DraftKings Fantasy Sports Review & Current Promo Deal

5.0 /5
Nathan Whelan By Nathan Whelan Betting Analyst Updated: February 18, 2025
Nathan Whelan Nathan Whelan Betting Analyst at Betting.us

Nathan is a betting analyst who specializes in DFS and social betting. He loves nothing more than providing expert-level content and helping others add value to their slips. If you want to find the edge against sportsbooks and increase your skill as a bettor, check out his work.

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Up to $500 Deposit Bonus
Coming Soon Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org(CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
✅ Website www.draftkings.com
🎁 New Player Deal Receive Free Ticket
🎫 Loyalty Program Yes
🏆 Sports 15+
📱 Mobile App iOS & Android
🤵 Customer Support Email, Live Chat, Phone
ℹ States 50*
💳 Payment Options Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay
🛑 SSL Verification Let's Encrypt
📭 Launched 2012
Summary New Player Deal Availability Game Modes Payment Options

DraftKings DFS Review Summary

If there's one constant in the fiercely competitive DFS landscape, it's this fact: DraftKings is still the number one brand. Its strong fundamentals and willingness to expand its offerings are part of its success. You can join large tournaments with great prize pools or create contests between friends. There is also a decent new player deal that requires no promo code so you can claim it straight away.

Pros
  • Large sports selection
  • Versatile contest modes
  • Free contests
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Popular payment options
Cons
  • App can be sluggish

DraftKings Fantasy Welcome Bonus Details

One thing I'm always interested in when signing up for a new site is the welcome bonus. You won't need to enter a DraftKings daily fantasy promo code to claim this one. Instead, opt in and deposit $5. You will then receive a free contest entrance ticket valued at $3. All winnings from this ticket will be paid in cash, which I think is great for beginners.

Deposit $5 Get $3 Ticket Not Needed Fair T&Cs 50 US States
Claim Deal Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org(CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.

How to Sign Up and Register with DraftKings Fantasy

Registration with the DraftKings fantasy app was fast and easy for me. As long as you're old enough to play in your local state, you can click the Sign Up button and begin creating an account. Follow the steps below to complete registration:

  1. Provide your name, contact details, and email address.
  2. Verify your age and identity by submitting your ID.
  3. Make a deposit and claim the welcome bonus to start playing.

As one of the most popular and influential daily fantasy sports apps, I wasn't surprised to find that the operator has been authorized to operate its services in almost all US states. However, it's restricted in a few, which I've listed below:

  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana (some parishes)
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Washington

I should point out that those who live in the restricted states can still open an account with DraftKings. Real money fantasy contests may be off limits, but it is possible to play the free contest options.

Game Types and Modes

One of my favorite aspects about DraftKings Fantasy Sports is its entertaining, ever-evolving features. The app's layout allows you to easily explore the service, while the menu structure helps you quickly find the different types of contents. I've made a detailed list of all the different contest options below.

  • Classic Mode

    In Classic Mode, contestants draft lineups of players from one league within a salary cap of $50,000. Players are priced according to their current statistics. Points are earned based on the players' real-life performances, with the top-scoring contestants winning cash prizes. Be aware, there are position requirements in Classic Mode contests.

  • Showdown Mode

    Showdown contests only cover one game. Contestants draft teams from both competing teams within the $50,000 salary cap. Showdowns can last an entire game or half a game. Contestants must promote one player as a Captain, who will accrue 1.5X the fantasy points. There will be a certain number of FLEX positions to fill.

  • Tiers

    Rather than drafting players within a salary cap, athletes are organized into predefined groups that are categorized according to their stats or popularity. Each "tier" position must be filled to create an eligible roster. These competitions usually cover multiple games and require players from at least two teams.

  • Best Ball

    Best Ball contests typically last for an entire league season. In each round, contestants must draft lineups according to a snake draft. They then accrue points over the entire season, with the top-scoring contestants winning a share of the prize pool.

  • Single Stat

    In Single Stat contests, contestants draft a lineup of three athletes according to a certain stat category, such as Points Scored. The contest results are determined by which lineup has earned the most fantasy points in that stat. There are no salary caps in this simplified contest mode.

  • Flash Draft

    DraftKings daily fantasy Flash Drafts are played before and during live sporting events. Over five rounds, contestants are to pick who they think will score the most fantasy points out of three suggested options, with some options including multiple athletes and multipliers. There is no salary cap.

  • Snake Draft

    DraftKings DFS Snake Draft contests are similar to Classic Mode contests in their scoring, but rather than requiring picks within a salary, contestants take turns drafting their players in a set order. At the end of each draft round, the order of the selection is reversed.

Sports Selection

One of the service's highlights was the wealth of sports markets. DraftKings has curated a list of sports that will appeal to all fans. Each sport and e-sport category contains numerous markets from leagues at home and worldwide.

