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DraftKings vs. BetMGM – Which is Better?

William Schwartz
William Schwartz Sports Betting Expert
22 minute read

With legal sports betting now available in the majority of US States, millions of sports bettors across the country have seemingly countless options to choose from when they want to get started with online sportsbooks. DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook are two of the most prominent names in those deliberations, and considering the high-quality products offered by both brands, it's a truly hard choice to make.

Both DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook give you access to a wide array of markets and bet types, but we are going to dig into some differentiating factors that can determine which sportsbook you should choose.

This will include a comparisons of the DraftKings Sportsbook app and the BetMGM Sportsbook app, the DraftKings Sportsbook offer for new users against what BetMGM offers, as well as loyalty programs and other bonuses that you can access throughout your time using the sportsbook.

We'll also take a quick look at some of the tangential products offered by these two online sports betting brands, as well as some of the logistics associated with each operator. Let's get right into our comparison between DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook!

CONTENTS

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: SIGNUP PROCESS

The signup process for most online sportsbooks is pretty similar, and DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook are no exceptions.

Signing up for an online sportsbook might seem like a daunting process, but it's quite simple and with our overview, including key steps such as inputting your personal information and payment method, you should be able to sign up for either betting site- or even both- and get started with online sports betting.

DRAFTKINGS SIGNUP PROCESS

  1. Firstly, you'll need to go to the DraftKings sports betting site, or download the DraftKings mobile app. Whichever you choose, from there, you'll be prompted to start the sign-up process if you attempt to log in, which you won't be able to do if you haven't previously had an account.
  2. Then, you'll need to input your personal information. This will include your email, date of birth, address, and social security number. These will all help to confirm that you are located in a location where DraftKings Sportsbook is active, and of legal betting age for that jurisdiction. You'll also need to create a username and password within the given parameters.
  3. When your information has been verified, you'll have to accept the terms of use including consent to the usage of geolocation software. Once you've done all of this, you now have a sports betting account! Your next step will be to link a payment method and deposit funds, then you'll be ready to start to place bets!

BETMGM SIGNUP PROCESS

The signup process for BetMGM Sportsbook is very similar to that for DraftKings Sportsbook. You can also sign up using either the mobile app or desktop website, where you can easily find a button to either sign in or sign up.

You will need to give essentially the same personal information as in the DraftKings Sportsbook process above, while noting that BetMGM Sportsbook operates in different areas with different age requirements from what might be the case for DraftKings Sportsbook in the same area. This is also the time when you would need to input the welcome bonus code to take advantage of whatever welcome bonuses might be available in your area.

Similarly to DraftKings, once you've created your user ID and password, you now have your account, and are ready to deposit funds and bet! With both of these sportsbooks, it's key to remember to carefully read the terms and conditions of the offer for any welcome bonuses, to make sure that your initial deposits and bets qualify.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM STATE AVAILABILITY

Each of these sportsbooks is available in some capacity in 23 or more states, although it is not the same states for both. It's also worth noting that some states have special situations where you must sign up at a given location for certain sportsbooks, so be sure to understand those types of terms when picking an online sportsbook that works well based on your location.

When new states legalize online sports betting, both of these brands are often among the first to launch. If your state has yet to do so, these could be two of the first options available to you if they eventually do.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: COMPARING WELCOME OFFERS

Both of these brands are currently offering great welcome bonuses for VegasInsider readers, but they're very different so we'll take you through the details of both.

DRAFTKINGS SIGN UP BONUS

If you choose DraftKings Sportsbook, you'll be able to access a deposit-match bonus, meaning that for an initial deposit up to a certain amount, you will receive an extra percentage of that value in bonus bets.

The DraftKings Sportsbook welcome bonus offer is the following:

Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Get a SGP Everyday for the NBA Playoffs!

It's best for sports bettors who plan to wager larger units, or heavily invest infutures; there's not much of a reason to deposit $5,000 if you'l never have that many bets out at once. That being said, it's still a great way to begin your bankroll with a bit of a boost. This offer does not require you to use a code during the sign-up process; simply sign up through the link from VegasInsider.

It's important to understand that while bonus bets operate as cash within the DraftKings app and DraftKings Sportsbook website, they cannot be withdrawn like cash; they must first be wagered and won back, and they must usually be used on bets with reasonably short odds, so make sure to read those terms and conditions before determining your initial deposit amount with this offer.

