DraftKings and FanDuel are among the most popular online sportsbooks in the United States and worldwide. Both sportsbooks are almost equally matched. They are also fierce competitors, and each tries to outdo the other by offering better versions of everything: bonuses, promotions, betting markets, premium betting features, and more. However, there can be only one winner, and they should suit your unique preferences.
DraftKings and FanDuel are the most popular bookies and online sportsbooks in the United States and Canada. Interestingly, there were credible discussions about a FanDuel and DraftKings merger in 2016, but they didn’t pan out.
FanDuel launched in 2009 and is the brainchild of Nigel Eccles, Lesley Eccles, Tom Griffiths, Rob Jones, and Chris Stafford. DraftKings launched in 2012 and is the brainchild of Matthew Kalish and Paul Liberman. The legality of FanDuel and DraftKings is not in question – both bookies are registered and regulated in the U.S.
Interestingly, FanDuel and DraftKings history are strikingly similar. Both sportsbooks started as Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platforms. However, they switched to sports betting when the Supreme Court legalized it in all states.
Overall, DraftKings is the most popular sportsbook in the U.S. However, FanDuel is catching up fast. You can learn more about either sportsbook by reading our individual DraftKings review and FanDuel betting review.
Overall, both sportsbooks have websites that look and feel good. FanDuel features a light-gray, sober environment, while DraftKings features a dark, sleek background.
However, both websites feature exceptional web design, and their user interfaces feature neat layouts, making them easy to read and navigate. Ultimately, the best sportsbook in UI and UX will depend on your tastes.
Anyone of legal age can sign up on the FanDuel or DraftKings sportsbook. Signing up entails providing contact information such as your phone number and email address and ID information such as your name and date of birth. Both bookies will also ask you to verify this information by providing copies of documents such as your ID and utility bills. The registration processes on DraftKings and FanDuel are almost identical. The process takes a few minutes on either platform.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel offer enticing bonuses for new players and rewarding promotions for existing ones. However, their offers vary based on qualification requirements, bonus amounts, and wagering requirements. Here is a brief overview of FanDuel vs DraftKings promotions.
DraftKings offers a 20% deposit match bonus capped at $1,000 to get new players started – the bonus money comes with a 25X wagering requirement. However, you must deposit at least $5,000 to unlock the $1,000.
The welcome bonus includes $150 worth of free bets, given in 8 installments of $25 each – you must wager at least $5 on any sport and win to unlock this bonus. You will also get a $50 no-deposit bonus upon signing up.
FanDuel’s welcome bonus is quite different. It is a No Sweat First Bet of $1,000. You keep the money if your first bet wins, and you get a Free Bet of up to $1,000 as a refund if the bet loses.
DraftKings and FanDuel also offer bonuses and promotions to reward their existing players.
FanDuel offers a wide range of ongoing promos, including the following:Â
In contrast, DraftKings offers the following ongoing promos:Â
Both sportsbooks also offer regular, spontaneous bonuses that come and go based on special events, such as the Super Bowl or Christmas season. Overall, FanDuel and DraftKings seem equally matched in this category.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel have loyalty programs. However, FanDuel’s loyalty program is limited to the daily fantasy sports section. In contrast, DraftKings’s loyalty program is available to all players, including sports bettors. DraftKings loyalty points come from DK dollars that players can use to place free bets or enter contests. Overall, DraftKings wins the DraftKings sportsbook vs FanDuel debate in this category.
Odds determine how much you can win on your wagers, making them an important consideration. However, the odds are usually complex and vary slightly or drastically among all sportsbooks, including DraftKings and FanDuel.
Nevertheless, analysis shows that DraftKings offers more value and safer bets on its odds than FanDuel. Interestingly, FanDuel also offers better odds on underdogs than DraftKings – this seems to be a consistent FanDuel vs DraftKings strategy, which makes it prudent to sign up on both platforms. Nevertheless, DraftKings wins in the FanDuel vs DraftKings scoring category.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel offer a full range of sports categories, including the following:
FanDuel also offers a volleyball category, while DraftKings doesn’t. However, DraftKings makes up for this by providing a racebook and lacrosse category. It is a notable FanDuel DraftKings product differentiation, and DraftKings wins the FanDuel vs DraftKings sports betting type because of its racebook. However, DraftKings vs FanDuel betting market selections vary considerably, and the winner, in this case, depends on your preferences.
