How daily fantasy works
Daily Fantasy Sports involves donning a professional sports team manager’s hat and creating virtual teams that compete in daily, weekly, and season-long contests. You work with a pre-determined budget to select a team of professional sports players from a chosen league.
This could be the
NBA Daily Fantasy, NFL, MLB, etc. Working with a fixed salary cap, you “buy” these players using fictional prices set by the site. Players earn points based on their real-life individual performances in their respective matches. The better your players perform, the more points your team collects. Ultimately, the player with the most points wins a cash prize.
It’s a skill game that gives you creative control over the process, from drafting players to executing winning strategies. If you use your sports knowledge against your friends or strangers, you win money and bragging rights if your team comes out tops. It’s no wonder the market is expected to reach $29.2 billion by 2029, and new daily fantasy sites are popping up for a slice of the pie.
Best new daily fantasy sites
Ready to put your newfound knowledge of DFS betting to the test? I rounded up 5 of the best platforms based on bonuses, contests, usability, payment methods, and more. Most are new daily fantasy sites, but I also added a few veterans that are constantly evolving by introducing new cutting-edge features to the game.
Underdog Fantasy – Best for Pick’em contests
Underdog Fantasy: Pros & Cons
- High payouts
- Insurance available
- Rewarding Pick’em contests
- Several game types
- Intuitive interface
- Slow responses from customer service
Underdog Fantasy is among the new daily fantasy sites where you can play against other players or the house. In fact, the site offers some of the best payouts when you play games against the house.
You can pick from Best Ball, Higher/Lower Contest, and Head-to-Heads. However, it’s the Pick’em contests where the DFS site shines. It offers stunning payouts for 3-Pick and 4-Pick entries. Moreover, you can use insurance in Pick’em entries and still win cash even if you miss only one pick. All this happens on a user-friendly interface.
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
DraftKings – Enables push notifications for timely updates
DraftKings: Pros & Cons
- Multiple game contests
- Push notifications
- Allows customization
- Instant deposits
- Free rolls available
DraftKings isn’t exactly among the new daily fantasy sites, but its commitment to introducing new features makes it a strong contender. It allows customization of your league according to your preference. You can enable push notifications on mobile to receive the latest news on upcoming matches.
As for game modes, DraftKings includes all the contests a DFS site should host, from Head-to-head and Guaranteed Prize Pools to Step tournaments. Only $2 is needed to enter the first level of these tournaments. Or you can enter Free Rolls and still win cash prizes if you’re lucky. Deposits are instant and start as low as $5 to accommodate most punters.
20% up to $500
Deposit Bonus
|
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
FanDuel – Exclusive Superflex contests
FanDuel: Pros & Cons
- Unique Superflex contest
- Several game variations
- Intuitive layout
- Seamless app
- Free payments
FanDuel has 10+ years of experience in the game, but it is still fine-tuning its app to provide a seamless mobile betting service. The website layout is well-designed, making it easy to identify your preferred contests.
The site offers several game variations, including Single Game, Full Roster, Head-to-Head, and 50/50s. FanDuel’s exclusive Superflex variation steals the show. It allows for more flexibility as you can build an 8-player squad, which includes one Superflex from any position. It doesn’t have the longest list of payment methods, but transactions are free.
$65 value with just a $10+ deposit
ParlayPlay – Best for projected stat picks against the house
ParlayPlay: Pros & Cons
- Pick’em contests
- Insurance available
- Simple to use site
- Intuitive interface
- 24/7 live chat
ParlayPlay is among the new daily fantasy sites that are extremely simple to use. As a punter, simply decide if you think a player or players will go over or under projected stats. If you’re on the money, you win. With ParlayPlay, you’re betting against the house, and the more winning selections you make, the more money you win.
It’s a top Pick’em site offering 5-Pick, 6-Pick, and insurance entries. Freerolls are also available. The interface is user-friendly. You can choose to draft leagues for the NBA, NFL, MLB, and the like. Drawbacks for the site have to be the $100 maximum bet limit and the low $500 withdrawal limit.
OwnersBox – Rewarding VIP program
OwnersBox: Pros & Cons
- Lucrative rewards program
- Lightning lineups available
- Remarkable welcome bonus
- Free rolls available
- Easy navigation
- 3x playthrough requirement on deposits
Concluding our list of the newest daily fantasy sports sites is OwnersBox. Like the current breed of new DFS sites, you can play against the house or other players. The latter is called Lightning Lineups, which are an innovative way to play at DFS sites that’s easy and fun.
OwnersBox has one of the best welcome bonuses in the industry and welcomes players with a 100% bonus of up to $500. Freerolls are also available if you’d like to enter competitions for free. The rewards program here awards players 1% of their entry fees as OwnersBucks. You can use these to enter other contests.
