was the second site to go live, two days after FanDuel. It managed to launch in time for the Super Bowl that year.

DraftKings managed to launch its app just in time for the NFL season to begin in August 2019. Its land-based partner is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.

Tennessee does not require online sportsbooks to link up with land-based operators, so DraftKings' TN sportsbook went live as a standalone app shortly after legalization in November 2020.

DraftKings rolled out its popular online sportsbook and mobile app in the Hoosier State back in October 2019, making it the third state to enjoy access to the platform.

DraftKings already has a deal in place with land-based partner TPB Scottsdale to launch Arizona sports betting. While no exact date has been announced, sports betting could officially launch in the state by the start of the 2021 NFL season.

DraftKings sportsbook Illinois became the second sports betting site to go live in the state when it launched in August 2020, following in the footsteps of BetRivers betting. Along with FanDuel, DraftKings sportsbook was initially hit with a “penalty box” status in Illinois, which wanted to punish it for offering daily fantasy sports in the state at a time when DFS was legally dubious, but it managed to escape the penalty box.

Wyoming sports betting launched on September 1, and DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the first operators in the state. After the preregistration period where customers got $100 free bet as a sign-up bonus DraftKings is now offering their standard 20% deposit match of up to $1,000 in this state.

DraftKings initially struck a deal with white-label sportsbook provider Kambi to power its sports betting app and desktop site. However, it then merged with rival white-label provider SBTech and went public on the NASDAQ via a SPAC deal in 2020. It therefore decided to transition from the Kambi sportsbook platform to the SBTech platform.

Right now it is still operating on the Kambi sportsbook, which covers a large range of sports in phenomenal depth. It has lines on all the most popular sports – football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, boxing, MMA, motorsports, golf and so on – along with a wide array of niche sports. For example, you can bet on Aussie Rules football, table tennis and handball, alongside sports like rugby, cricket, darts, table tennis and cycling.

The depth of DraftKings sportsbook’s coverage is also impressive. It goes well beyond major leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL by covering tournaments taking place across the globe. The soccer section covers niche leagues in Europe, Asia and South America, plus under-21 action and lower league games in certain countries. Betting on the World Cup 2022, and other international events is also possible. Basketball fans can bet on games taking place in Israel, Germany, Australia and Lithuania alongside NBA, WNBA and NCAAB.

You will also have access to a broad range of pre-game, in-play and futures betting markets at DraftKings. It offers dozens of player props and game props on a variety of sports, and it is hard to find a site that provides so many bet types. It would be great to see a same game parlay tool added to the mix, but you can click on multiple selections and compile a same game parlay via the bet slip. DraftKings sportsbook will soon transition to SBTech, but that is another high-quality provider, so the range of betting options will not change too dramatically.

The odds on offer at the DraftKings sports betting site are pretty competitive with other reputable sportsbooks in the United States. DraftKings sportsbook offers dime lines (-110) on most sides and totals, but you will sometimes find it offers -109 on one side and -112 on the other side, so you can find extra value. Its moneyline odds, prop bets and futures odds stack up reasonably well against the competition.

DraftKings runs a comprehensive program of daily fantasy sports contests throughout the year, and it has also furnished sports bettors with a number of exciting tournaments.

The DraftKings Championship Series includes the Millionaire Bracket, Football Survivor Pool, Football Pick 'Em National Championship, Sports Betting Fall Championship and Sports Betting National Championship. The ultimate aim is to crown an overall sportsbook, casino and DFS champion, with more than $150 million in prizes on offer

DraftKings sportsbook has also run a $55 million fourth quarter prediction pool, offering each football fan the chance to win large prizes by guessing how the final quarter of an NFL game will unfold. The free to play $10k UFC Fight Night Pool is another example of DraftKings offering players added value.

DraftKings sportsbook offers a number of exciting features to boost the user experience for anyone that likes to bet on sports.

The dedicated in-play live betting section at DraftKings sportsbook features hundreds of sporting events on a daily basis. It has tied up a partnership with Sportradar, which allows it to offer live streaming on several games and tournaments each day. You can therefore watch the action unfold while choosing from a number of bet types, with rapidly updated odds and stats. We tested out the live betting section on various mobile devices for this DraftKings review, and pages always loaded quickly, allowing us to place a bet before the odds changed, while the live streaming was smooth and free of glitches.

DraftKings sportsbook allows you to cash out most bet types before the game finishes. This gives you an extra degree of control over your wagers. If you notice that the team you bet on is struggling, you can end your bet, locking in a profit or protecting yourself from suffering further losses. DraftKings sportsbook states that it is not available on every game, but you can cash out the majority of bets on big sporting events, and the terms are reasonably generous.

DraftKings offers a variety of odds boosts to its customers. The profit boosts on baseball, golf, tennis and other sports generally range from 20% to 25%. The maximum bet for these sportsbook promotions is $50, and extra winnings are normally capped at $100 to $250, depending on the event.

The DraftKings sportsbook app does not currently have a same game parlay builder. However, SBTech does offer that function, so it should soon incorporate a bet builder. Right now, you have to simply click on multiple selections within the same game to add them to your betting slip. If they cannot be combined, a message on the betting slip will inform you that a same game parlay featuring those selections is not possible.

You can place a huge range of bet types at DraftKings sportsbook. On a big game, DraftKings offers spreads, totals, moneylines, a large range of alternate spreads and totals, detailed player prop bets, a variety of game props, halves bets and quarters bets. You can browse plenty of futures betting options too, so DraftKings scores very highly in this regard.