Football is one of the most popular in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, both DraftKings and FanDuel cover all NFL matches in detail, offering a bewildering range of bets and competitive odds. Interestingly, their NFL odds can differ drastically, creating different winning opportunities for players using both bookies.
Basketball is also popular in the U.S.; both sportsbooks cover each NBA match in detail. Both bookies offer betting markets on NBA matches, although DraftKings offers more player props and flexible same-game parlays than FanDuel. However, FanDuel makes up for this by taking lower margins on its money lines.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel offer betting options on daily fantasy sports. Interestingly, both bookies started as DFS platforms before expanding into sports betting.
FanDuel and DraftKings have dedicated mobile apps for Android and iOS devices with ratings of at least 4.8. Both apps are relatively good compared to other sports betting apps. They feature neat layouts and simple user interfaces and are loaded with all the features available on the bookies’ desktop websites.
However, there is a notable difference between FanDuel and DraftKings betting apps regarding familiarity and betting market coverage. The FanDuel app maintains the same layout and user interface as the desktop website, ensuring familiarity. It also has well-designed tabs for various betting markets, including live betting, upcoming bets, and trending bet sections.
Both FanDuel and DraftKings offer live betting options. However, FanDuel carries more live sports events than DraftKings, making it the winner in this category.
Both sportsbooks offer live streaming features on their desktop websites and mobile apps. However, FanDuel also wins this round because it carries more live sporting events, including popular matches for major league sports such as the NBA and NFL.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel accept a wide range of payment options for deposits and withdrawals, including the following:
Each bookie also accepts payments using their individual DK and FD gift cards. FanDuel accepts Apple Pay and PayNearMe, while DraftKings accepts ACH eCheck.
While you can make deposits using any payment methods discussed above, both bookies offer limited withdrawal options – 4 ways for each bookie, including PayPal, wire transfer, Venmo, and debit cards. DraftKings has minimum withdrawal limits ranging from $1 to $15, depending on the method, while FanDuel doesn’t specify its withdrawal limits.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel are available in the United States. DraftKings is also available in several countries outside the U.S., including Canada, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Austria, and Malta. However, FanDuel is only available in the U.S., albeit it is also considering expanding to other markets. Nevertheless, this is a notable difference between DraftKings and FanDuel for people seeking to play when traveling outside the U.S.
Both FanDuel and DraftKings are available in many states across the U.S., including the following:
DraftKings also has exclusive rights to deal in New Hampshire and Oregon. Overall, DraftKings has a larger presence than FanDuel, which explains its growing popularity.
Both FanDuel and DraftKings have resourceful customer support departments open 24/7. You can reach either platform’s customer support agents via several channels, including:
Live chat and telephone are the fastest and most flexible communication channels. In contrast, emails take a bit longer and are rigid. Both plays also have FAQ pages containing answers to the most common queries.
| FanDuel Pros & Cons | DraftKings Pros & Cons |
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FanDuel’s most notable benefits include the following:Â
However, FanDuel also has its shortcomings, including the following:
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Some of the notable advantages of DraftKings include the following:
The notable disadvantages of DraftKings include the following:
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One of the main differences between DraftKings and FanDuel is the welcome bonus – DraftKings offers a deposit match bonus, while FanDuel offers a No-Sweat First Bet bonus. Another main difference lies in their locations and availability – DraftKings operates internationally and is available in more states in the U.S. than FanDuel.
The FanDuel and DraftKings scandal of 2015 is still causing ripples today. It involves the companies’ employees spying on professional bettors and using that data to place wagers on the opposite platform. It is alleged that the employees made more than $6 million in this scheme.
Each sportsbook has unique advantages and disadvantages. Whether FanDuel or DraftKings better each other depends on your individual preferences. Interestingly, most strategic players find it prudent to register on both platforms.
