NO PROMO CODE REQUIRED
Robert DellaFave
The “King” of daily fantasy sports is now a leader in the world of sports betting. On August 6, 2018, DraftKings Sportsbook became the first full-service online and mobile sports wagering platform to launch in the legal New Jersey market. Its launch was made possible by a May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that effectively lifted Nevada’s monopoly on single-game sports wagering.
Going live ahead of the pack certainly carries its advantages, but it didn’t necessarily mean DraftKings would enjoy the same dominance it does in the DFS sphere. Rival FanDuel, NJ racetracks, and Atlantic City casinos having debuted their own sports betting sites. There are now almost two dozen NJ online sportsbooks operating in the state, with more coming. New Jersey has quickly become the most competitive online marketplace in the country.
That said, the brand recognition DraftKings brought to the table, along with its service partnership with Kambi Group, positioned the operator for a strong run in New Jersey. A fluid interface, lucrative welcome offer, and account/wallet integration with DraftKings DFS only strengthened its case.
DraftKings Sportsbook is not without its flaws, but as it continues to find ways to offer pricing that is competitive with other legal sports wagering sites, it will remain a market leader in the state.
DraftKings is exclusively offering our readers a bonus offer when they sign up and deposit via any of the links on this page.
| DraftKings Sportsbook NJ Promo Code | None needed – click here |
| Bonus Bets | Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets Instantly! |
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| Online Since | 2018 |
DraftKings is offering a Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets Instantly! welcome bonus that gives new users up to $250 in bonus bets!
For further details on this promotion and to explore other available offers, visit the DraftKings Promo Code page for a full overview of current bonuses.
The DK Sportsbook boasts a no-nonsense interface that spends the majority of its screen real estate on what matters most: available bets. The home page was designed with the new player in mind, displaying recommended bets written in plain language. Below that, players can view live in-play wagers and the lines for major sporting markets.
Those looking to dig a bit deeper can use the top navigation bar to examine bets for specific leagues, or to display all available betting markets via the A-Z Sports dropdown. Under each sport, players will be able to view all posted wagers, whether they be simple game lines, parlays, futures, or props. Selecting a bet will cause the Bet Slip to populate (right hand portion of the screen). From there, players only need to enter the amount of their wager, and hit Place Bet. It’s all very well thought out and user-friendly.
DraftKings Sportsbook comes equipped with a fair number of account management and customization features, as well as a handy Quick Start Guide for new bettors. There is also one-click access to a bevy of responsible gaming features and the integrated cashier.
As far as stability, we did not experience any crashes or hang-ups on PC, but the site’s geolocation checks did seem to drag on longer than they should have on mobile, at times. Speaking of mobile, the app version of the software largely mimics its desktop counterpart, with the only real difference being that the app is somewhat more compartmentalized, but not oppressively so.
Bettors can fund their account using any of the following:
Minimum deposits are just $5. There are varying deposit maximums, but limit increases are available by request.
New choices are available when it comes to cash outs as well. Money can be withdrawn using:
It’s worth noting that DraftKings DFS players can use their winnings to wager at the Sportsbook.
Unfortunately, the one aspect of the DK Sportsbook that lags behind industry standards is also one of the most important: the lines.
Particularly, we’ve noticed that the MLB odds offered were less favorable than those available at Vegas books, with 20-30 cent run lines being the norm. NFL point spreads are in line with Vegas odds, but money lines suffer from the same ~10 cent upcharge that MLB run lines do. Other sports we observed, including tennis and boxing, also touted substandard odds.
At the end of the day, the amount of juice DK charges vs. a Vegas book is hardly a mammoth difference, with DK players probably needing to win 1-2% more of their bets to break even. For casual players looking to plunk down a few bucks on their favorite team, that’s probably not such a big deal. But it may cause more enthusiastic players and sharps to take pause. The odds at DraftKings may never quite be Vegas good, but we are hopeful that they will continue to be adjusted and tightened to favor the bettor.
DraftKings also offers lines on popular entertainment events like The Oscars.
If there’s one area where DraftKings Sportsbook truly excels, it’s in the sheer breadth of betting options available. From game lines, parlays, player/game props, futures, totals, and a good deal more, there are more than enough betting options to satisfy the desires of most bettors.
Just as an example, for an average MLB game, bettors can bet on who will win (run line and money line), the amount of runs the two teams will combine for, who will score first, the last team to score, whether there will be extra innings, and many other betting angles. There’s even a bet for who will hold the lead after a certain number of innings.
In-play wagering, where players can place on-the-fly bets on a game or match already in progress, has become a popular option for bettors. DraftKings has incorporated a number of in-play betting variants into its platform, allowing bettors to engage with sports in new ways. The company has gone above and beyond by offering a vast array of in-play bets. For instance, while a run-of-the-mill site might just offer in-play betting on say, the outcome of a tennis match, DraftKings allows players to bet on each and every point using Flash Bets. Action junkies rejoice.
One area where DraftKings Sportsbook truly innovates is through its Cash Out feature. This nuance works as a sort of extension of in play betting, allowing bettors to close out their active bet before the outcome is decided, with the cash out amount determined by the in-play odds.
Cash Out is available for pre-game, live, future, and parlay bets (selected sports only), and can generally be triggered anytime before the contest comes to a close, or before the event in question occurs. So for instance, let’s say you bet $110 to win $210 on the Yankees winning tonight’s game. After three, five, or however many innings the Bronx Bombers are trailing by a run. You can roll the dice and see if the bats get hot, or choose to take a loss, but not a complete loss by taking the Cash Out option. Same goes if the Yankees are winning, only then, you have the option to book a small win, or go for all the glory.
It’s worth noting that DraftKings does charge a vig in what appears to be in the 5-8% range on cash outs. That’s pretty high, so we suggest players only utilize this option if they are truly uncertain about the final outcome.
Pools allow participants to wager, for a fixed price, against other bettors. After choosing a specific pool and paying the entry fee, players will then make a number of different picks for that event. For example, a pool for an NFL game might include questions like:
At the end of the pool, whoever has the most correct picks takes the prize. Some pools have guaranteed prizes and range in size from just a couple of entrants to thousands.
DraftKings has beefed up its promotional offerings, awarding more to their bettors. To see what promotions and missions are available for you, select the ‘Promos’ tab within your DK account. Potential offers may include:
DraftKings regularly offers new promotions, so be sure to check your account frequently to maximize value.
DraftKings offers a rewards program centered around missions. As you complete these missions you will be rewarded with access to new promotional offers, including bonus bets, boosts, and more. Select the ‘Rewards’ tab at the top of the DK Sportsbook to opt-in and start accumulating your benefits. The more you bet, the more rewards you earn.
The amount of rewards you stand receive is not precisely defined. Instead, a team of DK employees will evaluate action and award benefits, and missions, accordingly. Rewards are typically given in the form of Bonus Bets, or DK Dollars which are applied directly to your DraftKings balance
The DraftKings DFS Crowns program does not carry over to its sportsbook.
DraftKings offers a variety of support methods on its Contact Us page. Notably, bettors can fill out a form directly on the site and submit a question through email. There is an additional area where players can submit their information and request a telephone call. However, these forms can be bypassed by contacting [email protected] directly.
Live Chat is a useful addition to the DraftKings Customer Support lineup. While on the Contact Us page, look for the ‘Help’ window to appear in the bottom left corner of your browser.
Customer service is available 24/7.
DraftKings was founded in 2012, three years after chief rival FanDuel launched its daily fantasy platform. The Boston-based company’s ambitious founders quickly got to work seeking investors, raising $1.4 million that same year, a huge sum for the industry at the time.
In 2013, DraftKings relied on its momentum to secure an additional investment from Major League Baseball, the first professional league to invest in a DFS firm. In November, the cash kept flowing, with a further $24 million being raised from investors like Redpoint Ventures, Accomplice, GGV Capital and BDS Venture Fund. By 2014, industry-leader FanDuel could no longer ignore the threat from DraftKings, which had grown to become the second largest DFS company on the globe. During that year, DraftKings grew its player base substantially through the acquisition of rival DraftStreet.
The company went on to ink a variety of major partnerships, including one with the NHL and MLB. In 2015, DraftKings announced a three year advertising deal with ESPN, worth $250 million. In July of that year, the company announced a massive $300 million funding round led by Fox Sports, the Kraft Group, owners of the New England Patriots and others.
While it has been wildly successful in raising capital, the site has been forced to endure myriad legal fights from opponents questioning the company’s marketing practices and the legality of the DFS industry as a whole. In October 2016, DraftKings agreed to pay $6 million to the state of New York to resolve a dispute over advertising practices. The company paid an additional $1.3 million to the Massachusetts attorney general’s office the following year.
In 2017, DraftKings and FanDuel decided to drop their war of attrition and announced their intent to merge into one entity. The Federal Trade Commission, however, blocked the deal, asserting that the organization would essentially monopolize the industry, controlling more than 90% of the DFS market.
The following year, the Supreme Court made the momentous decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, legislation which had effectively blocked sports betting outside of Nevada. The ruling was a major victory for DraftKings, which was uniquely positioned to offer online and mobile sports betting to its millions of sports-loving customers. Impressively, DraftKings beat out its competitors by opening the first mobile sportsbook in the state of New Jersey, which went live in August 2018.
