DraftKings Daily Fantasy 2025: Step-by-Step Guide to Winning Daily Contests

DraftKings allows you to boost your bankroll with a 20% match deposit bonus of up to $500. To unlock this bonus, sign up on the site, enter the promo code, and make a qualifying deposit of at least $5. Interestingly, your bonus bets won’t be automatically added to your account. You’ll get $1 in bonus bets for every $25 you use to enter paid DFS contests.

The DraftKings daily fantasy bonus also comes with a 25x wagering requirement which you must meet before withdrawals can be processed.

Is DraftKings available in your state?

It’s important to know the Draftkings legal states in the US before signing up. You can also check the table to see if DraftKings is available in your state. Who knows, you might lay your hands on a state-exclusive promo code to unlock the platform’s welcome offer.

DFS Deposit Bonus

20% up to $500

+ free $3 ticket

18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.

Get Bonus

How to sign up – Easy yet rewarding

Signing up at DraftKings DFS was a hassle-free affair that only took a few minutes. Here are the steps to create your DraftKings account:

• Step 1: Visit the DraftKings DFS site or download the app for iOS or Android
• Step 2: Click on “Sign Up”
• Step 3: Enter your personal details, including your email address and phone number, and create your unique username and password.
• Step 4: Consent to receiving a text to confirm your number
• Step 5: Confirm that you’ve read the platform’s terms and conditions and agree to be updated about DraftKings’ products, news, and promotions. You must be 18+ to play on the site (19+ in AL & NE and 21+ in AZ, IA, LA & MA)
• Step 6: Select “Create account” to become a DraftKings player. There’s a box that you can fill out with a Draftkings daily fantasy promo code before completing the process. However, this part of the sign-up process is optional, and you can go ahead and create your account without the promo code

After account creation, you’ll be required to verify your identity to ensure you’re legally allowed to play DraftKings daily fantasy sports. Here’s the information to provide:

• Your full name
• Current home address
• Date of birth

If your identity is unverifiable, you may be asked to upload or provide additional information, such as a valid state-issued ID.

I like how DraftKings’ intuitive, player-friendly design improves gameplay on the site. The DFS interface’s distinctive orange hue also plays a role in giving the website a clean, polished look. But beyond being easy on the eye, the site is also pretty functional.

The DraftKings DFS page is set up in a way that all the important areas of the site are situated in the headers. What’s left of the page is taken up by a lobby that’s easy to navigate. I could quickly access the numerous fantasy contests available since they were listed according to sport and game type.

I think the streamlined design makes it easy for new users to enjoy playing daily fantasy at DraftKings. You can quickly switch between available contests, withdraw your wins, and get valuable info on how to play the DFS contests. Plus, making deposits is simple and super-fast since there’s a deposit option right on the site header. The best part is that both the desktop version and the app have the same level of functionality.

Background – From small site to a world-class gaming platform

DraftKings was developed and launched in 2012 by three friends who used to work at Vistaprint in Boston, Massachusetts. The platform’s first DFS contest was a one-on-one fantasy baseball competition offered on the Opening Day of the MLB 2012 Season.

By 2013, the MLB became DraftKings’ first official partner, the first of many professional sports organizations to partner with the gaming platform. In 2016, DraftKings became the largest DFS site in the United States and was working towards a merger with FanDuel in November 2016. The Federal Trade Commission blocked the merger, but that didn’t stop DraftKings from expanding across the US. Players can currently play DraftKings DFS contests in 44 states in the US.

Reputation – All round positive reviews

Going by its impressive growth in a little over a decade, I’d say that DraftKings has quite a following of satisfied players.  That’s probably why the platform has an excellent reputation on the daily fantasy sports scene.

For starters, who wouldn’t love a secure platform that offers a wide variety of DFS contests, several player-oriented promotions, and a dedicated app for premium on-the-go gaming? When you factor in an aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional design that improves player experience, it becomes easier to understand why DraftKings is one of the top brands in the DFS space.

Player Experience – Simplified and seamless

I had a great time playing DFS at DraftKings, and that’s because the page was created with new players in mind. The top menu features most of the major sports league DraftKings offers, including NBA DFS and NFL DFS contests. Also, games and contests are listed in a simplified format alongside their entry fees. So, all I had to do to see my favorite DraftKings daily fantasy  contests was to click on the corresponding tab.

It was also easy to find out all I needed about the contests, such as the style, total prizes, and when they went live. Thanks to the simplified process for building teams and entering contests, I didn’t have a hard time making my fantasy lineup. Sifting through the eligible teams, players, and positions made it easy to assemble my desired team.

I got performance updates on each player while the contest went on in real time, so tracking my progress wasn’t a big deal. At the end of the contest, my prize got paid out within 24 hours.

