Nov 07, 2018 DraftKings and FanDuel ranked first and second in sports betting revenue in New Jersey in September, together accounting for $15.74 million of. DraftKings, FanDuel Face Scrutiny Under Federal Gambling Law Legal Issues Las Vegas casinos and sports books are feeling like they're on the wrong end of a double-standard.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are a lot of fun to play and a great way for fans to get more involved in the sports they love to watch. DFS can also turn causal fans into fantasy strategists and motivated competitors trying to win their next tournament or head to head matchup. From football to basketball, and just about every sport in between, there’s something for everyone.
With numerous daily fantasy sports outlets available, there are really only two that stand head and shoulders above the rest: DraftKings and FanDuel. These two DFS giants have become entrenched not only in fantasy sports, but also with real life professional sports as they are partners with various professional leagues.
Even if you don’t play daily fantasy sports, you can’t watch a sporting event without seeing at least one advertisement from DK or FD. A few years ago, these two companies spent roughly $150 million dollars on internet and television advertising in the 3rd quarter alone. This was to cover the start of football season. In fact, during that same period, DraftKings averaged a TV commercial every 90 seconds.
Despite the overwhelming inundation of advertisements from these two companies, they must be doing something right because DK and FanDuel combine for at least 90% of the DFS market. With that said, the competition between the two companies makes it difficult for many fantasy players to choose one over the other.
If you find yourself struggling to pull the trigger on joining DraftKings or FanDuel, then take a look at the following comparison:
Background on the Two DFS Powerhouses
FanDuel is considered the founding father of daily fantasy sports. In 2009, a group of friends set out to change the landscape of fantasy sports as we know it. They came up with a groundbreaking idea to create daily fantasy sports, instead of playing in season long fantasy games. Their idea transformed the fantasy sports industry as a whole. Headquartered in New York City, the company has offices in Los Angeles, Orlando, Glasgow and Edinburgh. FanDuel is valued at over $1 billion dollars as they have partnered with the National Basketball Association and nearly half of the NFL teams.
About DraftKings
DraftKings was created in 2012 and is the exclusive daily fantasy sports partner with the National Hockey League, NASCAR, Canadian Football League, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. The company’s headquarters is in Boston, MA, and they also have offices in London and New York City. Although they still trail FanDuel for DFS market shares, DraftKings has closed the gap within the last few years and is a serious threat to take FanDuel’s top spot.
Who Can Play
To play on DraftKings or FanDuel you have to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the United States or Canada. In Massachusetts, you have to be at least 21 years of age. Unfortunately, if you are a resident in one of the following states then you are prohibited from playing due to the banning of DFS in these states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Montana
- Nevada
- Texas
- Washington
In a handful of these restricted states, you can open and maintain an account, but you are unable to enter leagues with entry fees and ineligible to win prizes.
Creating an Account
Both sites have quick sign up processes. However, DraftKings does offer the option of joining or logging in with your FaceBook account and FanDuel does not.
Deposits – each site offers various options for deposits like: PayPal and major credit cards. One difference is that FanDuel doesn’t allow deposits made directly via American Express cards. Also, each company has deposit limits that can only be increased after you contact them directly.
SignUpBonuses – Depending on the season, there are different bonuses offered. For example, during football seasons, bonuses will be geared toward football contests. However, regardless of the season, FanDuel offers a better sign up bonus than DraftKings.
Currently, FD is offering the following sign up bonus:
- 3 free plays: one for MLB, NBA and PGA
- 20% Bonus Play for up to $50
Currently, DraftKings is offering a free $3 ticket into one of their $3 contests.
Withdrawals – Both companies have verification processes, but the edge for withdrawal options goes to FanDuel and here’s why: FD allows withdrawals via PayPal and checks. DraftKings makes it a bit more tedious to get your winnings. The first $50 of your total withdrawal amount goes back to the original source of deposit.
For example, if you used a MasterCard to make your deposit then the first $50 of your withdrawal amount will go back to your MasterCard. The remaining withdrawal amount will go to your preferred source: PayPal, Check or Credit Card.
Referral Program – Each company has a referral program that offers DFS cash to use in their contests. DraftKings gives 20 DK Dollars to you and the referred person. FanDuel only offers $10 to each individual. Terms and conditions apply for both referral programs.
Fantasy Sports Available
Each company offers the following major fantasy sports:
- NFL
- MLB
- NBA
- NHL
- Golf
- MLS
This is where FanDuel ends and DraftKings separates itself as they also offer:
- NASCAR
- MMA
- eSports
As you can see, the slight edge goes to DraftKings in sports offered. If you are a diehard fantasy MMA, NASCAR or eSports player then you will definitely choose DK.
DFS Platforms
Each company is set up similarly as they both have impressive web sites and cool looking apps for iOS and Android. Users for both sites will log in and then go directly to the Lobby where they can access all of the contests, different sports, create contests, access or create line-ups and more.