Sports Selection at DraftKings Fantasy

E-Sports Selection at DraftKings Fantasy

Prize Pools

The prizes available for DraftKings fantasy sports will depend on your chosen contest mode. In Guaranteed Prize Pool (GPPs) tournaments, the advertised prize pool will be awarded no matter how many people join. The prizes are tiered according to the final placement of contestants, with top scorers earning the largest share.

These are usually only awarded to the top 20-25 percent of scorers. In cash games such as 50/50 and Head-to-Heads, roughly half of the contestants will win a cash prize, which is often around double their entry fee. Both prize pools have pros and cons, and I recommend you enter a mix of both to find a suitable system.

VIP Rewards and Loyalty Program

The Dynasty Rewards program is available to all players across all DraftKings products. For every dollar spent, you earn both Crowns and Tier Credits - a neat perk, I might say. Crowns can be used to purchase bonus funds or a DraftKings daily fantasy promo code, while Tier Credits are used to unlock new membership tiers. Each new Dynasty Tier unlocks perks, including extra DFS contests or personalized customer service, which I find very useful.

Mobile App Features and Performance

Considering most players prefer to compete through their mobile devices, checking the site's app was a key element of this DraftKings daily fantasy review. I was pleased that the mobile platform is available on iOS and Android devices, including tablets like iPad.

The DraftKings daily fantasy app has been beautifully designed to permit the full suite of desktop features while on the go, including drafting, contest creations, payments, Dynasty Rewards club access, and account registration. Its iOS version is ranked highly in the App Store at 4.9, with players praising the intuitive layout and sport variety.

Up to $500 Deposit Bonus
  • 11 Sports
  • 5.0 Min. Android Version
Play on the App Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org(CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.

Available Payment Methods

Before you play DraftKings daily fantasy sports for cash, you'll need to deposit funds into your account. Fortunately, you have many options when making deposits and withdrawals. That includes major credit and debit cards, eWallets like PayPal, and mobile payments like Apple Pay. You can also use bank transfers, checks, and prepaid cards.

The minimum deposit limit is $5, and these are processed instantly. Withdrawal times vary depending on the chosen method, with PayPal being one of the fastest, as it takes up to 24 hours. If using a DraftKings fantasy promo code, be sure to check if there are minimum deposit limits.

Customer Support

While preparing our DraftKings DFS review, we discovered that customers can use email, live chat, and telephone to reach the support team. Support lines are open 24/7, though I received the fastest responses using live chat. I also recommend checking the Help Center for detailed explanations of common queries beforehand.

License & SSL Verification Information

The DraftKings daily fantasy sports platform is licensed in many US states. The site must adhere to local state regulations concerning minimum safety and security requirements. You can also be certain that any DraftKings DFS promo code has fair terms and conditions, while the security of all transactions is guaranteed through SSL encryption.

New players must prove their age and identity through KYC verification. It's important to note that each state has its own minimum age requirements ranging between 18 and 21 years old.

Final Verdict

If you're looking for a well-rounded DFS service that hits all the marks, you couldn't do much better than what DraftKings has to offer. The brand has been a pioneer platform for decades and is still the number one platform when it comes to daily fantasy sports. That alone is a compelling enough reason to choose it over rival DFS platforms such as OwnersBox and others.

Nathan Whelan

Nathan is a betting analyst who specializes in DFS and social betting. He loves nothing more than providing expert-level content and helping others add value to their slips. If you want to find the edge against sportsbooks and increase your skill as a bettor, check out his work.

Nathan Whelan Betting Analyst at Betting.us More about Nathan

FAQ

Which states is DraftKings legal to play in?

There are 45 DraftKings fantasy legal states that offer paid contests, they are the following: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WV, WI, and WY. Adults in non-legal states can still create an account and play free contests.

Is DraftKings legit and safe to use?

DraftKings holds gaming licenses in all states where these are required. User safety is guaranteed by adhering to player well-being regulations, including SSL integration and KYC identity verification.

Does DraftKings provide new customers with a welcome bonus?

Yes. New customers don't need a DraftKings fantasy promo code to claim the welcome bonus. Instead, they simply need to opt-in with a $5 deposit to claim a free entry ticket valued at $3.

Can you win real money on DraftKings Daily Fantasy?

DraftKings Daily Fantasy allows users to win real money when competing in DFS contests. If you compete in contests and win, you’ll get more cash back from other competitors. I recommend trying the beginner contests to learn how to play, before moving onto other game types.

How does payout work at DraftKings Fantasy?

Taking money from a DraftKings Daily Fantasy account is a straightforward process. Head over to your account to find the "Withdraw from Fantasy" setting. You can withdraw using the banking method of your choice.
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