FanDuel vs. DraftKings: Who has the best sportsbook? | Sporting News

FanDuel and DraftKings are far and away the two most popular online sports betting sites in the US.

FanDuel owns the largest market share nationwide; DraftKings is the market leader in a handful of heavily populated states. That keeps the overall numbers close. Both offer:

• Welcome bonuses for opening a new account
• Free-to-play contests
• Daily and special-event betting promos
• Extremely competitive odds
• Excellent betting apps
• Easy sign-up process

Ultimately, DraftKings and FanDuel are 1 and 1A of major US sportsbooks.

Below, we’ve compared the two in various categories identified as the most important to the online sportsbook customer experience. If the question is “DraftKings or FanDuel?”, here’s a little help with the answer.

What is DraftKings? 

DraftKings Sportsbook is the leading online sportsbook in several states due in part to:

• Substantial welcome bonus (can be worth up to $1,250)
• Frequent and generous ongoing betting promos
• Highly competitive odds
• Massive range of available betting markets

DraftKings offers more betting markets than any sportsbook for practically every pro, college, and international sport. With the same account, you can move seamlessly between the sportsbook and DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports contests.

You earn Crowns and Tier Credits in DraftKings’ Dynasty Rewards loyalty program for betting in either one. 

Ongoing promos at DraftKings include free-to-play betting contests, odds boosts, bonus bets, bet-and-get offers, parlay insurance, and parlay profit boosts.

The online sportsbook and the betting app are both easy to use, as DraftKings has a reputation for prioritizing technology and user experience over everything.

Pros of DraftKings 

• Easy-to-use software platform 
• One account for DFS and sports betting
• Generous welcome bonus

Cons of DraftKings

• Limited customer support
• Slow withdrawal times noted
• Slightly higher vig noted

What is FanDuel?

FanDuel Sportsbook is the market-leading online sportsbook nationwide due in no small part to:

• Simple and user-friendly software platform
• Competitive odds
• Ongoing contests and promos
• Extensive list of popular betting markets

FanDuel posts betting markets for virtually every pro league and college sport in the US or worldwide. With a shared wallet you can move between the sportsbook and FanDuel’s DFS contests very easily.

There’s no traditional loyalty program, but FanDuel regularly gives back through ongoing promos that include free-to-play contests with massive prize pools, prop contests, bonus bets, parlay insurance, and more.

Betting site and betting app users universally agree the simple nature of the software platform makes it easy to find your way around, manage your account, and bet. FanDuel has a reputation for making the player experience a consistently enjoyable one.

FanDuel is offering a Bet $5, Get $300 in bonus bets promo if your bet wins. You’ll also get 3 free months of NBA League Pass just for signing up and making a deposit.

Pros of FanDuel

• User-friendly software platform 
• One wallet for DFS and sports betting
• Generous ongoing promos and free contests
• Generally considered to have the best sports betting app

Cons of FanDuel

• No loyalty program
• Low maximum bets on promos/odds boosts noted

FanDuel vs. DraftKings comparison

FanDuel and DraftKings are the country’s two most popular online sportsbooks, and very little separates them. 

• FanDuel may offer slightly better odds in many betting markets because DraftKings is known for charging a higher vig.
• DraftKings offers free membership in a potentially lucrative loyalty program, and although FanDuel does not, it runs a few more ongoing promos and free contests instead. 
• Both offer generous welcome bonuses to new players, but the DraftKings welcome bonus potentially provides more value.
• While both offer seamless DFS access from the sportsbook and easy-to-use software, the FanDuel platform is considered the most user-friendly.

DraftKings vs. FanDuel banking options 

Ultimately, FanDuel offers a few more banking options than DraftKings. Here’s a look:

DraftKings vs. FanDuel sign-up process

The sign-up processes are practically identical at DraftKings and FanDuel. Neither wins the battle in this category on the face of it.

You can use your DFS account with either to sign up for the sportsbook. If not, you’ll need to:

• Choose a username and password
• Enter your email address, name, address, phone number, date of birth
• Enter the last four digits of your Social Security number. 

Both sportsbooks also ask you to choose your marketing preferences and accept certain terms and conditions.

Finally, both DraftKings and FanDuel ask you to verify your identity. This can take seconds to a few minutes with DraftKings, as it may ask you for a scan of your driver’s license.

If that’s the case, verification could take 24 to 48 hours. FanDuel may be slightly faster at this, promising results in 12 to 24 hours. That’s really the only difference between the two here, giving FanDuel a tiny edge over DraftKings in this category.

FanDuel vs. DraftKings sports betting app

FanDuel and DraftKings both offer top sports betting apps for iPhone/iPad and Android.

Both hold equally high user rating averages on the App Store and Google Play. Navigation, betting, and account management are all easy tasks with these apps. Plus, the apps are designed with functionality and style in mind.

The only difference is that the FanDuel apps crash a little less, while the DraftKings apps may offer a few more betting features. 

Ultimately, it comes down to a personal choice and whether you prize features over reliability. We do, as long as the feature-rich app isn’t too buggy.

Since the DraftKings apps don’t crash often anyway, DraftKings narrowly wins in the betting app category.

DraftKings vs. FanDuel promotions and bonuses

Let’s start with the welcome offers for new players. Sign up for a new account with DraftKings Sportsbook through the links here, and you’ll get a 20% deposit match bonus of up to $1,000, a $50 bonus bet with at least a $5 deposit, and $200 in bonus bets with a minimum $5 bet.  

Sign up for a new account with FanDuel Sportsbook through the links here, and you can get $300 in bonus bets if your first bet of $5 or more wins. You’ll also get 3 free months of NBA League Pass just for signing up and making a deposit.

Also as part of their sportsbook bonuses & promos, both FanDuel and DrafKings offer generous refer-a-friend bonuses:

• Refer a Friend at FanDuel, and you’ll each get $50 in Bonus Bets.
• Refer a Friend at DraftKings and score up to $100 for in Bonus Bets. 

See more: Best NBA sports betting promos

FanDuel vs. DraftKings state accessibility  

The two heavyweights are extremely close in this category. Check out the lists below. 

DraftKings Sportsbook is legal in: AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (varies by parish), MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. 

FanDuel Sportsbook is legal in: AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (varies by parish), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY, the District of Columbia.

You can see DraftKings has a slight edge in terms of availability, although both sites are among the most available online sportsbooks in the US.

DraftKings vs. FanDuel odds markets

FanDuel and DraftKings offer more betting options than any other online sportsbook in the country. That means more sports and more ways to bet on them. That said, DraftKings is the top sportsbook in the country in terms of available betting markets. 

The edge is clear in DraftKings’ list of live betting markets, where micro-betting tech lets you bet on almost every aspect of a live sporting event.

The edge is even more apparent when you see the prop bet markets for major sports on DraftKings. There’s just a little more here, giving DraftKings the edge in this category.

DraftKings vs. FanDuel payout speed

Both sportsbooks allow similar banking options for withdrawals, and payout speeds are generally the same. However, FanDuel offers a few more fast payout options, like Apple Pay and Venmo, giving it the edge in this category.

See more: Top 7 fastest paying online sportsbooks

FanDuel vs. DraftKings loyalty programs

DraftKings offers free membership in its Dynasty Rewards loyalty program, where you earn Crowns and Tier Credits with every bet redeemable for cashback and bonuses.

FanDuel doesn’t have a loyalty program, which gives DraftKings a free pass in this category.

FanDuel vs. DraftKings responsible gambling

DraftKings is committed to responsible gambling and encourages players to keep things fun, only bet what they can afford, and set reasonable limits.

The organization also educates its team members to recognize problem gambling and offer information and assistance. DraftKings participates in programs and initiatives to increase problem gambling awareness and does its best to prevent underage gambling. 

FanDuel is equally committed to protecting players and helping them practice healthy and responsible play. The organization offers a variety of proactive tools and support on that front.

This category is a wash, as both do more than required to encourage responsible gambling.

DraftKings vs. FanDuel customer service

FanDuel customer support includes:

• Live chat with agents available 24/7
• Social media assistance with a team on X and Facebook from 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. every day
• Email with responses within 12 hours
• Voicemail with responses within 24 hours

You can contact DraftKings customer support by submitting a request online through the DraftKings Help Center.

Live chat is also available via the Help Center homepage most hours.

Simply because there are more ways to contact FanDuel more often, it wins the customer service category.

Conclusion: Is DraftKings better than FanDuel? 

FanDuel owns the largest market share nationwide, and there are some good reasons.

It offers more and faster-paying banking options, its customer service team is easier to reach, and its odds are often better.

FanDuel also has a more reliable betting app and more ongoing betting promos. 

Of course, DraftKings is a close second in nationwide market share. It has a loyalty program (FanDuel doesn’t), and the sportsbook is available in more states.

DraftKings has a bigger and better welcome bonus and more features on its mobile app. 

Ultimately, it’s a personal choice, but if we had to make it, we’d go with FanDuel. Better odds and ongoing promos win the day.

Compare other sportsbooks

FanDuel vs. DraftKings FAQ

Which sportsbook is better: FanDuel or DraftKings? 

A head-to-head comparison between the two biggest licensed online sportsbooks in the country shows FanDuel has a slight edge. Better odds and more ongoing promos make it the better long-term choice over DraftKings, but it is worth having an account with both.

Can I use FanDuel and DraftKings at the same time?

Yes. This way, you can compare odds and shop lines while taking advantage of all the promos and bonuses available with each top sportsbook.

Which sportsbook is better for NFL betting?

DraftKings and FanDuel are the country’s two most popular online sportsbooks for betting on the NFL. However, consistently better NFL odds and NFL betting promos make FanDuel your No. 1 choice for NFL betting.

Is DraftKings or FanDuel better for bonuses and promotions? 

DraftKings has a bigger and better welcome bonus. However, FanDuel runs more ongoing promotions. That makes DraftKings better on sign-up and FanDuel better long-term regarding bonuses and promotions.