Note: In North Carolina, the offer for DraftKings is: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Get a SGP Everyday for the NBA Playoffs!

Must be physically located in AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY or WV. (“each an “Eligible Jurisdiction” or, collectively, the “Eligible Jurisdictions”).

Gambling problem? Call 877-718-5543, or visit https://morethanagame.nc.gov/.
21+. NC only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook/nc

BETMGM WELCOME OFFER

New BetMGM users can unlock the welcome offer of with promo code VIBONUS1600.

For a large-unit bettor, or a sports bettor who prefers to play futures bets, you might consider doing the 20% deposit match through the code, so that you can maximize your available funds.

For novice or small-unit sports bettors, acquiring bonus bets at a very low risk through the bonus code can be a great approach to get started. As is the case with DraftKings Sportsbooks, bonus bets must be wagered and won back before they can be withdrawn as cash, so keep that in mind when devising your welcome bonus strategy.

Alternatively, you can use promo code VIBONUS to unlock the Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win!

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: ONGOING BONUSES AND PROMOTIONS FOR EXISTING USERS

New user bonuses and promotions are a great way to start out with either one of these sportsbooks with some extra cash in your account, but you can keep finding value throughout your time playing with either of these platforms. Let's check out some promotions that are often offered on BetMGM Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook for existing users.

DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK ONGOING BONUSES AND PROMOTIONS

DraftKings Sportsbook offers a wide array of ongoing and periodic promotions, most of which can be found on the home page of either the DraftKings Sportsbook app or desktop website. Odds surges and profit boosts are two of the most common, these special bonuses give you the opportunity to increase the payout on certain wagers, usually within a given game or league.

DraftKings Sportsbook will also occasionally offer No Sweat Parlays, which usually have eligibility rules about the legs, the odds of each leg and the overall parlay, and often the market, but these boosts allow you to receive a refund of your stake in the form of bonus bets if your parlay loses. Lastly, you can refer a friend to DraftKings using a referral link to secure bonus bets for both you and your friend once their account is finalized.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK ONGOING BONUSES AND PROMOTIONS

Like DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM offers plenty of opportunities for existing users to find value through boosts and other promotions. Just about every day, they offer daily boosts on specific games or markets for which the odds on several wagers are artificially altered to increase your payout. Boost tokens do something very similar, although you usually have a bit more choice as to where to apply it.

Lastly, just like DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM does have a referral program, through which you can send your friend a BetMGM Refer A Friend Invitation and earn bonus bets for each of you once they have logged onto their new account.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: MOBILE APP COMPARISON

DraftKings vs. BetMGM Mobile App

In the World of online sportsbooks, it's impossible to hold onto customers without a great app, and both BetMGM and DraftKings have exactly that. Both have clear, intuitive and visually appealing designs, making it easy for both experienced bettors and brand new users to find the bets they want.

The DraftKings app is generally considered to be faster, which is very important if you're going to engage in live betting. That being said, BetMGM still offers comprehensive live betting coverage, and in-app features, including live streaming, that make it easy to follow along with your favorite competitions.

Reviews of the DraftKings app routinely praise the fair and competitive odds, but there are occasional issues with deposits and login. However, the pros certainly outweigh the cons, with features for building bet slips and same game parlays as well as the live betting prowess consistently cited as major benefits.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: ONLINE SPORTS BETTING MARKETS AVAILABLE

Both DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM offer markets on the most popular American sports; NFL and college football, NBA and NCAA basketball, MLB baseball, and NHL hockey are staples on both sportsbooks. Global games like soccer, motorsports like Formula 1, and combat sports such as UFC and boxing are also widely available

Where the two sportsbooks differ a bit is when it comes to more niche markets. With DraftKings, you can bet on sports like Aussie rules football, cricket, and lacrosse, which are not covered by BetMGM Sportsbook, while conversely, BetMGM gives you the chance to bet on volleyball, which you can't find on DraftKings Sportsbook.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: BET TYPES

There are three basic types of bets that fall under the classic "game lines" category. The first is moneyline bets, which require you to simply pick a winner of a given contest. Another is bets against the spread, for which you must determine whether or not the favored team will win by more than a given margin. The last is totals, bets where you pick whether there will be more or less total points in one game than the given amount.

These bets are traditionally placed before contests, but you can also try live betting, which gives you the opportunity to wager on odds that are constantly updating based on the real-time status of a game. Live betting requires you to follow your game of choice closely, so make sure you're ready to place bets on a moment's notice.

