A new era in legal sports betting has begun in Ontario, and one of the biggest US operators will be a part of it. DraftKings is expected to offer a sprawling menu of sports betting markets, along with a generous rewards program and other perks. As the site has yet to launch in Ontario, the exact details are still to be confirmed. That said, our expert team is already well acquainted with the sportsbook’s US offering. This means we have a good idea of what Ontario sports fans can expect when DraftKings goes live. Let’s look closer at this leading sports betting site.

Why Sign Up To Draftkings Ontario

The US government has been very proactive with sports betting in recent years, giving it the legal green light back in 2018. In the years since, DraftKings has firmly established itself as one of the top names in the industry. With all this experience under its belt, the company is sure to make waves when it opens its virtual doors in Ontario. You can expect to find great market depth on a huge selection of sports, not to mention a welcome bonus, a wide range of banking options, and potentially even a sleek app for on-the-go betting.


pros icon What we like:

  • Solid spread of betting markets
  • Appealing rewards program
  • Easy-to-use mobile app

cons icon What we don't:

  • Welcome bonus may come with steep playthrough requirements
  • May lack a diverse range of ongoing promotions

History of Draftkings Ontario

2022

At the start of the year, regulatory body iGaming Ontario announces that online bookies will be free to launch in the province in April. DraftKings is expected to be among them.

2021

Bill C-218 passes the House of Commons and the Senate, eventually receiving Royal Assent in the summer. Sports betting on individual events is officially legalized in August.

2020

MP Kevin Waugh introduces a private member’s bill, C-218, which proposes legal, single-event sports betting in Canada.


Draftkings Ontario Welcome Bonus

A customer's first deposit (min. $5) qualifies the user to receive up to $1,000 in bonus funds in the form of site credits that can only be used on DraftKings. Bonus amount is equal to 20% of that deposit amount, not to exceed $1,000 (the customer must deposit $5,000 to be eligible to receive the maximum possible bonus amount of $1,000). Bonus funds will be awarded to the user according to the following play-through requirement: for every $25 played on DraftKings in DFS/Sportsbook/Casino, the user will receive $1 in bonus funds released into their customer account 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

We can’t yet say for sure what kind of welcome bonus DraftKings will offer new members in Ontario. The bookmaker may well bring over its US sign-up incentive, which is a matched deposit offer of 20% up to $1,000. Under the terms of this offer, a new member who deposits $100 will be eligible for $20 in bet credits.

Given that other sites offer a 100% match, this isn’t the most generous welcome deal we’ve ever seen. Plus, there’s a significant playthrough requirement of 25x the bonus amount. In other words, a hefty $25,000 must be wagered in order for a member to achieve the maximum $1,000 bonus amount. We’ll have to wait and see whether these same terms will apply to the DraftKings Ontario bonus.


Promotions

As well as offering welcome bonuses, many sportsbooks also lay out ongoing promotions to reward loyal bettors. DraftKings does indeed have a dedicated ‘Promos’ page, though offers in the US have been fairly sparse of late. At the time of writing, there are daily free to play pools for bettors, where rewards are given for making correct predictions on sports events. Members can also make up to $100 in free bets for referring friends to DraftKings. That’s about it as far as ongoing promotions go. But things may well be different north of the border, so we recommend checking back with the ‘Promos’ tab to see what may be available for Ontario bettors.


Sports available at Draftkings Ontario

At the moment, DraftKings lets US members place bets on more than 20 different sports. There’s no reason to feel the Ontario site will be any less comprehensive, which means you can confidently look forward to wagering on everything from the NHL and NBA to international rugby and cricket competitions. With such a rich array of betting markets, including over/unders and player props, you’ll have plenty to get stuck into at DraftKings.

