Our verdict
DraftKings is available in more US states than any other book we cover (27 plus DC and Puerto Rico), with a top-rated app, fast Apple Pay and PayPal payouts and strong responsible-gambling tools. Its regulatory record is the heaviest of the US books: $500,000 in Ohio in 2023 for advertising failures and $450,000 in Massachusetts in 2025 for credit-card betting.
Strengths
- Widest US availability: 27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico
- App Store rating of 4.8 from 1.3 million ratings
- Fast withdrawals by Apple Pay and debit card
- DK Safer Play and My Budget Builder tools
Weaknesses
- Largest US fines among the books we cover ($500,000 and $450,000)
- Welcome bonus bets released over three weeks
Who it suits
Bettors in smaller betting states, parlay players and fantasy players who want one account.
Look elsewhere if
Newcomers who want a simple layout: reviewers find the lobby intimidating and the grey-on-black text hard to read.
DraftKings quick facts
| Best for | The widest US availability |
|---|---|
| Our score | 8.5 (US), 9.2 (Ontario) |
| Owner | DraftKings Inc. |
| Founded | 2012 (sportsbook since 2018) |
| Licensed in | United States and Ontario |
| Welcome offer (US) | Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets + 3 months of NBA League Pass |
| iOS app | US 4.8/5 · Ontario 4.8/5 |
| Fastest withdrawal | Apple Pay: 43 minutes in Covers’ test |
| Support | 24/7 live chat (a human agent in under two minutes in Covers’ test), email and phone call-back. |
| Regulatory actions since 2023 | 4 (see the record below) |
| Deposits | $5 minimum by debit card, PayPal, Venmo, online banking or Apple Pay; $100 cash at the cage; no credit cards. |
| Withdrawals | $1 minimum. Debit card up to 24 hours, Apple Pay one day, PayPal and Venmo up to two working days, online banking 2–5 working days, check up to 14 working days. |
DraftKings overview
DraftKings was founded in 2012 as a daily fantasy sports company and opened its sportsbook in New Jersey in August 2018. It now takes bets in 27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, more than any other book we cover, and in Ontario. Since 1 December 2025 it has been ESPN’s official sportsbook and odds provider.
Its app is rated 4.8 from about 1.3 million App Store ratings. Free live streaming includes NFL games, same-game parlays get regular boosts, and the Dynasty Rewards program connects the sportsbook, casino and fantasy products. Safer-play tools are a strength: DK Safer Play, My Stat Sheet and My Budget Builder, added in June 2025.
DraftKings scores 8.5 in the US. It carries the largest US fines among the books we cover: $500,000 in Ohio in 2023 over advertising and $450,000 in Massachusetts in 2025 over credit-card wagers. In Ontario, where no penalty has been issued, it scores 9.2.
How the score is built
Each score is a weighted average of five criteria, each out of 10. Two are calculated from public data (regulatory record and App Store rating); three are editorial judgments based on documented features, payment terms and offer terms. Ontario has no offer score because bonuses may not be advertised there, so its weights are rescaled. Full method.
| Criterion | Weight | US | Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory record | 25% | 7.5 | 10.0 |
| Betting product | 25% | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| App quality | 20% | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| Payments & payouts | 15% | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Welcome offer terms | 15% | 8.5 | Not scored |
| Overall | 100% | 8.5 | 9.2 |
- Regulatory record: 4 scored actions since January 1, 2023 (listed below). US 7.5, Ontario 10.0.
- Betting product: Full US feature set with SGP boosts and Early Exit protection, in the most states.
- App quality: US 4.8 stars on the App Store (US) = 8.7; Ontario 4.8 stars on the App Store (US) (US app rating; the Ontario app is a separate listing) = 8.7.
- Payments & payouts: $5 minimum deposit, wallet options including Venmo and PayPal, and payouts measured in hours.
- Welcome offer (US): 40 times a $5 stake, win or lose; value is spread over three weeks and League Pass auto-renews.