The navigation, layout, and interaction for the websites and apps are top-notch. Both sites offerr a wide range of leagues, contests and tournaments from free to high stakes. There really is no separation between the two when it comes to their platforms other than the color schemes and look/feel:
- FanDuel is blue and white with a cleaner, minimalistic look
- DraftKings is black and white with a more immersive and interactive feel
Inside the DFS Game: Scoring and Lineups
In 2017, over 59 million people across the United States and Canada were playing fantasy sports, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. This includes both traditional and daily fantasy sports. Of the 59 million fantasy players, roughly 73% of them play fantasy football. Since this is the most popular fantasy sport by far, we’ll take a look at some of the subtle differences between these two DFS companies within the actual game:
Lineups
Both DK and FD have 9-spot roster lineups to fill. However, they feature a few key differences:
- FanDuel has a $50,000 salary cap and DraftKings has a $60,000 salary cap.
- FanDuel requires you to choose a kicker and DraftKings does not.
- DraftKings has a flex position and FanDuel does not. The flex position allows you to choose another RB, WR or TE.
- They both have a Defensive lineup spot, but DraftKings also factors in special teams where FanDuel is more limited.
One feature that I feel DraftKings has the advantage over FanDuel is that DK allows you to create a lineup first and then enter that specific lineup into multiple tournaments. This means that you don’t have to already be enrolled or registered for a tournament, contest or league to create the lineup.
Fanduel And Draftkings Merger
Another notable lineup difference between the two is that DK allows for a late player swap and FD does not. So, if you decide that you want to change out a player who has a game on Sunday night for another player of the same position in that game or the Monday night football game, DK lets you do this and FD does not.
Fanduel And Draftkings Class Action
Scoring
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For many casual fans, or beginners, the scoring differences might not matter to you. But, for those experienced fantasy football players who are making the jump to DFS, scoring is more than just a preference, it can impact the entire way you play the game.
For the most part, both DK and FD have the same scoring systems. However, the following differences are noticeable to the experienced player:
- DraftKings offers scoring bonuses for QB’s that throw for over 300 yards and any player who totals over 100 receiving yards. FanDuel does not have any scoring bonuses.
- DK gives 1 point per reception and FD gives only .5 points.
- FD subtracts 2 points for every fumble lost and DK only subtracts 1 point.
- DraftKings counts special teams touchdowns against the defense and FanDuel does not.
- FanDuel includes points for made field goals and DraftKings doesn’t even have a kicker option.
Keep in mind, the above differences are for fantasy football only. Each fantasy sport offered by both companies has its own set of lineup and scoring differences. It’s important that you thoroughly check out each fantasy sport to see which one you prefer.
DFS Player Badges
A few years ago, DraftKings and FanDuel were at the center of controversy when it was discovered that rival employees were winning big at their competitor’s daily contests and that there was a severe imbalance between the elite players and the average Joe. Since then, both sites have undergone significant changes to protect their players. In addition to banning all employees from any DFS site, both DK and FD added badges to player profiles and created leagues or contests specifically designed for beginners.
Fanduel Draftkings Scandal
The badges are designed to show a player’s experience level, so that beginners and casual players don’t get treated like ATM machines by the high level players. FanDuel’s badges are easier to understand as they’re either a blue star or a white star. However, you have to do a little more work to see what the player’s badge is for other entries into a contest. DraftKings makes it easier to see a player’s badge, but they’re like the U.S. Military as they have different bars that represent different levels of experience. This has caused some confusion for users trying to figure out how good their opponents really are.
Which One Should You Use?
Hopefully, after reading this article, you have learned more about each company and some of the major differences between the two. Armed with the knowledge from above, you can make an informed choice on which DFS company to use.
Before I give you my preference, here’s a summary of notable differences:
Draftkings And Fanduel Lawsuit
- DraftKings offers more sports to choose from, higher stakes, scoring systems that are comparable to season long fantasy leagues and a better referral bonus.
- FanDuel is clearly superior in their sign up bonuses, easier to deposit and withdrawal, has a cleaner look and a simpler user experience.
My Recommendation
Fanduel And Draftkings News
I believe that, like betting on professional sports, you should have multiple DFS accounts to shop for the best chance at winning. For example, when betting on football, you should have accounts at 3 or 4 different reputable sports betting sites to get the best lines and odds available. In DFS, depending on the NFL matchups for the week, it might be better to go with DraftKings scoring instead of using FanDuel and the kicker. However, other weeks might be better suited for using FanDuel and their non-bonus scoring. Since it’s free to create an account with DK and FD, not only can you take advantage of the bonuses, you can choose the ideal scoring system based on the week’s matchups.
My Preference
Who Owns Fanduel And Draftkings
I do have an account with each company, but if I had to choose just one site, then I would pick DraftKings. I prefer the look and feel of DK along with the option of more sports to play, the better referral bonus and the scoring systems that are more similar to the season long leagues I’ve played in for the last decade. Additionally, the Late Player Swap feature in Fantasy Football is a big deal for avid players like myself. Lastly, nobody cares about kickers. Give me the Flex position any day over the Kicker position.