DraftKings Review: $150 In Bonus Bets – December 2024

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Expert Reviewed

Brian Pempus Editor
Forbes Advisor receives compensation from partner links on this page. Online bets are not legal in all locations, and this content is meant for those 21+. Winnings are not guaranteed, and you may lose all of your wagered funds. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER

DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the most widely used and recognized sportsbooks in the U.S., and we fully recommend it to consumers.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018, DraftKings was among the first online sportsbooks to launch in the American market.

Since debuting in New Jersey in August 2018, DraftKings has been a leader in online sports betting. The company built its brand in the daily fantasy sports (DFS) space before the floodgates opened for legal sports betting.

DraftKings Sportsbook

Why DraftKings?

  • User-friendly mobile app
  • Strong welcome offer
  • Frequent promotions and odds boosts
  • Rewards program
  • Extensive market depth
  • Widely available
DraftKings Sportsbook
Services
Sportsbook, Casino, Daily Fantasy Sports
Year established
2018
Available in
US, Canada
Pros & Cons
  • Leader in Payment Processing Methods.
  • Leader in Online Sports Betting.
  • No Live Chat Is Available

Pros

  • Intuitive mobile app
  • Generous welcome offer
  • Frequent promos for existing users
  • Rewards program for loyal customers
  • Extensive betting selection
  • Competitive odds
  • Widely available

Cons

  • Mobile app isn’t visually pleasing
  • Betting choices can feel overwhelming

Our Verdict

After helping pioneer the U.S. online sports betting market, DraftKings still comfortably ranks among the industry’s best platforms.

With DraftKings’ distinctive user interface design for both desktop and mobile, few online sportsbooks can compete with its polish.

The desktop site is easy to use, with links to tutorials, the promo page and various sports offerings clearly indicated.

Additionally, the mobile app has many of the same design features and even expands upon them.

There is a main menu at the bottom of the app with your bets, live betting opportunities, a search bar and rewards, streamlining the betting process for mobile users.

All things considered, we recommend DraftKings Sportsbook.

CategoryDescription
OfferBet $5+, get $150 in bonus bets if first bet wins
Promo CodeN/A
RequirementsNew users only, 21+ and in eligible state
Eligible Bet TypesAll bet types
AvailabilityAZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, NH, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, WV
Offer ExpiresJan. 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET
Apple Store Score4.8/5
Google Play Store Score4.5/5
Date VerifiedDec. 4, 2024
Claim Bonus

DraftKings Sign-Up Bonus

New users can get $150 in bonus bets when they sign up for DraftKings.

To claim the offer, new users must create an account with DraftKings, deposit at least $5 and place their first real-money wager of at least $5 on the platform.

If you’re in AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, MA, ME, NC, OH, PA, WY, or WV, you’ll receive $150 in bonus bets instantly, regardless of how your bet turns out.

If you’re in DC, IA, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MD, MI, NJ, NY, TN, VA, or VT, you’ll get $150 in bonus bets if your first wager wins.

Bonus bets are valid for seven days and can be used on any market.

No DraftKings promo code is required for this offer if you sign up through a banner on this page.

Terms and Conditions

  • First-time DraftKings Sportsbook customers only
  • Make a deposit of $5+ into your DraftKings account
  • Bet $5+ on any sport (must win in certain states)
  • Receive $150 in bonus bets (six $25 bet tokens)
  • Bonus bets are valid for seven days
  • Bonus bet amounts are not included in any returns or winnings
  • Bonus bets are not redeemable for cash, non-transferable and non-refundable
  • Bonus bet cannot be used as qualifying wager
  • One (1) qualifying wager per customer
  • All paid wagers qualify
  • Must be 21+, unless otherwise stated, and located in AZ, CO, CT, DC (18+), IA, IL, IN, KS, KY (18+), LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, NH (18+), OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY (18+)
  • Offer valid through 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 5, 2025.

Compared to other popular sportsbooks, DraftKings has one of the best welcome offers in the industry.

SportsbookPromo
FanDuelBet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
DraftKingsBet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
BetMGMGet up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your 1st Bet Loses
CaesarsBet $1, Get 10 100% Profit Boosts
FanaticsGet up to $100 No-Sweat Bet Daily for 10 Days
Bet365Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets OR up to $1,000 Back if 1st Wager Loses
BetRiversGet up to $500 in Bonus Bets if Your 1st Bet Loses
ESPN BETGet up to $1,500 Back if 1st Bet Loses
Hard Rock BetGet up to $100 in Bonus Bets if Your 1st Bet Loses

Quick Facts

  • Website: sportsbook.draftkings.com
  • Year established: 2018
  • Available in: U.S., Canada
  • Services: Sportsbook, Casino, Daily Fantasy Sports
  • Payment options: Online Banking, Credit/Debit Cards, Venmo, PayPal, Play+ Card, Wire Transfer, ACH E-Check, Apple Pay, Cash
  • Customer service: [email protected]

DraftKings Key Features

Live Betting
Live betting is a must-have at any sportsbook, and DraftKings has a great in-game betting section located at the bottom of the screen. You can quickly view markets for games in progress along with updated odds. DraftKings also offers a wide range of prop bets for live sporting events to keep bettors engaged.