DraftKings welcome offer
Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets + 3 months of NBA League Pass
21+, new customers. $5 deposit and $5 first bet. Eight $25 bonus bets: two straight away, then two every 7 days for 21 days (click to claim). Bonus bets expire after 7 days; stakes not returned. League Pass auto-renews at $16.99/month unless canceled.
Advertised until 29 November 2026.
As advertised on October 27, 2026. Offers change often; the operator’s own terms apply.
No offer is shown for Ontario: the Registrar’s Standards ban public advertising of bonuses, including on affiliate sites.
Offers for existing customers
Regular promotions reported by the review sources listed below. Availability changes week to week and, in the US, by state.
United States
| Dynasty Rewards | Earn Crowns and Tier Credits across sportsbook, casino and fantasy; Crowns are redeemed for DK Dollars and store items. |
|---|---|
| NFL 30% parlay boost | A profit boost token for NFL parlays and same-game parlays, selected before you place the bet. |
| Daily odds boosts | Larger boosts around events such as the Super Bowl, March Madness and the World Cup. |
| Refer a friend | Up to $100 in bonus bets, depending on the friend’s first deposit. |
Ontario promotions are not listed: public advertising of bonuses and inducements is not allowed there.
Sports and betting markets
More than 20 sports, from the major US leagues to esports and jai alai. NFL props include team to score in every quarter and first reception; prebuilt parlays and same-game parlays are prominent throughout.
Key betting features
- Same-game parlays with regular SGP boosts
- DraftKings Early Exit injury protection
- Live betting and cash out
- Daily fantasy sports and casino in eligible states
Live betting and streaming
Live betting with early cash out is available across the main sports, and free live streams, including NFL games, play in the app. DraftKings Early Exit protects selected bets when a player is injured.
App, support and safer gambling
The app supports swipeable navigation, live streams, same-game parlay building, cash out and social tools such as tailing other users’ bets after verification.
| iOS rating (US) | 4.8 / 5 from 1.3M ratings · App Store (US) |
|---|---|
| iOS rating (Ontario) | 4.8 / 5 from 1.3M ratings · App Store (US)US app rating; the Ontario app is a separate listing |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat (a human agent in under two minutes in Covers’ test), email and phone call-back. |
| Safer gambling tools | Spending and time limits, cool-off periods, self-exclusion, weekly deposit and betting limits, DK Safer Play and My Budget Builder. |
Payments and withdrawals
Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo, debit cards and EDGE Boost; minimum deposit $5.
Withdrawal times
- Apple Pay: 43 minutes in Covers’ test
- Debit card: just over two hours in Covers’ test
Times are those published by the operator or measured by the review sources listed below; first withdrawals can take longer while identity checks are completed.
How to sign up with DraftKings
United States
- 1Select Sign Up and enter your email and mobile number.
- 2Create a username and password.
- 3Confirm the verification code sent by text; if your identity is not confirmed automatically, upload government-issued photo ID.
- 4Deposit at least $5 and place a first bet of $5 or more for the welcome offer.
Ontario
- 1Use DraftKings’s Ontario site or app; you must be 19 or over and located in Ontario.
- 2Register and verify your identity.
- 3Allow location checks.
- 4Deposit with an accepted method. Bonuses are not advertised publicly in Ontario, so check the operator’s own site for any offer.
Licensing and availability
| Market | License | Regulator | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Licensed by the gaming regulator in each state listed27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico: AR, AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY | state gaming regulatorsCheck the register | 21+ |
| Ontario | Registered with the AGCO; operates in iGaming Ontario’s regulated market | AGCO and iGaming OntarioCheck the register | 19+ |
In the US, DraftKings accepts bets only while you are physically located in a state where it is licensed. Check your state regulator’s list before you sign up.
