DraftKings is best known for bringing the concept of fantasy sports into the mainstream. Launched in 2012 explicitly for this purpose, DraftKings then released its own sportsbook in 2018 following changes to federal and various state legislations on mobile sports betting. Today, it combines these two spheres and an online casino under one hat, attracting two million customers every month — as a testament to this success, Michael Jordan became an investor and board advisor in 2018.

Interested to hear more? Our expert team of reviewers have gotten to work on this famous sportsbook. We’ve taken a look at all the site’s features in order to give you an honest, trustworthy account of the service. If you like what you see, you can click through, sign up, and place your first wager.


Our Verdict

You don’t need us to tell you the impact that DraftKings has made on the online betting world in the US. Having gained popularity as a leading fantasy sports marketplace, DraftKings is now one of the leading sportsbooks in the country, with a dedicated mobile app, 24/7 customer support, and its own integrated online casino. You’ll be able to pick up promotions in all sections of the site, including welcome bonuses for both the sportsbook and fantasy sports section when you first sign up — although admittedly there are some high playthrough requirements on the former.

We believe adding a live streaming feature and the ability for bettors to build their own bet would improve the DraftKings service, but this is nonetheless a first-class sportsbook that offers its customers a unique gambling experience. If you’re swayed by our review, use our links to click through, create an account, and make use of that first free-to-play fantasy sports contest.

pros icon Pros:

  • Integrated sportsbook and fantasy sports events
  • Welcome bonuses for both sections of the site
  • VIP program
  • Integrated online casino
  • Dedicated mobile app
  • $5 minimum deposits and $1 minimum withdrawals

cons icon Cons:

  • Fewer sports markets compared to other sportsbooks
  • Very high playthrough requirements on welcome offer
  • No bet builder feature
  • No live streaming

History of Draftkings

2021

In January, the DraftKings Sportsbook arrives in Michigan. It is the company’s first new market launch of the year. Days later, the site launches in Virginia, with Wyoming and Arizona following in September.

2020

After completing a merger with SBTech, DraftKings is publicly traded on the Nasdaq in April. DraftKings goes live in Iowa in February and Colorado in May. This is followed by launches in Illinois in August and Tennessee in November.

2019

DraftKings Sportsbook arrives in West Virginia in August and in Indiana in October. In November, the sportsbook goes live in Pennsylvania, before the company sees out the year in style by debuting in New Hampshire in December.

2018

In August, DraftKings makes history by becoming the first operator to launch online and mobile sports betting in New Jersey. This comes less than three months after the Supreme Court repeals PASPA.

2013

Major League Baseball becomes the first major sports league to invest in daily fantasy sports by partnering with DraftKings.

2012

Entrepreneurs Jason Robins, Matt Kalish, and Paul Liberman launch DraftKings as a daily fantasy sports site from Liberman’s apartment in Massachusetts.


Draftkings Promo Code

Bet $5, Get $200 + No Sweat Bet up to $1000
Upon completion of the promotion requirements, qualified customers will receive $200 in Bonus Bets instantly, or in the event of technical difficulties within 72 business hours. Additionally, once your bet settles you will receive any cash winnings from your Qualifying Bet if it wins. Bonus Bets will be issued as eight (8) $25 Bonus Bets. Maximum $200 in Bonus Bets awarded. 21+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

DraftKings is a multi-faceted sportsbook, so members will receive a multi-faceted sign-up bonus when they first join. On the sportsbook side of things, bettors are able to claim up to $1,000 in bonus funds, but there are some real tough terms and conditions to negotiate here.

Here’s how it works: you’ll receive 20% back from your first deposit in bonus credit following a $5 minimum deposit. So, in order to claim the $1,000 bonus, your first deposit would need to be $5,000. However, the playthrough requirements state that $1 worth of bonus funds will be added to your account for every $25 initially wagered. This means that those looking to claim the full weight of the bonus will actually need to wager a total of $25,000, which is far beyond the realms of possibility for most players.

Cushioning this blow slightly is the free entry into a daily fantasy sports contest of your choosing. Your first $5 deposit will unlock a free $3 ticket to be used on any $3 contest. Players have one year to make use of the ticket.

Go To Draftkings

Promotions

In addition to the welcome bonus, customers at DraftKings can also claim $100 in free bet tokens when they successfully refer a friend to the site. To receive the free bet, your referred friend must be new to DraftKings generally, and not just to the sportsbook. You can refer up to five friends, but each one must deposit a minimum of $25 in order to receive a bonus, which is offered in the following way: a first deposit of $25–$49 will trigger a $25 free bet; $50–$99 will trigger a $50 free bet; and a first deposit of $100 or more will trigger a $100 free bet.

DraftKings also offers its members a daily free-to-play pool competition, where players can climb leaderboards and win cash prizes without staking any of their own money. Just head over to the Pools tab in the sportsbook for a breakdown of what this entails. You’ll also find loads of other pools that can be created between friends or against other DraftKings members. Higher rollers can also become a site VIP, which is an invitation-only program — DraftKings will be in touch if you qualify.


Sports available at Draftkings

There are 20 different sports available to bet on at DraftKings, which is slightly less than other, dedicated sportsbooks. We can forgive this though, given that DraftKings is so much more than a sportsbook.

As you’d expect, these 20 sports cover all of the biggest markets in North America, and there are dedicated betting sections on the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, World Series, NBA Finals, The Masters, and the FIFA World Cup. Aussie Rules, darts, handball, snooker, and both rugby codes make up some of the smaller betting markets here in the US.

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Hockey
  • Motorsports
  • Nascar
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • UFC

Live Betting & Streaming

Like all first-class sportsbooks, DraftKings offers its members an excellent range of in-play betting markets, where customers can place bets as the game unfolds. It’s one of the most popular ways to wager on sports these days, with fans reacting to the moving parts of the game in order to make modifications to their betslips, or to make real-time predictions according to how they interpret the action. Cashing out is one form of in-play betting, where those with an active wager can cash out and guarantee a profit before the match is over, or minimize their losses on a selection that looks like it’s heading down the can.

With so many betting markets open at DraftKings, you’ll find a whole host of live betting options at any one time. Market coverage doesn’t just focus on US or European sports events either, so at any time of day, you can guarantee that live betting is open.

The pinnacle of live betting is offering the option for customers to live stream the action. This feature isn’t yet integrated into the site, but bettors are able to consult the DraftKings Live Tracker, where updates, game charts, stats, and more are all presented in real-time. It’s the closest you can get to live streaming without physically watching the game.


Odds

At the bottom of the sportsbook homepage, you’ll find dedicated odds sections on all of DraftKings’ biggest markets. Simply select any of the options — which include NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, UFC, PGA, soccer and tennis — and you’ll find a comprehensive breakdown of the best odds offered on that league or sport. This section of the sportsbook is also supplemented by a wealth of expert knowledge, offering advice on the types of bets you might place on any upcoming events. Unfortunately, there are no options to customize your own bet slip, or to request your own bet from DraftKings.


App Review

The DraftKings mobile sportsbook app covers all of the same sports markets as the desktop site, so you can place bets, modify betslips in-play, and cash out while you’re on the move. The app is split between DraftKings’ different verticals, so you can also update your fantasy sports teams and play casino games all from the same place.

An example of an in-play MLB wager on the app

Go To Draftkings

Design & Usability

Between the sportsbook, fantasy sports contests, and online casino, there’s a lot going on at DraftKings. For this reason, it’s essential that everything is clearly presented and easy to navigate — and DraftKings doesn’t disappoint. Each section of the site is carefully designed and easy on the eye: on the left-hand side you’ll find an A-Z of sports markets, including college sports, as well as dedicated sections for the most popular betting areas. At the top of the page, you’ll also find lots of helpful supplementary content on betting in general, and the types of bets offered at DraftKings.


Cashier

There are eight different ways in which you can fund your DraftKings betting account, covering a decent range of payment methods. These include direct funding using your online banking credentials, supported by most institutions, credit and debit cards, PayPal, Play+, Venmo, eCheck, wire transfer, and via cash deposits at participating retail locations. Depositing with cash involves generating a one-time barcode once you’ve made the transaction, which can then be uploaded when you select the cash option at the site’s cashier page — there’s a $500 limit for this method.

It’s a decent spread of banking options, but we’d like to see a couple more e-wallets on offer, and perhaps the inclusion of a pay by mobile service like Boku. Nevertheless, the DraftKings cashier page will cater to most sports bettors.

Deposit and Withdrawals Times/Limits

Minimum deposits for all payment methods start at just $5, which is among the lowest of any sportsbook in the US. There’s also a minimum withdrawal allowance of just $1 for most methods, which again is among the lowest.

Bank transfers and eChecks allow for withdrawals up to $100,000; for PayPal it’s $60,000; Play+ it’s $25,000; for Venmo it’s $20,000; and there’s no limit on wire withdrawals, although minimum deposits here start at $20,000.

In terms of speed, debit cards and bank transfers are the fastest payout methods, with one-day withdrawals possible here. All other options range between 1-5 days. eCheck withdrawals will take a little longer and are based on the amount that’s being withdrawn.

Min deposit Minimum Withdrawal Limit Withdrawal Processing Time
Debit card $5 $1 One day
Credit card $5 $1 One day
Bank transfer  $5 $1 1-3 days
PayPal $5 $1 3-5 days
Wire transfer  $20,000 on first deposit, then $100,000 on subsequent deposits None 1-2 days
Venmo $5 $1 2-3 days
Play+ $5 None 2-4 days
eCheck $5 None Depends on withdrawal amount

Draftkings Customer Support

If you have a question about any of DraftKings; services, your first port of call should be the Help Center. The online portal contains answers to many common questions. If you can’t find the answer you need, however, you can contact customer support staff by submitting a request on the website. A callback service and a postal address are also available. DraftKings does offer a live chat service, but as it is not available 24/7, users may only see the option to leave a message.

Your Questions Answered

What is the quickest withdrawal method at DraftKings?

Debit and credit cards represent the fastest withdrawal method at DraftKings, returning requests within one day.