Then there are more granular bets called props, which allow you to bet on a specific aspect of the game, such as how many total touchdowns or turnovers there will be, an individual basketball player's scoring outputs, or how many strikeouts a pitcher will record.

On the other end of the spectrum, most major sports will have futures markets, which allow you to place long-term bets, often with fairly long odds, on who will win championships, awards, and other season-long questions.

Last but not least, parlays allow you to combine two or more bets, which can be from many of the above categories, for an increased payout; but if your selections don't all hit, you lose your whole stake. Both BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook offer all of these bet types, so this isn't a huge differentiator between the two.

WHO HAS BETTER PRICING: BETMGM OR DRAFTKINGS?

DraftKings Sportsbook doesn't offer the most competitive odds for every sport, but in the eyes of many, they shine where it really matters; they are among the industry leaders when it comes to giving you high-value options for the NFL and NBA. As for BetMGM, they'll give you the best options in many other leagues and sports, but for those two big ones, they don't always stack up favorably.

Of course, while one sportsbook might generally offer the most favorable odds for a given sport, the other could present something more appealing for the position you want to take in a specific game. Checking all of your options is hugely important if you want to maximize your value, which is a reason we do recommend making accounts to access not just one but both of these sportsbooks.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: LOYALTY PROGRAMS AND REWARDS

Both BetMGM and DraftKings offer loyalty programs, so repeat users can accumulate rewards the longer they're customers and the more they play. Let's take a look at how these offerings differ between these two sportsbooks.

DRAFTKINGS LOYALTY PROGRAMS AND REWARDS

With DraftKings Sportsbook, you can accumulate loyalty points, referred to as "crowns," which can eventually be redeemed in exchange for DK Dollars, the site's term for bonus bets. You earn crowns by placing bets and entering DFS contests, whether or not you win.

The more you play, the more you earn for each dollar wagered, so this is something to keep in mind for bettors who expect to play with large wager units.

BETMGM LOYALTY PROGRAMS AND REWARDS

BetMGM is noted by many online bettors for having one of the best loyalty programs in the business. Not only is it easy to accumulate loyalty points, but they can be used in a wide variety of ways- across both BetMGM Sportsbook and online casino, as well as the brick and mortar locations associated with the brand, including but not limited to the Bellagio and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Borgata in Atlantic City.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: PAYMENT METHODS

While some major payment methods are going to be valid at just about every major sportsbook, the accepted methods are not always going to be identical at each one, so let's take a look at the ways you can deposit or withdraw funds at both BetMGM and DraftKings.

DRAFTKINGS PAYMENT METHODS

With DraftKings, the most common payment methods are usually going to be credit and debit cards or a link to an online banking account. Wire transfers, mailed checks, and even cash at certain casinos are some less-used methods, while e-wallet products such as PayPal are also used at times.

BETMGM PAYMENT METHODS

BetMGM offers very similar payment methods to DraftKings, but they have a few more e-wallet options; Apple Pay and PayNearMe are also compatible with this sportsbook. You can also use a prepaid GAMEON card to deposit funds with BetMGM.

DRAFTKINGS VS. BETMGM: CUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS

While we hope that you have a seamless, trouble-free sports betting experience, that won't always be the case, but luckily both BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook have great resources to help you if you do have any questions while using their products.

DRAFTKINGS CUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS

If you need any assistance while betting with DraftKings Sportsbook, there's a way to get a hold of them any time of day or night- let's check out some of your options.

  • Email
  • Live Chat
  • Contact Form
  • Leave Voicemail at 1-855-357-2377

BETMGM CUSTOMER SUPPORT OPTIONS

BetMGM doesn't have all of the same options, but they still give you the opportunity to contact support anytime you need it.

  • Email
  • Live Chat

DRAFTKINGS DAILY FANTASY SPORTS

As one of the pioneers of Daily Fantasy Sports, DraftKings has remained a major leader in the field to this day. Their most popular competitions are generally going to be football, but the one-day draft contests now feature sports including baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and even individual sports like golf, nascar and MMA.

Conversely, BetMGM does not offer DFS. If playing these contests is an important part of your sports betting experience, you're going to want to make sure to play with DraftKings.

BETMGM CASINO

BetMGM's roots are of course in casinos, and they've carried that tradition into the online casino field. Classic casino table games such as poker, roulette, blackjack and craps are all available online, some of which offer both video and live dealer options. You can also play online slots, with a wide variety of games available to BetMGM users.

