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While sports bettors have no shortage of online sportsbooks to choose from, Bet365 and DraftKings stand out as two of the top options.
DraftKings has been operational since 2018, the same year the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and legalized sports betting in the U.S. Bet365 was founded in the U.K. in 2000 and expanded to the U.S. in 2019, first launching in New Jersey.
DraftKings was already well-known thanks to its massive success in daily fantasy sports before sports betting was legalized. Bet365’s reputation was built on its strong international background, as it has nearly 100 million customers around the world.
While both sportsbooks are great options for bettors, we’ll go over the differences between the two to help you decide which one to try first.
DraftKings / Bet365 States
The most important thing to look for when joining a sportsbook is whether it’s available in your state.
That said, DraftKings has a clear advantage here. It’s legal in 25 states (plus Puerto Rico and Canada), while Bet365 is only available in 11 states.
While DraftKings has a lot more reach than Bet365, the latter has been expanding lately, so there’s a good chance it will join some new markets soon.
Bonuses & Promos
Online sportsbooks offer “welcome bonuses” for new users to entice people to join their platforms, and DraftKings and Bet365 have two of the best offers in the business.
Bet365’s ‘First Bet or Bet & Get’ Offers
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Offer | Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets OR get up to $1,000 in bonus bets if your first bet loses |
| Promo Code | FORBES (U.S.), FORBESCAN (Canada ex. Ontario) |
| Requirements | New users only, 21+ and in eligible state |
| Eligible Bet Types | Min. -500 odds |
| Availability | AZ, CO, IA, IN, KY, LA, NJ, NC, OH, PA, VA |
| Offer Expires | TBD |
| Apple Store Score | 4.8/5 |
| Google Play Store Score | 4.6/5 |
| Date Verified | Nov. 26, 2024 |
| Claim Bonus |  |
DraftKings ‘Bet & Get’ Offer
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Offer | Bet $5+, get $150 in bonus bets if first bet wins |
| Promo Code | N/A |
| Requirements | New users only, 21+ and in eligible state |
| Eligible Bet Types | All bet types |
| Availability | AZ, 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 Expires | Jan. 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Apple Store Score | 4.8/5 |
| Google Play Store Score | 4.5/5 |
| Date Verified | Nov. 26, 2024 |
| Claim Bonus | |
Rewards Program
This is a clear win for DraftKings, as it has a rewards program while Bet365 doesn’t.
DraftKings’ rewards program gives bettors one “crown” for every $1 wagered on the sportsbook. There are also occasional boosts where you can earn double points on your bets.
Crowns have no cash value but can be converted into bonus bets. They can also be used to enter DFS contests, play casino games or purchase merchandise from the DraftKings store.
Bet365 doesn’t have a rewards program, so it’s lacking in this department.
If you’re looking to bet with a sportsbook that rewards you for consistency and loyalty, DraftKings comes out on top.
Market Depth & Variety
Bet365 and DraftKings both offer plentiful betting markets on a wide range of sports, boasting some of the best market coverage in the industry.
Bet365 offers an impressive number of niche and international betting markets (which makes sense considering its international background), while DraftKings has more alternate lines, player props and same-game parlay options.
Additionally, you’ll find traditional bets on both sportsbooks like moneylines, point spreads and totals for all the major team sports. You can also find round robins and parlays along with other bet types.
Neither sportsbook has a clear edge in this category, so it depends on your betting preference. Bet365 has more international markets, whereas DraftKings is a better option if you like building parlays or only wager on American sports.
Betting Odds & Lines
Bet365 and DraftKings both offer competitive odds.
Rather than placing all of your bets through one sportsbook, you should consider using multiple books to compare odds and get the best price.
Below, we outline an odds example that illustrates how odds differ by sportsbook and why shopping for the best price and line is important.
In this scenario for an NFL game between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, both sportsbooks have different odds. The spread is larger by half a point at Bet365, while DraftKings has a bit more juice on the moneyline. There’s a half-point difference in the Over/Under as well.
This is just one example, but you’ll often notice small odds differences across all sportsbooks, not just these two.
Bottom line: No single sportsbook will always have the best odds on everything. You may find better odds for one game at Bet365 but better odds for a different game at DraftKings.
Accordingly, we encourage signing up for as many sportsbooks as possible to make sure you always get the best possible odds.
Payment Methods
Bet365 and DraftKings both have numerous options for depositing and withdrawing funds from your account.
Bet365 Deposit Methods
DraftKings Deposit Methods
- Credit/Debit Cards
- Online Banking
- Apple Pay
- PayPal
- Venmo
- ACH eCheck
- Wire Transfer
- PayNearMe
- Play+ Prepaid Card
- DraftKings Gift Card
Depending on your state, you may also be able to deposit at one of DraftKings’ partnered casinos using cash (Bet365 doesn’t have any U.S. retail locations).
As you can see, DraftKings has more deposit methods compared to Bet365.
Now, let’s look briefly at withdrawal methods.
Bet365 Withdrawal Methods
- Online Banking
- Credit/Debit Card
- PayPal
- Skrill
DraftKings Withdrawal Methods
- Online Banking
- Debit Card
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Play+ Prepaid Card
- Check
- E-Check
- Trustly
- Cash at Casino Counter (where applicable)
DraftKings also has the edge in withdrawal methods as well.
No matter how you choose to deposit or withdraw your money, both sportsbooks have a good selection of safe, quick and reliable methods, though it’s worth noting that DraftKings boasts more options.
Mobile App Experience
Bet365 and DraftKings have similar mobile applications available on iOS and Android devices, albeit with some differences.
DraftKings’ mobile app is slightly superior. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, many bettors regard it as one of the best sports betting apps on the market (4.8 stars on App Store, 4.6 stars on Google Play).
While Bet365 has identical ratings (4.8 stars on App Store, 4.6 on Google Play), its interface is very barebones compared to DraftKings’.
Both apps feature promoted bets on their homescreens, but DraftKings’ home page is geared around celebrity sponsors and bigger bonuses while Bet365’s home page features stock images of players playing a specific sport.
Bet365’s color scheme is also a fairly boring mixture of green and gray, while DraftKings has a sleeker black and green interface.
Both mobile apps work great, but DraftKings looks cleaner and runs a bit more smoothly.
Customer Service
Bet365 and DraftKings have similar customer service processes for resolving issues.
Both sportsbooks have standard FAQ sections with resources for common questions, which can be helpful if you want to try to find the answer yourself.
They also both have automated live chat features that are available 24/7. The messaging starts with a bot, but you can escalate to a live agent if needed.
Bet365 also has the option to email customer support along with a 24/7 toll-free phone number to call. DraftKings doesn’t have an email option, but there’s an option to request a call back from a live representative.
At both sportsbooks, resolving customer support issues is relatively quick and easy, but Bet365 has a few more options.
Bottom Line
Bet365 and DraftKings are both terrific betting options with high-quality sportsbooks. They both have pros and cons but ultimately provide similar user experiences.
However, DraftKings is slightly superior in our view. While Bet365 boasts a better welcome offer and more customer support options, DraftKings has a better mobile app and is much more accessible and rewarding. Bet365 is terrific in its own right, but it still has some catching up to do in the U.S.
That said, both sportsbooks are worth checking out if they’re available in your state.
