DraftKings Review

Bonuses and Promotions

DraftKings rolls out the welcome mat for new customers through an exciting sign-up offer. By depositing and betting just $5, you receive a generous reward of $150 in bonus bets. These free bets, delivered as six separate $25 bet credits, reach your account within 72 hours after your qualifying bet settles. They need to be used within seven days on any sports market, with any winnings yours to keep thanks to a straightforward 1x wagering requirement. 

What stands out for me about this offer is the division of the $150 bonus into six smaller bets. This setup offers a better chance to profit, as it doesn’t rely on a single bet. Yet, at first glance, I admit to thinking that the DraftKings sign-up offer lacked the wow factor of welcome bonuses at other top sportsbooks. BetMGM, for example, offers a bonus worth up to $1,250. However, the distinction lies in the conditions. With BetMGM, losing your first bet is a prerequisite for the refund, whereas with DraftKings, your first bet can win or lose. Additionally, the BetMGM offer requires a $10 minimum spend for a $10 bonus bet, whereas DraftKings provides a more substantial freebie for the lower entry cost of $5. 

For existing customers, DraftKings keeps the excitement going with a lineup of regular promotions, including profit boosts for various sports and a refer-a-friend program that rewards you with a bonus bet of up to $100 based on your buddy’s first deposit. Another noteworthy feature is the Dynasty Rewards scheme, which allows you to accumulate Crowns by placing sports bets. These Crowns can be exchanged for various experiences or converted to DK dollars for further betting.

Sports and Markets

After exploring DraftKings’ sports options, I’m confident in saying that it caters to every sports fan. Major leagues like NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL are covered, as well as popular sports like golf, tennis, motor racing, and soccer. You won’t even be limited to betting on sporting events playing out in America. Instead, you’ll find global leagues and tournaments are also open for bets. DraftKings is big on niche sports too, outpacing its rivals with betting options on the likes of badminton and futsal.

DraftKings also shines when it comes to market depth. Besides common bets like moneyline, over/under, and spread bets, there’s a ton of prop bets to choose from, including player and game props. Parlays are an option as well. Overall, DraftKings’ wide range of sports and selection of betting options means it easily holds its own among other top online sportsbooks. It’s unlikely any bettors would be disappointed with what it offers. 

Design and Usability

DraftKings has style in its corner, though the dark color scheme may not necessarily appeal to every bettor. Nonetheless, you couldn’t describe this online sports betting site as anything but slick. It’s clear that plenty of effort has gone into designing a platform that inspires repeat visits. Navigating the site is hassle free thanks to a well thought out main menu that puts popular links like MLB, WNBA, NASCAR, NFL Pre Season and the English Premier League in the spotlight. And right underneath those links, you can see an A-Z of sports, allowing you to get to pretty much anywhere you want to go within a few clicks of the home page. Overall, the layout is intuitive, and I soon felt familiar with the site. 

The same sentiments apply to the DraftKings mobile site, which features the same dark design and benefits from the same well thought out approach as the desktop version when it comes to getting around. Both platforms look the part and are easy to use, though the sheer volume of content on this site gave desktop the edge for me.

Payment Methods and Withdrawal Times

There are loads of different payment options at DraftKings, offering flexibility depending on your state. Options like Online Banking, VIP Preferred, PayPal, and Venmo are available, as well as wire transfers, gift cards, and Cash @ Cage/Cash @ Retail. Certain debit cards also make the cut, as does a DraftKings Play+ account. It’s each to their own where cash is concerned, but personally, I find the Play+ account convenient as it handles both deposits and withdrawals and keeps everything separate from my main bank account, helping me to manage my bankroll more effectively. 