Comparing fantasy basketball sites
Below is a quick recap of our new
Daily Fantasy Sports
sites and their respective bonuses, user base, and betting features. This should help you pick the best site for you.
| Betting Site | Welcome Bonus | Live Streaming | Live Betting | Number of Users (2023) |
| Underdog Fantasy | 100% up to $100 | ❌ | ✅ | 60,000+ |
| DraftKings | Bet $5, Get $200 | ✅ | ✅ | 8 million |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, Get $200 | ✅ | ✅ | 6 million |
| ParlayPlay | 100% up to $100 | ✅ | ✅ | – |
| OwnersBox | 100% up to $500 | ✅ | ✅ | – |
Choosing the best new daily fantasy sites
Not all new daily fantasy sites deserve a second glance. Besides aligning with a licensed platform, consider the following factors to pick the best site for your needs:
- Real-time updates:
You need information on the latest stats, injuries, and upcoming matches to draft players and adopt winning strategies. The best new daily fantasy sites give timely updates via email or mobile to keep you informed.
- Sports and leagues covered:
DFS betting can be played across different leagues and sports, including the NBA, NFL, MLB, and the works. Some allow DFS for college-level leagues, too.
- Community aspects:
Leading new daily fantasy sites, putting together community online forums where like-minded punters share ideas and tips. Others establish vibrant social media platforms, allowing their customers to interact.
- Payment methods:
DFS betting is centered on entering teams into paid competitions, even though Freerolls are an option. Look for a site that processes deposits and withdrawals quickly, swiftly, and with little to no charges. Platforms like Skrill and PayPal that process payouts within the day will make DFS betting much easier.
- Tools for drafting and managing teams:
One of the perks of joining new daily fantasy sites is the exclusive tools they bring to the table. Top sites provide the latest projections, cheatsheets, and the latest news to make drafting and managing teams easier.
Types of DFS sites & games
DFS games aren’t a one-size-fits-all. The typical new fantasy sports site offer different game formats with varying prizes and selection structures. Below are the most popular DFS game types.
Entrants draft a team using a predetermined budget. The idea is to line up the best players without exceeding the salary cap. Salary cap contests operate on a points-based system where teams are ranked according to points earned. The more points you earn, the higher your ranking.
If you read my
Daily Fantasy Sports guide, you’ll know Draft contests have no salary cap limitations. Participants draft teams from the available pool of players shared among them. Once you pick an athlete from the pool, they are off-limits to others. You earn points depending on how well your players perform in the game. DraftKings is the site to pick for this option.
This is a new game contest introduced by new daily fantasy sites. You predict if a player or certain players will go over or below specific stats set by the house. It’s a fun and simple way of DFS betting albeit risky. It works similarly to Parlay betting in that all selections must be correct to win. That’s unless the site offers an insurance entry that still ensures a win if one pick fails.
You can go Head-to-Head with one player, and the winner takes the entire pot minus the site’s fees. You select the player you think will perform better in specific stats like number of hits or points.
How to play DFS at the newest sites
As we near the end of my guide, let me walk you through the process of playing at new daily fantasy sites. It’s pretty simple and involves the following:
- Pick a DFS site from our list that resonates with your gaming preferences.
- Create an account by sharing personal details like your name and email address. You may need to upload a copy of your ID to verify your account.
- Deposit funds using your preferred banking method.
- Pick a sport and contest.
- Line up your team of players.
- Wait for the event to end and collect your prize if you win.
Plenty of ways to win
DFS betting is the latest craze for a reason. It’s fun to play, adds to the enjoyment when watching sports, and provides different ways to win. This skill-based game allows you to create your own dream team of sports players for any league. You watch them battle it out with other players to hopefully bring the money home.
It’s for this reason new daily fantasy sites are coming up to cater to the growing market. Your task is to pick a site that’s perfect for you with regard to aspects like sports, contests, or bonuses on offer. And you won’t go wrong with a site like Underdog Fantasy.
The latest offers from our top DFS sites
1.
Claim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
100% up to $100
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
100% up to $100
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
$65 value with just a $10+ deposit
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
5.
20% up to $500
+ free $3 ticket
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 25x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $5
New Daily Fantasy Sites FAQ
📜 How do you pick a winning DFS lineup?
To pick a winning DFS lineup, you must heed player projections and stay updated with injury news. Use innovative tools like the Pro Lineup Builder to create teams efficiently.
📈 What strategies can you use for fantasy betting leagues?
Using the 80/205 rule in fantasy betting leagues is wise. 80% of entries must be in low-risk 50/50 contests and 20% in tournaments. Moreover, don’t shun beginner contests if you’re a first-timer. Such competitions are easier and will help you get a hang of things.
💡 What tips can you use when playing fantasy betting for money?
Maintaining a positive bankroll is a timeless strategy for fantasy betting with real money. That way, you can enter high-risk/high-reward tournaments without losing all your cash. Also, it’s advisable to enter multiple contests, instead of putting all your eggs in one basket.
