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Sports bettors have many online sportsbooks to choose from. While some brands are older and more established, a new wave of sportsbooks has emerged to challenge them.
FanDuel was one of the first legal online sportsbooks in the U.S., debuting in 2018 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, allowing states to start legalizing sports betting.
Already a daily fantasy sports giant, FanDuel quickly became one of the country’s top two sportsbooks in terms of market share along with DraftKings.
ESPN BET, on the other hand, didn’t come along until November 2023. Backed by ESPN, it rebranded from Barstool Sportsbook and is one of the newest betting sites on the market.
Should sports bettors stick with old reliable in FanDuel, or is the new kid on the block worth checking out? We’ll cover their differences below and decide which one is better.
ESPN BET / FanDuel States
The most important thing to look for when joining a sportsbook is whether it’s available in your state.
ESPN BET and FanDuel are available in most states with legal online sports betting. ESPN BET is operational in 18 states. FanDuel has a bit more coverage, as it’s available in 22 states along with Washington, D.C.
The four states that have FanDuel but not ESPN BET are Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Wyoming.
Both sportsbooks are generally quick to launch when a state legalizes sports betting, so expect both to keep expanding.
Bonuses & Promos
Online sportsbooks typically offer “welcome bonuses” to draw in new customers. ESPN BET and FanDuel are no exception and feature two of the best (although very different) welcome offers around.
ESPN BET ‘First Bet Insurance’ Offer
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Offer | Get up to $1,500 first bet reset & 30 free days of ESPN+ |
| Promo Code | N/A |
| Requirements | New users only, 21+ and in eligible state |
| Eligible Bet Types | All bet types |
| Availability | AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV |
| Apple Store Score | 4.8/5 |
| Google Play Store Score | 4.5/5 |
| Offer Expires | Feb. 10, 2025 |
| Last Verified | Nov. 26, 2024 |
FanDuel ‘Bet & Get’ Offer
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Offer | Bet $5+, get $150 in Bonus Bets + 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass |
| Promo Code | N/A |
| Requirements | New users only, 21+ and in eligible state |
| Eligible Bet Types | All bet types |
| Availability | AZ, CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY |
| Offer Expires | Dec. 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Apple Store Score | 4.9/5 |
| Google Play Store Score | 4.7/5 |
| Date Verified | Nov. 26, 2024 |
| Claim Bonus |  |
Rewards Program
If you’re looking for rewards, ESPN BET is the better option.
FanDuel doesn’t have a loyalty program, so you won’t get any perks or special bonuses for using them instead of a different sportsbook.
ESPN BET, on the other hand, is partnered with the PENN Play tiered rewards program. Customers can earn PENN Cash, which can be redeemed for bonus bets, casino credits and more. ESPN BET also has deposit matches and cashback for frequent customers.
If you’re someone who bets often, you’ll want to be rewarded for your time and money. ESPN BET is superior in this regard.
Market Depth & Variety
ESPN BET and FanDuel both offer an abundance of betting markets on a wide range of sports.
Both sportsbooks do a good job of covering the basics, but FanDuel stands out with a larger selection of betting options, offering markets on handball, snooker, swimming and other categories that aren’t available at ESPN BET.
The actual betting markets for each sport/league can vary by sportsbook, but both provide good depth.
You’ll find moneylines, point spreads and totals for all the major team sports. Game and team props, round robins, futures, parlays, SGPs and other different bet types are offered as well.
FanDuel’s menu is more extensive, offering more bets on a wider variety of sports.
Betting Odds & Lines
FanDuel and ESPN BET both offer competitive odds.
Rather than using just one sportsbook for all of your bets, you’re better off looking at 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 Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, both sportsbooks have different odds. The spread is larger by half a point at FanDuel, while ESPN BET 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 see 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 FanDuel but better odds for a different game at ESPN BET.
Accordingly, we encourage signing up for as many sportsbooks as possible to make sure you always get the best possible odds.
Payment Methods
FanDuel and ESPN BET have multiple options for depositing and withdrawing funds from your account.
ESPN BET Deposit Methods
FanDuel Deposit Methods
- Credit/Debit Card
- Online Banking
- Apple Pay
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Wire Transfer
- PayNearMe
- Play+ Prepaid Card
- FD Gift Card
Depending on your location, you may also be able to deposit at a partnered casino using cash.
Overall, both of these lists are robust. Both sportsbooks offer popular methods like digital wallets and bank transfers, among other options.
Now, let’s look briefly at withdrawal methods.
ESPN BET Withdrawal Methods
- Online Banking
- Debit Card
- ACH eCheck
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Check
- Wire Transfer
FanDuel Withdrawal Methods
- Online Banking
- Debit Card
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Play+ Prepaid Card
- Check
- Cash at Casino Counter (where applicable)
Not surprisingly, FanDuel and ESPN BET offer similar withdrawal methods as well.
No matter how you choose to deposit or withdraw your funds, both sportsbooks have a good selection of safe, convenient and trustworthy methods.
Mobile App Experience
FanDuel and ESPN BET have similar mobile apps available on iOS and Android devices. They look modern and function smoothly with quick load times, making them two of the better sports betting apps on the market.
That said, FanDuel’s mobile app is slightly superior. With its sleek design and user-friendly interface, many bettors regard it as the best sports betting app on the market (4.9 stars on App Store, 4.6 stars on Google Play).
ESPN BET scores highly as well, but its reviews aren’t quite as strong (4.8 stars on App Store, 4.2 stars on Google Play).
The apps are very similar but do have some minor differences. Both have promotional banners and featured sports categories at the top of the home page, while FanDuel also promotes featured parlays near the top.
ESPN BET does not promote parlays at the top but does feature its exclusive odds boosts. It also has a ticker with live scores and upcoming games, along with parlays that are associated with ESPN personalities.
Both mobile apps work great, but FanDuel’s looks cleaner and is a bit more intuitive, making it easier to find the bets you’re looking for.
Customer Service
ESPN BET and FanDuel 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 start messaging a live agent within minutes if needed.
ESPN BET also has the option to email customer support if you’d prefer to communicate that way.
At both sportsbooks, resolving customer support issues is relatively quick and painless.
Bottom Line
FanDuel and ESPN BET are both terrific betting options with high-quality sportsbooks. Their mobile apps are similar and provide similar betting experiences at the end of the day.
Neither sportsbook is obviously better than the other, but FanDuel is probably a hair better thanks to its superior mobile app and deeper betting markets. That said, ESPN BET has advantages with its rewards program and more extensive odds boosts, making it a better option for people who wager frequently.
FanDuel is regarded as one of the best sportsbooks for a reason, but ESPN BET is a great addition in its own right. Both sportsbooks are worth checking out, so you should consider signing up for them if they’re available in your state.