Regulatory record
Fines, settlements and penalties published by regulators or reported by the trade press in the markets covered here. Dates are the decision date or, where that is not published, the date first reported.
| Date | Regulator | Amount | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2026 | Massachusetts Gaming CommissionUS | $16,500 | Two fines ($10,000 and $6,500) for college player-prop bets, which Massachusetts prohibits (self-reported). Source |
| December 9, 2025 | New Jersey Division of Gaming EnforcementUS | $32,500 | Several violations, including accepting bets on events that had already taken place. Source |
| July 29, 2025 | Massachusetts Gaming CommissionUS | $450,000 | Accepting wagers funded by credit cards, which Massachusetts prohibits. Source |
| February 15, 2023 | Ohio Casino Control CommissionUS | $500,000 | Ads without clear problem-gambling messaging, promotions described as "free" or "risk-free", and mailers sent to people under 21. Source |
DraftKings history
- 2012Founded as a daily fantasy sports company
- August 2018Sportsbook launches in New Jersey
- February 2023$500,000 Ohio fine over advertising
- June 2025My Budget Builder limit tool launched
- July 2025$450,000 Massachusetts fine over credit-card wagers
- December 2025Becomes ESPN’s official sportsbook; launches in Missouri
DraftKings vs rivals in the US
How DraftKings compares with the other top-rated sportsbooks in the US on our scores and the App Store.
| Sportsbook | Our score | Regulatory | iOS app | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | 8.5 | 7.5 | 4.8 | The widest US availability |
| bet365 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 4.8 | In-play betting and live streaming |
| FanDuel | 8.5 | 8.0 | 4.8 | Live betting and app quality |
| BetMGM | 8.3 | 8.5 | 4.8 | MGM Rewards members and bet editing |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | 8.3 | 9.3 | 4.8 | Rewards on every bet |
DraftKings FAQ
Is DraftKings legal and licensed?
United States: Licensed by the gaming regulator in each state listed (27 states plus DC and Puerto Rico: AR, AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY); minimum age 21+. Ontario: Registered with the AGCO; operates in iGaming Ontario’s regulated market; minimum age 19+.
Who owns DraftKings?
DraftKings is owned by DraftKings Inc.. Founded: 2012 (sportsbook since 2018).
How good is DraftKings?
On our method it scores 8.5 (US), 9.2 (Ontario) out of 10. DraftKings is available in more US states than any other book we cover (27 plus DC and Puerto Rico), with a top-rated app, fast Apple Pay and PayPal payouts and strong responsible-gambling tools. Its regulatory record is the heaviest of the US books: $500,000 in Ohio in 2023 for advertising failures and $450,000 in Massachusetts in 2025 for credit-card betting.
How long do DraftKings withdrawals take?
Apple Pay: 43 minutes in Covers’ test; Debit card: just over two hours in Covers’ test. First withdrawals can take longer while identity checks are completed.
Does DraftKings have live streaming?
Live betting with early cash out is available across the main sports, and free live streams, including NFL games, play in the app. DraftKings Early Exit protects selected bets when a player is injured.
What is the DraftKings welcome offer?
United States: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets + 3 months of NBA League Pass. 21+, new customers. $5 deposit and $5 first bet. Eight $25 bonus bets: two straight away, then two every 7 days for 21 days (click to claim). Bonus bets expire after 7 days; stakes not returned. League Pass auto-renews at $16.99/month unless canceled. No offer is shown for Ontario, where public advertising of bonuses is not allowed. Checked October 27, 2026; the operator’s terms apply.
Has DraftKings been fined by a regulator?
Yes. Since January 1, 2023: Massachusetts Gaming Commission, $16,500 (March 16, 2026); New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, $32,500 (December 9, 2025); Massachusetts Gaming Commission, $450,000 (July 29, 2025); Ohio Casino Control Commission, $500,000 (February 15, 2023).
Does DraftKings have an app?
United States: 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store (US) from 1.3M ratings. Ontario: 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store (US) from 1.3M ratings (US app rating; the Ontario app is a separate listing). The app supports swipeable navigation, live streams, same-game parlay building, cash out and social tools such as tailing other users’ bets after verification.
Sources
- Covers: DraftKings review and promo (states, offer, payments)
- App Store: DraftKings Sports & Casino
- Covers: Ohio fines DraftKings $500,000
- WBUR: Massachusetts fines DraftKings $450,000
- TheLines: DraftKings Sportsbook review (history, banking, sign-up, rewards)
Spotted something out of date? Email contact@sportsbooks.ro and we will check it against the source. See our editorial policy.