While it's not as central to their identity, DraftKings Casino is up and running as well, and offers many similar games and functionalities to the BetMGM product.

Read up on responsible gambling.

THE HISTORY BEHIND TWO SPORTS BETTING GIANTS

While both of these brands are now leaders in the online sports gambling field, they had extremely different journeys to get where they are today, with one getting its start online, and the other reaching back to the days before the internet.

DRAFTKINGS HISTORY

DraftKings Sportsbook will forever hold the distinction of being the first legal online sportsbook to launch in the United States outside of Nevada, when it started up operations in New Jersey in 2018. Ever since then, they've been one of the leaders in the online sportsbook space, and are a prominent fan favorite.

Before that, they were a giant in the Daily Fantasy Sports field, and they're still one of the biggest names in that area today, with millions of users playing in their competitions. They've also joined the ranks of online casinos, so now you can play online casino games with DraftKings as well.

BETMGM HISTORY

BetMGM can trace its roots back to the 1980s, when its parent company, MGM Resorts International, was founded and began opening and operating brick and mortar casinos. MGM Resorts are still going strong, but the brand has now reached the internet with BetMGM Sportsbook, which has been live since 2019.

Ever since this shift, BetMGM has been exploding, as they've forged deals to be an official sports betting partner of several professional teams and leagues. They have not gotten too far from their roots, as they now serve online casino customers with one of the industry's leading platforms.

ALTERNATIVE SPORTSBOOKS TO DRAFTKINGS AND BETMGM

While both BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook are among the best online betting options, they're far from the only ones. If you're a fan of DraftKings Sportsbook, you could consider checking out FanDuel as well; they have a similar path and expertise, as they were founded around the same time and also trace their origin back to daily fantasy sports contests.

If you like the depth of experience and background in the gambling industry that comes with the MGM brand, you could also consider Caesars or BetRivers, a pair of other casino brands that got into the online betting field when it became viable nationwide. Their connections to brick and mortar locations is similar to that between BetMGM and MGM Resorts International, so if this is a positive to you, consider playing with more than one of these three.

BETMGM VS. DRAFTKINGS FAQs

While we hope this article has answered most of your questions about making a choice between DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook, but if there's anything else you're wondering, check below for our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about playing with these two platforms.

WHICH IS THE BETTER SPORTSBOOK: DRAFTKINGS OR BETMGM?

Both BetMGM Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook have their pros and cons; BetMGM offers the better welcome bonus at this time, but DraftKings will provide better odds for many key betting markets. It depends what's most important to you, but both sportsbooks offer a fantastic product.

WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS A BETTER WELCOME BONUS BETWEEN BETMGM AND DRAFTKINGS?

BetMGM Sportsbook is offering a better welcome bonus right now, due in large part to the fact that as a VegasInsider reader, you have choices, which is almost always a positive.

If you're new to online gambling and want to start small, you can use bonus code VIBONUS to claim the Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win! offer, but more experienced bettors playing with larger bankrolls can use code VIBONUS1600 to secure an Exclusive Offer: Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus! A 10x wagering requirement applies. Bonus bets expire in 7 days. One new customer offer only. Add’l terms.

HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO PLAY ON DRAFTKINGS AND BETMGM?

BetMGM sets the minimum age to play at 21 regardless of location, but it's a bit more complicated for DraftKings Sportsbook, as it varies based on the local laws.

Always make sure you know the minimum age in your area for sports betting, casino games, and daily fantasy sports before you play.

DOES DRAFTKINGS OR BETMGM HAVE BETTER ODDS?

When it comes to key sports like NFL football and NBA baskeball, DraftKings Sportsbook is usually going to offer the best odds between these two options, highlighted by market leading moneyline odds, while for other niche sports markets, you might find that BetMGM Sportsbook has very competitive odds.

SHOULD I USE DRAFTKINGS OR BETMGM?

Each online sportsbook in this debate has its strengths, and the best one for you depends on what you're looking to get out of your online gambling experience. There's little reason not to sign up for both and see which is your favorite, which also gives you the ability to compare and choose the best odds for every wager.

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William Schwartz

William Schwartz

Since entering the sports journalism field, William has covered everything from the World Cup, to College Football, to reviews and guides for the most popular sportsbooks. He aims to blend analytics and research with engaging writing to bring you entertaining coverage as well as profitable betting advice for just about every major sport. More from William Schwartz
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