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Darts
  • F1 and Motorsports
  • Football
  • GAA Sports
  • Golf
  • Hockey
  • Rugby League
  • Rugby Union
  • Snooker
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • UFC/MMA

Live Betting & Streaming

Betting on games that are already underway can be a particularly exciting way to wager. Not only are you free to wager on a game whenever you like, but the in-play odds can potentially be better value than the pre-game selections. If this appeals to you, you’ll be glad to know that DraftKings has a wealth of in-play markets available. You could, for example, bet on how many points will be scored during a specific basketball quarter, or on how many games will be racked up during the third set of a tennis match.

Like many top sportsbooks, DraftKings also lets you close certain bets early. For example, if a bet doesn’t seem to be going your way, you may choose to ‘cash out’ and take a small return there and then, instead of holding the line and risk losing your whole stake. Alternatively, if your bet looks set to succeed, you may still decide to play things safe and cash out for a guaranteed return, rather than the run the risk of potentially losing later.


Odds

With the arrival of different sportsbook options in Ontario, it’s natural to wonder where you’re likely to find the best odds. The good news is that DraftKings reliably offers competitive odds, so you won’t have to worry about missing out. What’s more, DraftKings has a specific section for odds boosts, where players can browse the bookie’s enhanced betting markets. These are selections where the odds have been improved so that winning wagers will bring better returns than the market average.

DraftKings also allows you to build same game parlays. This means stacking up several wagers for the same event, boosting your returns should all your selections win.


App Review

Every online sportsbook worth it’s salt should have a strong mobile presence. We fully expect DraftKings to launch its sleek, easy-to-use mobile app in Ontario, meaning that its full range of sports betting markets will be at your fingertips. You’ll also be able to manage your funds, access promotions, and contact customer service through the app’s intuitive interface.

Signing up is a cinch. Follow our link straight to the DraftKings registration page and follow the steps to create your account. You can then simply download the app from the App Store (iOS devices) or Google Play (Android devices). Sign in using your account details, and you’ll be all set to bet on the go.

pros icon What we like:

  • Easy to navigate
  • Lets you access all the markets and promos

Design & Usability

DraftKings boasts one of the most distinctive looks across the online sportsbook industry. Its black-and-green aesthetic is unmistakable and very easy on the eye. The thoughtful design extends to the user experience as well. You can easily browse all available sports using the list on one side of the page, while the markets for each event open up in the centre of the screen. The most popular markets are given pride of place in the top-left corner, and there are clear tabs for accessing in-play markets and promotions. All in all, it ticks the right boxes.


Special Features

A prominent feature at DraftKings is the Dynasty Rewards Program. There’s no hassle when it comes to joining since you’re eligible for its benefits as soon as you create your account. If the US program is anything to go by, you’ll be able to earn 1 loyalty point, or ‘Crown’, for every $2 staked on sports. Collect enough Crowns, and you’ll be able to ascend the tiers of the scheme and unlock benefits like tier-exclusive promotions and invites to in-person events. You’ll also be able to trade in Crowns for DraftKings merchandise and other goodies.


Payments

DraftKings has always made it easy for its users to manage their betting funds. So, it stands to reason the bookie will make a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods available to Ontario bettors. We anticipate being able to make transactions using debit/credit cards, e-wallets like MuchBetter, and Canada’s popular Interac banking service. DraftKings Ontario may allow you to make cash payments into your account through prepaid Paysafecard vouchers. Traditional online banking is also likely to figure. The specific details on deposit and withdrawal options, as well as withdrawal timeframes, will become clear when DraftKings finally goes live in Ontario.


Draftkings Ontario Customer Support

DraftKings has a good FAQs section that covers many issues relating to betting and account management. If you do have a problem, however, you can always get in touch with customer support staff. Going by its US operations, you may be able to raise queries through a live chat window or contact them via email.

Your Questions Answered

What is the quickest withdrawal method at DraftKings Ontario?

Processing times for payouts haven’t been confirmed yet. However, it’s likely that using an e-wallet will rank among the swiftest ways to access your betting funds.