DraftKings boasts a dedicated app that accommodates both iOS and Android users. The app is highly intuitive and offers the same features and functionality as its desktop version. It also has a scrollable lobby and tabs that help you quickly find what you want. There are lots of drop-down menus, headers and smaller icons, all of which have been optimized for smaller screens.

So whether you’re accessing draft rosters, claiming promotions, making account deposits or entering contests on the go, you’ll find the app perfect for playing daily fantasy sports from Draftkings.

Enjoy daily fantasy sports from your mobile

A seamless, intuitive app

You’ll find that DraftKings supports an impressive range of payment options. Some of the more popular payment methods on the site include Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Apple Pay, Venmo, and PayPal.

Payments via Apple Pay, credit and debit cards take up to 3 business days. If you choose to use either Venmo or PayPal, the processing time will depend on the payment methods ( Visa or Mastercard) that you linked them to.

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You can also make payments using DraftKings Gift Cards or Bank Wire. The DraftKings Gift Cards option is instantly processed, while wire transfers have a minimum deposit of $100 and may take up to a week to process.

Making withdrawals after playing  Draftkings daily fantasy sports wasn’t too much of a hassle, either. Debit cards and Apple Pay take one day, while PayPal, Venmo and bank wire can take up to 2 days. Pending bonuses or other promotional credit types can’t be withdrawn, and deposited funds are eligible for withdrawal to the same payment method.

Note that the payment systems accepted for DraftKings DFS contests vary by jurisdiction, so check what’s available in your state before proceeding.

DraftKings offers professional, reliable, and round-the-clock customer service. Although the platform doesn’t feature phone support, there’s a live chat option where you can expect prompt responses. I was attended to by an agent within a few minutes when I used the live chat option.

You could also get answers to your inquiries via email, which might take a few hours. There’s a “Help Center” on the homepage drop-down menu. Clicking on the tab led me to a treasure trove of valuable information about DraftKings DFS. I found 70+ articles and a host of FAQs that cover just about everything you need to know about playing daily fantasy sports on the platform while perusing the Help Center.

DraftKings players are its number one priority. So, the platform has taken elaborate steps to ensure your security when playing fantasy sports. All confidential information is safeguarded by Secure Socket Layer (SSL), one of the latest encryption technologies. The platform also employs a team of compliance professionals who ensure the games are fair and compliant with applicable rules and regulations.

Beyond these metrics, I was particularly impressed to find that DraftKings is operated by Crown DFS Malta Limited, which is registered in Malta. I also discovered that Game Integrity monitors DraftKings’ contests, transactions, and player accounts.

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The company implements best practices to detect when the house’s rules are broken. Game Integrity also ensures that DraftKings remains a fair, safe, and trustworthy destination for players to participate in fantasy sports contests.

Most importantly, DraftKings verifies its users’ age and identity to ensure they’re of legal age. You might be asked to verify your identity when requesting a withdrawal. The gaming site even keeps separate bank accounts for players’ funds. Based on the platform’s commitment to security, I’d say DFS enthusiasts have little to worry about.

Prohibited countries – Where not to play

If you’ve ever asked the question “Is daily fantasy sports legal?” Here’s the short answer: yes! You can play DraftKings daily fantasy in 40+ states in the U.S. including California, Connecticut, New York, Delaware, and Vermont. However, these are the states in the US where it’s illegal to play DraftKings daily fantasy sports:

• Washington
• Montana
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• Idaho
• Oregon

Comparing offers in legal states

Should DraftKings provide legal service in your state, you can take a look at the table below to compare their offering against its toughest competition. Please note that if sports betting is also legal in your state, that the table below will prioritise those real money bonuses.

Bonus:	Bet $5 and Get $200in Bonus Bets Instantly!	Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!	Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win	Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets IF YOU WIN
Type:	Welcome Bonus	Welcome Bonus	Free Bet	Welcome Bonus
Requirements (WR):		1x Bonus		1x Deposit
Min. Deposit	$5	$10	$5	$10
Cashable:	❌	✅	❌	❌
Min. Odds		-500	-	-

In addition to the welcome bonus, you can also earn rewards by participating in DraftKings missions. With this promotion, you’re assigned tasks to complete to get Crowns. Missions aren’t always available, so you’ll have to keep an eye on the Promos and Rewards tabs to see if one is available.

DraftKings also offers a tiered Dynasty Rewards program where you pick up Crowns and Tier Credits based on your activity, deposits, bets, and accomplishments. The Tier Credits help you go up the tiers, while Crowns can be exchanged for bonus bets and other promos. Here’s what the Dynasty Rewards program looks like: