DraftKings NY brings its sports betting app to one of the busiest states in the country, with odds on an abundance of markets. Can they become kings of sports betting?
DraftKings looks to set itself apart from the rest with its rewards program. Customers will automatically earn Crowns with every wager they place on the DraftKings NY app or website. Crowns can then be redeemed for DK Dollars, Free Credits, and other exclusive rewards.
In addition to rewards, DraftKings also separates itself by having a stats hub, where customers can check out the form of teams competing, interesting facts, and expert insights into betting markets.
For those looking to get access to a whole host of markets, DraftKings NY has 19 different sports sections on its website and apps:
| Aussie Rules | Football | Motorsports |
| Baseball | Golf | Rugby League |
| Basketball | Hockey | Rugby Union |
| Cricket | Lacrosse | Snooker |
| Cycling | MMA | Soccer |
| Darts | Motorsports | Tennis |
Now, each of these categories does expand further. Basketball for example covers NBA, NCAA, and WNBA, whilst motorsports cover sports from Formula 1 to NASCAR. So whilst the initial outlook looks like 19, it offers a much bigger selection once you open it up and head inside.
The experts here at ny-bookies have looked at every online sports betting provider in NY to compare the odds on offer from DraftKings NY. For our example, though, we’ve picked the NHL game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers. For this particular bet, we took a look at the Puck Line offers.
DraftKings NY had the Hurricanes for –1.5 at +185 and the Rangers for +1.5 at -225. Compare that to Caesars NY which offered +200 and -240 respectively, and BetMGM which offered +200 and -250 respectively, you can see there is some difference there.
On the less favored option, DraftKings NY was off the pace by -15 on both counts. However, when it comes to backing favorites, their odds at -225 were better than both by +15 and +25. This shows that they lack behind for outsider bets, but clearly have better odds on favorites.
NY legalized online sports betting and allowed the publication of mobile sports betting apps on January 8th, 2022. DraftKings was one of the first to meet regulations set out by the New York State Gaming Commission.
The main welcome bonus for new customers is very different from other sportsbooks. Instead of offering a risk-free bet, where you can get your money back if your first bet loses, DraftKings NY offers a deposit match of up to $1,000.
And…
However, this isn’t as good of a promotion as it seems. All you have to do to qualify is deposit at least $5 to be eligible, but you only get 20% of your deposit amount matched. That means, to reach the full $1,000 you would have to deposit at least $5,000. On top of that, once you have deposited, you must play through that amount within 90 days of the first deposit being made.
There is also a refer-a-friend bonus too. But this again looks better than it is. DraftKings NY states you can get a free bet up to $100. However, it all depends on the amount your friend deposits. If they deposit between $25 and $49 then you and your friend receive a $25 free bet, between $50 and $99 will net you both $50 free bets, and over $100 will net you both a $100 free bet.
But, if they already have a DraftKings Fantasy account (which many people do, because it is one of the most popular out there) then these referrals won’t count.
Out of all the offers and promotions we’ve seen, DraftKings NY offers some of the fewest and worst. Whilst they cling to their rewards program for offering out free bets and more, their actual betting offers are few and far between.
The core one they promote is their Odds Boost, which offers enhanced odds on a featured game. However, many sportsbooks offer this service and multiple options for it. There have been numerous times where DraftKings NY has only had one Odds Boost available. Which shows their lack of selection.
The one good offer they do have is $150 in free bets when you place just $5 on the NBA Playoffs. But that is a time-limited and event-specific offer, so doesn’t offer much to those who aren’t fans of the NBA.
They also have a nice cash-out feature, allowing you to cash out early for a fraction of your potential winnings should you fear the results could turn at any moment, resulting in a potential loss.
There are a number of methods for both depositing your money, and withdrawing any winnings you earn.
As part of the responsible gambling initiative, when it comes to deposits, there are none set by DraftKings NY, except state-ordered limits for credit cards. Instead, they encourage you to set your own deposit limits, so you can stop before you begin chasing your losses.
Full details can be found in the table below:
| Method | Min. Deposit | Max. Deposit | Processing Time |
| Online Banking | $10 | None | Instant |
| Debit/Credit Cards | $10 | $2,500 for Credit Cards | Instant |
| Electronic Gift Cards | $10 | None | Instant |
| DraftKings Gift Card | $10 | None | Instant |
| PayPal | $10 | None | Instant |
| Play+ Prepaid Card | $10 | None | Instant |
| Cash | $10 | $500 per day | Instant |
| VIP Preferred eCheck | $10 | None | Instant |
| Wire Transfer | $100 | None | Processed same day if before 1:30 pm |
When it comes to withdrawals, the following methods are available with the recorded limits:
| Method | Min. Withdrawal | Max. Withdrawal | Processing Time |
| PayPal | $1 | $60,000 | 3-5 days |
| Check | $15 | $50,000 | Up to 7 days |
| Play+ | None | $25,000 | 2-4 days |
| Online Banking | None | $100,000 | 3-5 days |
| VIP Preferred eChecks | None | $100,000 | 3-5 days |
| Wire Withdrawal | $20,000 first time withdrawal, $10,000 successive withdrawals | None | 24-48 hours |
| Cage | None | $100,000 | 1 hour |
The user experience was a mixed one. Their signup process was longer than most, with four stages to complete. However, with everything entered, and the security questions it asks, it does make you feel like security is taken seriously here. From there, the experience got better. As soon as we logged in, we were quickly asked if we wanted some help with a popup.
It offers you a basic how-to guide for sports betting, teaching you everything you need to know. This was the only sportsbook we have seen do this automatically. They all have the information but you have to go looking for it, whereas DraftKings NY brings it to you.
The site itself could have looked better. It seemed poorly organized, with a ton of options, which made it feel overly busy.
The mobile app for DraftKings NY was a much better experience. It was almost like the desktop site was an afterthought, and the app was their target for customers who have Android and iOS devices.
We could easily navigate it and find what we needed. It even had in-play streaming, so we could watch certain sports right in the app.
You can even access the cash-out feature in the app as well, so if you’re on the go and you get an alert that the opposing team you’ve bet against is making a late comeback, you can cash out and protect some of your winnings just in case.
When it comes to customer support, DraftKings NY has two options. There is a chatbot that will do its best to answer any questions you have. However, as we expected, sometimes it just doesn’t have the answers you need. Then you get asked to leave a message and someone will eventually get back to you. All responses to our questions came within 24 hours, which was impressive.
Alternatively, you can fill out a contact support form. You just enter your email, the subject, and a description of your issue or query. Again, we got responses pretty quickly, all within 24 hours. However, it does lack the ability to upload any documents that you may wish to send. Instead, you have to wait for a reply before you can do that.
| Est. | Owners | CEO | Headquarters | |
| DraftKings | 2012 | DraftKings Inc. | Jason Robins | Boston, MA |
Before the launch of the DraftKings NY app, DraftKings made its name in fantasy sports, which is available in NY too. From the NFL to PGA, and eSports to the UFC, you can explore a wide range of events where you don’t have to pay out of pocket to win big.
In fact, you don’t even have to win to come away with the money. Just join any tournament you’re interested in, and place high enough to walk away with cash prizes.
They have also recently launched the DraftKings Marketplace. This is where you can snag yourself NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), a craze that is sweeping the nation. You essentially buy digital artwork that then belongs to you. In time, these can become valuable, and you could sell them for a tasty profit. However, as with all investments, they could also drop in value, so be careful.
We have to say, we’ve enjoyed DraftKings fantasy stuff, but they don’t quite make the cut for us in the sportsbook world. Their odds are random, often being far off their competitors, in both good and bad ways. However, it does raise the question of the people setting odds knowing what they’re doing. We also weren’t a fan of their promotions. Besides a rewards program, everything seemed to have some sort of catch, like having to deposit $5,000 to get a $1,000 bonus. They have a long way to go to become the king of sports betting in our eyes.
Yes, in order for DraftKings NY to comply with state and federal online gaming regulations.
You just have to have credit in your account above $0.00.
Yes, however, you must wait seven days from when you last changed it to modify it.
21 or over.
No, you don’t have to live there, but you do have to be within state limits.