Live Streaming
Many sportsbooks now offer live streaming for select sporting events, including DraftKings. While live streaming is not available for every sport or match, it can be a fun way to keep up with the action and track your bets.

Daily Fantasy Sports
DraftKings is one of the top daily fantasy sports (DFS) sites as well. Its DFS site is promoted and easily accessible if you like to pair fantasy sports with your betting.

Early Cash Out
Like many sportsbooks, DraftKings gives you the option to cash out a wager either before the event starts or once it’s in progress. This allows you to potentially guarantee some winnings or limit your losses depending on how your bet is going.

Rewards Program
DraftKings rewards returning customers with a loyalty program, which gives bettors “DK Crowns” with every bet. These can later be converted into bonus bets or DK Shop credit.

DraftKings also has frequent odds boosts and promotions for existing customers to keep them coming back.

Quick Deposits and Withdrawals
Depositing and withdrawing money at DraftKings is quick and easy, as the site offers several convenient ways to easily move your money.

Parlay Builder
DraftKings’ Parlay Builder tool makes building parlays a breeze, making it easy to combine prop bets and other wagers into a parlay.

The sportsbook also has a ‘Progressive Parlays‘ feature where you can still earn a payout on a parlay even if one or more legs lose.

Player Props
DraftKings has player-centric betting via ‘Player Pages’ that display all available player prop markets for a single player. This makes it easy to find bets for a certain player if you want to bet on a superstar like Paul Skenes, LeBron James or Patrick Mahomes.

Quick Bet Grading
DraftKings grades bets quickly compared to other betting sites, allowing you to quickly cash out your winnings or wager them on something else.

DK Horse
If you like betting on horse racing (especially around marquee events like the Kentucky Derby), you can do so through DK Horse.

DraftKings App Review

  • App Store Rating: 4.8 Stars, 771K ratings
  • Google Play Store Rating: 4.6 Stars, 162K ratings

DraftKings ranks with FanDuel as one of the best-reviewed sports betting apps. 

Reviewers enjoyed how easy it was to find the bets they were looking for along with DraftKings’ extensive betting options. Some customers noted issues with customer service and occasionally slow load times.

That said, we really enjoy using DraftKings’ app and think it works well. It runs smoothly and is intuitive, making it easy to use.

Where is DraftKings Legal?

In the early 2010s, DraftKings was known for its daily fantasy sports platform. DraftKings turned its attention to online sports betting following the May 2018 PASPA decision.

Today, DraftKings is a publicly traded company valued at around $18 billion.

DraftKings is legal in more than 20 legal sports betting states and jurisdictions:

StateDraftKings Live?Age Limit
ArizonaYes21
ColoradoYes21
ConnecticutYes21
IllinoisYes21
IndianaYes21
IowaYes21
KansasYes21
KentuckyYes18
LouisianaYes21
MaineYes21
MassachusettsYes21
MarylandYes21
MichiganYes21
New HampshireYes18
New JerseyYes21
New YorkYes21
North CarolinaYes21
OhioYes21
OntarioYes19
OregonYes21
PennsylvaniaYes21
TennesseeYes21
VermontYes21
VirginiaYes21
Washington, D.C.Yes18
West VirginiaYes21
WyomingYes18

Can You Win Real Money at DraftKings?

At DraftKings Sportsbook, every wager pays real money — even wagers made with bonus bets. Not only will you spend and deposit your own money (once your bonus bets run out), but you’ll also be able to win money and withdraw it if your wagers cash.

Bettors can withdraw money from DraftKings through several different methods, including PayPal, Venmo, online banking, debit cards and checks.

How Does DraftKings Sportsbook Work?

DraftKings Sportsbook is an online sports betting platform. If you’re in a state where it’s legal, you can get started by creating an account and making your first deposit.

With funds in your account, you can navigate the platform on your desktop or a mobile app (available for iOS and Android) to locate the sports and games you want to wager on.

Once you’ve located the bet you want to make, your betslip will pop up with your selected wager. Here, you can wager on single bets or create parlays.

There will be a field in the betslip where you can input the amount you wish to wager. After submitting your bet, you’ll need to wait for the contest’s results to see if you have a winning or losing wager.

You’ll receive your wager back along with your winnings if your bet is successful. You can use these winnings for future wagers or withdraw and pocket them.

