DraftKings Sportsbook Overview
DraftKings Sportsbook is a great option for heavy app users. The DraftKings app has built in statistics and analysis, making it much easier to get a feel for where things stand. DraftKings has built its’ name in DFS, and now offers a solid option for legal sports betting.
Pros
-Excellent app
-Outstanding betting stats and trends
-Solid platform
Cons
-Odds are not as good as competitors
-No mobile web
Best promo offer:
$50 in free cash!
DraftKings. Sounds familiar, right?
If you are like me, you can’t help but picture the guy with the huge check during their epic commercial run in Fall 2017.
DraftKings, like their biggest competitor FanDuel, got their start with daily fantasy sports (DFS). With sports gambling now being legalized across the United States, DK has quickly moved to setup DraftKings Sportsbook.
DraftKings Sportsbook is best for you if:
- You do the majority of your betting on an app
- Like to research relevant stats and trends before betting
- You are an existing DraftKings DFS customer
- You want to bet on sports legally in the United States
DraftKings Sportsbook has the best app in the industry, helpful betting information, and a reliable brand. Read more to get the full breakdown!
Design
DraftKings Sportsbook has a great design and is easy to use on all devices. The look and feel is very similar to their DFS platform.
Betting Interface
Unlike its’ chief competitor FanDuel, DraftKings is only available on mobile via the app. While this isn’t a big deal for most people, it is slightly annoying that they don’t at least have the option to bet on mobile web.
Because you need to be within state lines to bet, DraftKings requires you to download a location checker before going to the site:
Once your location is confirmed, you can start the fun. The home page shows you featured games, which will often include games that are already underway:
They provide the standard spread/moneyline/over under odds with the option to click into each game for more obscure prop bets.
Below shows the Portland Tail Blazers/Denver Nuggets game that is in progress, as well as upcoming games.
When clicking into a matchup, DraftKings give you all the options for different prop bets. Offerings will vary depending on the league and game, but most games will have game, team, and player prop bets available:
Game props, like the ones listed below, are typically things like “First to X Points”, team totals and whether or not the game’s total points will be odd or even.Â
Bet Slip
To place a bet, simply click on the odds you want to wager on. See below for a simple example from the app:
If you have multiple bets in your bet slip, you have the option of placing individual bets:
Or grouping them into a parlay:
They even allow you to easily place round robin bets, however uncommon those may be.
While the bet slip functionality is technically fine, I have a few gripes about it. First, it is annoying that you don’t have the option to place a bet “to win”. You can only input the amount you are willing to wager.
The second gripe I have is how the payout is displayed. DraftKings shows you the payout including your original bet. In the parlay screenshot above, there is a $10 bet at +249, which would NET $24.93. Instead, the total payout shows $34.93, which includes the original $10 bet.
While this isn’t technically wrong, I just find it somewhat un-intuitive.
If you have bets open, you can view them in your “My Bets” tab.
Stability
I have not experienced any issues with DraftKings platform stability and not being able to get bets through.
If you can handle the occasional error, then I think DraftKings Sportsbook will suit your needs. It is worth remembering that the app and site are still very new, so there might be some kinks to work out over time.
Sign Up Process
DraftKings Sportsbook sign up is pretty quick and easy. Note that you WILL need to give them some information that may seem personal. This is because you will be taxed if you win over a certain amount each year. That means they need to verify your identity with things like the last four digits of your social security number and drivers license.
If you don’t want to hand over this information online, you can go into one of their retail sportsbooks and sign up in person.
DraftKings Sportsbook App
The app is really what sets DraftKings Sportsbook apart. Beyond the obvious function of being able to place bets, the DraftKings Sportsbook app has a few features that really make it great.
Stats Hub
Stats Hub is DraftKings Sportsbook’s home for stats. Powered by iSportsGenius, it is really great for quick research in the app. They have your “standard” stats like standings, point differential, points per game, etc. But what really makes this shine are the betting specific stats they provide.
Want to know how each team has recently performed against the spread? How often a team covers when they are a favorite? How often a team wins in extra innings? All these questions can be answered (and more) with Stats Hub. They even have graphs for money line and over/under line movement which is pretty handy.