Withdrawal options are also plentiful. Excluding in-person choices, the fastest route to your winnings is a debit card. Payouts to these can take 24 hours or less, though not all cards are eligible. Next come PayPal, Venmo, and bank wires with 48-hour payouts. VIP Preferred takes up to 3 days, Online Banking up to 5 days, and checks 3-7 business days, depending on their value. I was a bit disappointed to see that Play+ card withdrawals take up to 4 days; DraftKings’ closest rival FanDuel excels here, offering payouts to Play+ in under 24 hours.

Live Betting Options

DraftKings offers an impressive live betting section. With this feature, you can bet on games as they’re happening and see updated betting odds throughout. All kinds of in-play bets are on the menu, though notable offerings include Same Game Parlays and micro betting, which allows you to really get into the game and bet on the next play. There are even live stats to help you make smarter betting decisions. An early cash out option adds to the enjoyment of betting with DraftKings, allowing you to settle bets before matches wrap up, securing wins or cutting losses. 

Live streaming of sports leagues like Bundesliga Soccer and the Korea Baseball Organization arrived at DraftKings back in 2020, and for select MLB games in 2021. FanDuel offers MLB live games, having signed a streaming agreement in March 2023. However, while it’s no longer an exclusive option, I think the ability to live stream selected MLB games through the DK sportsbook app remains a big plus, for baseball fans at least! 

Bet Builder

DraftKings offers an excellent bet builder option in the shape of its Same Game Parlay feature. This bet allows you to combine bets from the same game into one wager, which can prove way more exciting than placing single bets, and more profitable too. Placing these bets is super simple; you need only look for the SGP icon in a game listing. From there, you can choose from various bets to create your SGP, including moneyline, totals, and spread bets, as well as other options like game props, team scoring props, and halves, depending on the sport. Alternatively, you can go for ready-made bets in the form of a ‘Quick SGP’. As far as I could tell, there are usually at least a couple of options for each event. 

As with regular parlays, all the picks in your Same Game Parlay need to win for the parlay to succeed. However, it’s worth looking out for the occasional parlay insurance promotions that show up on the site. These allow you to get your stake back as a free bet if one selection lets you down. You will usually need to have at least three legs in your parlay to be eligible for a refund, while the maximum money back tends to sit at $25. SGPs are offered on various sports at DraftKings, including football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. However, if you really want to get creative, you should check out the SGPx feature. It’s pretty similar to FanDuel’s SGP+ perk, allowing you to combine SGPs on different games into one big wager. These bets aren’t easy to pull off but offer significant payouts when they do.

DraftKings Betting App

Like FanDuel, DraftKings’ background in daily fantasy sports gives it a clear edge over many US betting platforms. This experience shines through in their mobile sports betting app, and I was nothing short of impressed by its setup. The mobile app packs in all the good stuff from the desktop site, from the sleek black design to brilliant perks like in-play betting to the selection of sports to bet on. I was certainly pleased to see similar features available in the app as on the desktop site, as it helped make switching between the two sites a seamless experience. Placing bets on the mobile app is simple and you can easily move between sections using the bottom menu. Everything seemed to work smoothly and as I expected, with no lagging or other frustrations, so there are no complaints from me. Other users are impressed too, with rave reviews and top ratings for the DraftKings mobile sportsbook app on both the App Store and Google Play Store. 

Customer Support

DraftKings has an online help center to answer common questions, but if you do need to get in touch, there are plenty of ways to do it. Their preferred option, available 24/7, is for customers to submit a help request to the customer support team. Live chat is available, though somewhat frustratingly, it’s not available all the time, and you may be asked to leave a message. If you prefer social media, that’s also an option, via Twitter @DK_Assist. Email, callback, voicemail, and post round off the alternative contact options for DraftKings, so no-one could say this operator isn’t thorough when it comes to helping customers. However, I can’t help but feel that they miss a trick with the absence of always-on live chat. 

Summary

DraftKings is a site I can wholeheartedly recommend as a top choice for online bettors in the US. It packs a punch with a wide variety of sports, cool features, and exciting betting options. If DraftKings impresses you as much as it does me, you can click our link to sign up. 

Frequently Asked Questions