DraftKings Bet Types

  • Moneyline: Betting on the team that will win the game outright.
  • Spread: The spread is a point differential that represents the projected margin of victory for a game.
  • Totals: Also known as Over/Under, this is a wager on the total number of points scored in the contest.
  • Props: With prop bets, you have game or single-player bets. These are “micro-events” that take place within a game. Some popular examples include the Gatorade color at the end of a Super Bowl, a quarterback’s total passing yards or an MLB player’s total hits in a game.
  • Parlay: To bet a parlay, you’ll need to add multiple bets (also known as “legs”) to a single betting ticket. To win, you need all your selections to win. With this added risk, parlay betting odds are higher than wagering on the contests separately. At DraftKings, you can also wager on same-game parlays and progressive parlays.
  • Futures: Wagers on events happening in the future such as Super Bowl winner, Cy Young winner or NBA MVP.
  • Round Robin: A more advanced wager, a round robin takes a group of three or more legs and creates a certain number of smaller parlay combinations.
  • Teasers: This allows you to manipulate the spread while sacrificing some betting line value. In the NFL, a common teaser would be surrendering six points on a point spread or totals wager and adding it to the other side. For example, if one spread is -4 and the other is +2, it would become +2 and +8, respectively.

DraftKings Payment Methods

DraftKings Sportsbook is a leader in payment processing methods.

Most major financial institutions facilitate deposits and withdrawals for the platform. Accordingly, it’s easy to deposit and withdraw money from DraftKings.

DraftKings Deposit Methods

  • Online Banking
  • Credit/Debit Card
  • Gift Card
  • ACH Bank Transfer
  • PayPal
  • Venmo
  • Apple Pay
  • Play+ Prepaid Card
  • Cash
  • VIP Preferred E-Check
  • Wire Transfer

DraftKings Withdrawal Methods

  • Online Banking
  • PayPal
  • Venmo
  • Debit Card
  • Play+ Prepaid Card
  • Cash at Cage
  • Check by Mail
  • VIP Preferred E-Check
  • Wire Transfer

DraftKings Customer Service

DraftKings Sportsbook has several customer service options for patrons who need assistance.

  • Live Chat: DraftKings has an automated live chat feature that’s available 24/7.
  • Email/Contact Form: You can submit a brief form with your issue to DraftKings’ support staff.
  • Callback: If you prefer to speak to a live representative, you can leave your contact number and request a callback.
  • FAQ: DraftKings’ online resource center covers numerous topics, including banking methods, rewards and responsible gambling.
  • Mail: DraftKings provides the mailing address to their Boston headquarters if you prefer to get in touch with them by mail.

DraftKings Security & License

DraftKings operates under the supervision and regulation of several state authorities. It is licensed in the following states and is only available within the borders of those states:

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky (18+)
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington DC
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming (18+)

DraftKings’ website uses state-of-the-art 256-bit encryption and geolocation software to guarantee online security and compliance.

DraftKings Responsible Gambling

Make sure to always bet responsibly. Set and stick to a budget, and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Bet for fun on sports you know and don’t chase your losses.

You must be of a legal sports betting age and physically present in a legal sports betting state to wager.

If you feel that you may have a gambling problem or addiction, help and resources are available. You can seek help for you or someone you know by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why choose DraftKings?

Whether you’re a new or experienced bettor, there are many reasons to choose DraftKings, from its strong welcome offer and frequent promotions to its impressive market depth and user-friendly app. It’s also widely available in many sports betting states, so you can easily keep betting when you travel to other states with legal sports betting.

Can I use DraftKings on my phone or computer?

Yes, you can do both. DraftKings has a regular website for PC users if you prefer to bet on your computer. It also has mobile app that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple Store so you can bet on the go.

Is DraftKings safe to use?

Yes, DraftKings is safe to use. It has tight security measures to protect your personal information and financial details, so you don’t have to worry about sensitive info getting stolen.

Do I need to report my DraftKings winnings on my taxes?

Yes, you do. If you win money at any sportsbook (including DraftKings), you’ll need to report your winnings on your year-end taxes.

What age do I need to be to use DraftKings?

Either 18 or 21, depending on the state. The legal sports betting age varies by state, so check your state laws to see how hold you need to be before signing up for DraftKings.

If you’re under the age limit, you won’t be able to create an account.

Is it easy to withdraw money from DraftKings?

Yes, very easy. DraftKings has multiple withdrawal methods available that allow you to quickly withdraw money from your account at any time.

Does DraftKings offer good odds?

Yes. While no sportsbook can have the best odds for every sporting event, DraftKings offers competitive odds compared to other sportsbooks.

That said, we recommend shopping around to get the best odds on your wager, as you may find better odds for a particular market elsewhere.

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