See below for a quick video showing all that Stats Hub has to offer:
Live Betting
The DK Sportsbook app has a dedicated tab for live betting. This makes it easy to find everything this is happening (right now) in one place.
In addition to betting on the outcome of the game, you can bet on things like the outcome of the next batter (hit: yes/no) and next made field goal (2 pointer or 3 pointer). Live betting is great for entertainment, however the odds are typically not great compared to pregame numbers.
DraftKings also allows you to cash out early on certain bets. This can be a fun way to hedge your bet or in some cases even “cancel” your bet before the game starts by cashing out for the full amount.
Promotions Tab
The app also has a dedicated tab for promotions. This is very convenient as it allow you to both browse current promotions as well as opt-in to the ones you think you might bet. Note: You NEED to opt-in to the promotions in order to receive your bonus if you win.
Here are some example promotions they have run in the past:
- Place a $20+ money line bet on any hockey playoff game, get a $5 Free Bet for each goal your team wins by
- Place a pre-game moneyline bet on a baseball game, and if your team loses but scores 5+ runs, you will be credited up to $25 via a Free Bet
Pools
We know that DraftKings was originally a DFS company, so they couldn’t help but create a “Pools” option for sports betting as well.
The pools will typically be guaranteed prize pools, with different pools having different entry fees and number of participants. There is also the option to create or join Private Pools if you want to play with specific people.
DraftKings Sportsbook Pools are very similar to DFS, except instead of picking players, you are picking which teams to win (or cover the spread).
Pools are currently only available on the app, but are likely to make their way to the desktop soon. Pools are another aspect of DraftKings Sportsbook that gives them a leg up on the competition as no one else currently offers this game type.
Odds
The biggest downside of DraftKings Sportsbook is the odds. They often charge more than competitors such as FanDuel. While pricing is always subject to change, I have not seen much movement recently.
Based on an analysis of hundreds of data points I pulled manually, DraftKings Sportsbook charges some of the highest prices (“vig”/”juice”) in the industry at 4.8% on average:
If you aren’t line shopping and just want a reliable sportsbook that has a great user experience, I still think DraftKings Sportsbook is worth your time. However, if you are trying to get the absolute best line on the market, I would only consider DraftKings as one of many possible options.
Promo Code
Despite what you may have seen elsewhere, DraftKings Sportsbook runs a new customer promotion of a 100% match on your first bet up to $500. This is a similar offer to what FanDuel Sportsbook runs, and is definitely worth taking advantage of. If you have found this review helpful, please help support the site and click here to sign up.
In terms of other promotions, DraftKings has a dedicated “Promos” tab that will show you all of their current promotions. Note that you need to manually opt in to these promotions in order to receive the rewards.
Deposit/Withdrawal
DraftKings Sportsbook allows you to deposit with pretty much any method you could think of, other than a pre-paid card. The most convenient methods for most people are Paypal and ACH.
Your withdrawal options are Paypal, ACH, check or in person pick up.
Deposit/Withdrawal Location: Does it matter?
First, I will start with the bad news. The bad news is that you are only allowed to place wagers when you are physically located in a state the has legalized sports betting. That list of legalized states is constantly growing, so check back to see when your state has legalized sports gambling.
The good news is that you can deposit or withdrawal money from any state. This means you can have your account loaded and ready to go when your state is legal.
DFS Account Crossover
Another benefit of using DraftKings Sportsbook is that your funds from DFS and the sportsbook are interchangeable. This means you can use your winnings from a DFS contest to place a bet in the sportsbook.
The “winnings” distinction above is important. For example, if you deposit $100 in your DFS account, you are not able to use those funds to bet on the sportsbook. You will be able to use the $100 from your DFS account once you have risked that $100 via contests.
It is worth noting that their chief competitor FanDuel Sportsbook does not offer this option!
Alternatives
If what you have read above doesn’t suit your needs, there are other options available. The main downside of DraftKings Sportsbook are the odds, so if you are looking for better odds, I would try the following:
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- William Hill
Final Verdict
DraftKings Sportsbook is an excellent option for the casual bettor. It has the best app in the industry, creative betting types such as Pools, and quality info with their Stats Hub. If you need the absolute best odds out there, then DK is probably not for you, but for everyone else it is definitely worth a shot.