DraftKings Review – How does the site compete with its sportsbook rivals?

To give you a good idea of each sportsbook, we’ve collected data from some of the biggest names on the market. 

With this review, you’ll discover how DraftKings compares to its competitors – what are the positives and negatives? 

Our mission is to deliver an impartial review based on real tests and information. This is done to provide you with a truthful representation of the sportsbook.

How do the odds from DraftKings compare to other well-known sportsbooks?

Using data collected from several sports leagues, we have a good idea of how DraftKings will compare to other popular sportsbooks. 

We’ve looked at the money lines for the sports listed underneath, although we’ll likely include more types of bets and sports in the future.

Sports we’ve compared odds for:

• NHL (National Hockey League)
• NBA (National Basketball League)
• MLB (Major League Baseball)
• EPL (English Premier League soccer)

Time of comparison: May 2022

DraftKings has very competitive odds for some of the biggest sports games happening right now. In terms of game to game, the odds will increase and decrease ever so slightly compared to other sportsbooks, but you’ll never feel cheated. Most of the time, the odds are the same as any other sportsbook.

DraftKings has an average of 4.82% house edge, which is a bit higher than other sportsbooks, ranking at #8 in a top 10 list. It’s something to bear in mind when choosing a sportsbook to make a bet.

The site has the best odds for the NBA and EPL, while the NHL and MLB are just a bit worse. 

DraftKings is said to have over two million monthly active users, which ensures staying power in the industry and a goal to provide odds for as many games and sports as possible. Some users have complained about long waiting times for customer service, however.

Conclusion: 

• House edge: 4.82% (ranks 8^th out of 10 sportsbooks)
• Strength: Competitive odds for a huge range of games and sports, especially NBA
• Weakness: Complaints about long waiting times for customer support 

Disclaimer:

Our results are based on our own samples and research, so we’re still working to cover more sports and types of bets. 

Sports offering

DraftKings has a massive list of sports to bet on, as apart from the standards like NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, there are many others that sports fans will be eager to see. These include college sports, motorsports, snooker, tennis, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, golf, darts, cricket, boxing, and even Australian football.

This is an extensive range of sports and one of the best reasons that DraftKings has become a popular sportsbook option across the world.

Sign-up Bonus

The sign-up bonus at DraftKings is as follows: Get a 20% first deposit match up to $1,000.

Many sportsbooks offer a free bet, but DraftKings is one of the few options that go for the money bonus for new users. Overall, it’s a pretty good deal and one that new users should certainly take note of when considering the offer. The wagering requirements are quite a lot bigger than other sportsbooks, however, which we’ll cover below.

– What events can you bet on?

Any sports event

– Is it for a single event or split between multiple?

Multiple bets are okay

– What are the minimal odds?

Minimum odds of 1.33 

– What are the wagering requirements?

25xB

– What is the minimum deposit?

$5

– What is the maximum winning amount?

No cap.

– How long until the bonus expires after signing up?

90 days

– How long until the bonus expires after the first deposit?

Must be used within four months

– If you win, can you withdraw the winnings right away?

2-8 business days

How does the bonus work? 

As the sign-up bonus is a 20% first deposit match, this means if you want the full $1,000 limit, you’ll have to deposit $5,000.

Of course, $5,000 sounds like a lot for new players, but it’s only the limit and you won’t always have to deposit such large amounts of money.

The 25xB wagering requirements on 1.33 odds might be confusing for those new to sportsbooks, as this differs from competitors. But if you choose the odds carefully and bet on sports you know, it’s still an okay deal but perhaps better for players who are more experienced with sportsbooks.

Disclaimer:

It’s always necessary to read the site’s terms and conditions before signing up, as a few rules can be missed if you’re not careful. 

How does DraftKings’ sign-up bonus compare to other sportsbook bonuses?

The majority of sportsbooks tend to offer free bets, and the only other website to give cash bonuses like DraftKings is BetRivers.

DraftKings differs from BetRivers in a few ways, for one, the DK bonus is 20% first deposit match up to $1,000, while the BR bonus is 100% match up to $250 first deposit. 

Secondly, DK’s 25x wagering is quite hefty, as opposed to BR’s 1x. Lastly, the DraftKings offer lasts until 31^st May 2022, whereas the BetRivers offer is ongoing. 

DraftKings will continue to offer new customers different promotions upon sign-up, so there’s always something else turning up. 

Conclusion:

The minimum odds from DraftKings’ sign-up bonus are pretty standard at 1.33, as other sportsbooks are around 1 or 1.5. There’s a lot of money to work with for new customers should they deposit $5,000 and receive an extra $1,000. Not everyone is expected to do this, however, but it’s not a bad offer if you’ve got the cash.

The 25x-wagering requirement might turn off a few people, but four months days to spend the matched deposit is more than enough time, as other sportsbooks offer less.

Promotions

DraftKings has several ongoing promotions for new and current players on the site. Here are a few worth mentioning at the time of writing.

Daily Free to Play Pools

This is a solid promotion that is always free to play. The Daily Pools are designed to reward the best bettors, as the more you climb the leaderboards, the more potential you have for cash prizes. It’s a good incentive to stay involved with the betting world and to see how you compare with other players betting with DraftKings.

Refer a Friend

It’s a pretty simple but decent offer, whereby you’ll receive a free bet of up to $100 if you refer a friend and they sign up for an account. If you know a lot of people who like betting on sports, then you’ve got the potential for more free bets. 

Rewards/Loyalty Program

DraftKings does a VIP program, but the information isn’t too forthcoming for what you can actually receive. The website does state that VIPs get “exclusive benefits” and “enhanced promotional offers”, but the program is by invitation only. 

This means you’ll likely have to have been a customer for a long time and made several bets and deposits on the site before you’re invited to the VIP program.

DraftKings could make the VIP program a bit clearer and more accessible, in our opinion, as it’s quite vague about how to get it and what the rewards are exactly.

Customer support

The best way to get in touch with DraftKings’ support team is to email or use the Live Chat. Unfortunately, the Live Chat feature is merely a bot, so you’ll likely have to talk to a human via email if your questions aren’t answered by the bot. It is also possible to fill in the Contact Form for any query.

Some users online have grumbled about long waiting times regarding questions or complaints, or even not answered anything at all. The site claims to have around-the-clock support, although there is no phone number listed. How fast your question is answered may depend on how easy it is to solve!

Making a deposit

DraftKings does provide a lot of payment options to make deposits. Credit and debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are all possible. You can also use gift cards, PayPal, wire transfers, VIP preferred e-check, and Cage (only in New Jersey).

Making a withdrawal

There are also several ways to make a withdrawal with DraftKings, which does make life easier! There’s online banking, PayPal (but check your state’s laws), VIP preferred e-check, Play+ Prepaid card, checks, wire transfer, and Cage.

Conclusion

DraftKings might not be the best option for those completely new to the world of sportsbooks, as the high wagering requirements after the initial deposit might not be so user-friendly at first.

However, for sportsbook pros, the odds are competitive and the Daily Pools allow you to compete against other players. The customer support could use some work and some free bets would be nice for more promotions, but otherwise DraftKings is a great choice.

What we like

Huge range of sports and some great odds on games. Promos are decent and the payouts don’t take too long. 

What we don’t like

High wagering requirements after the first deposit, iffy customer support, and a VIP program that doesn’t give you much information.