DraftKings and FanDuel are the most popular United States-based daily fantasy sports and sports betting companies. They bring you convenient ways to capitalize on your knowledge of your favorite sports from home or on the go. To get the premise out of the way:
DraftKings and FanDuel award payouts as real money you can withdraw into your bank account. Earn winnings through competing with others in daily fantasy sports, betting in the sportsbook, or gambling in the casino – subject to your jurisdiction and their rules.
Neither DraftKings nor FanDuel are holistically superior to the other but are distinct in nuanced ways. Hence, both should be familiar tools in any sports bettor’s arsenal, whether you’re casually picking money lines or researching player lineups.
How Do You Win Real Money On Daily Fantasy?
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are the original source of success for DraftKings, FanDuel, and their communities. Put together teams of the best players to earn points and bring prizes home.
1. Check Whether DFS Is Available In Your Jurisdiction
In the USA, DFS is available in most states. However, both platforms respect state laws and thus won’t serve users in areas where their services are deemed illegal. See the table below for availability at the time of writing:
| DFS Availability | States |
| Unavailable in DraftKings and FanDuel | Montanna, Nevada, Idaho, Hawaii |
| Available in DraftKings, Not FanDuel | Oregon |
| Available in FanDuel, Not DraftKings | Connecticut |
2. Set Up An Account On Either Platform
Tap or Click “Log In” on either platform’s DFS Android app (DK, FD), iOS app (DK, FD), or website (DK, FD). If you don’t have an account, choose instead to sign up. Then, enter your:
- Username
- Password
- Any other personal details where necessary
3. Deposit Funds For Entry Fees
Funds are typically necessary as a fee for entry. The money gets placed in the prize pool, with the platform taking a small cut.
Once you are logged into your account, everyone but FanDuel mobile users has a green “Deposit” button in the top-right. Click it.
If you use FanDuel mobile: tap the “Account” tab on the bottom-right, then tap “Add Funds” to add to your balance.
4. Choose A Sport, Find A Contest
First, pick the sport you’ll be playing. Many are available on both platforms, including national and international leagues. You’ll be taken to an online lobby where contests are categorized and listed, through which you can search and filter depending on your preferences.
There are numerous contest types. Some popular formats include:
- 50/50, where half the participants are allocated the pool
- Head-2-Head is a winner-takes-all 1v1
- Tournaments tend to have bigger pools allocated to the top 10-20% of competitors
In addition, many contests are designed and reserved for newer players, allowing you to gain experience and distinguish yourself early.
5. Draft A Winning Team And Play
Your lineup is the crux of daily fantasy sports. Your goal is to assemble a team with sufficient performance statistics to rack up points in fantasy games.
Each player is assigned a salary, and you’ll usually need to stay within a total budget. Prominent stars demand more, so you’ll want to balance your choices between top performers, lesser-known professionals, and niche specialists.
Research into the available players will often be crucial here:
- How have players been performing recently?
- Have they been showing signs of injury during practice?
- Which players are overrated?
- Which players have exploitable strengths and weaknesses?
The daily format takes a lot of stress out of the process compared to seasonal fantasy sports. Still, research is advised if you’re looking to make consistent earnings. This is why your prior knowledge is advantageous.
Once you’re done, confirm your lineup and watch as the games unfold and your standings change. Experience the industry-famous sweat, and address any necessary changes to get ahead, depending on the contest rules.
Your payout will be placed into your account once the contest officially completes. See below for how to withdraw your payout.
How Do You Win Real Money On The Sportsbook?
DraftKings and FanDuel have expanded in features and availability into real-life sports betting as it continues to be legalized in the USA.
Betting is relatively simple: you’re given odds on outcomes of a game that determine your payout if you predicted correctly. You can bet on the victor, point spread, player performance, and more.
1. Is Sports Betting Available In Your Jurisdiction?
As mentioned earlier, DraftKings and FanDuel are subject to state laws. Thus, consult the chart below to check if sports betting is available in your state.
| Sportsbook Availability | States |
| Available in DraftKings and FanDuel | AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY |
| Available in DraftKings, Not FanDuel | OR, NH |
| Available in DraftKings, Coming Soon To FanDuel | OH |
2. Set Up An Account On Either Platform
Like before, tap or Click “Log In” on either platform’s sportsbook’s Android app (DK, FD), iOS app (DK, FD), or website (DK, FD). If you don’t have an account, choose to sign up and enter your account details as necessary.
3. Deposit Funds For Stakes
Placing bets requires a stake. After you log into your account, everyone but FanDuel mobile users has a green “Deposit” button in the top-right. Click it.
If you use FanDuel mobile: tap the “Account” tab on the bottom-right, then tap “Add Funds” to add to your balance.
4. Make A Bet
To make a bet with the sportsbook:
- Select the sport
- Choose the game you want to bet on
- Enter the wager amount(s)
- Confirm the displayed payouts
- Place your bet
Your balance will decrease accordingly. Once officially confirmed in your favor, the payout will be reflected in your balance.
Tip: You can also combine bets to form parlays, teasers, and more. Your choices will be reflected on the “Bet Slip” on all platforms.
Withdraw Your Winnings
The exact procedure varies between the devices and platforms considerably. Click here for DraftKing’s step-by-step instructions and here for FanDuel’s. Typically, this will be processed within 48 hours, often within a day. However, your choice of payment processor may incur further delays.
Available methods include:
- Online Banking: log in with your USA bank account
- Debit Cards: enter your debit card information
- PayPal: use your verified, personal PayPal address – not available in all states
- Venmo: use an ID-verified personal Venmo account – not available in all states
- Check – this may take the longest
- Wire Transfer – subject to bank hours and holidays
FanDuel also offers withdrawal via their Prepaid Play+ cards.
Conclusion
DraftKings and Fanduel are established, popular, and user-friendly options for legally winning real money payouts through various sports betting and daily fantasy sports. If you’re an American sports bettor, you should keep both on your phone to take advantage of their strengths. Have fun, and gamble responsibly.