Fanduel Sportsbook

We recommend selecting a brand that is licensed and regulated, and FanDuel fits the bill. However, there are other important considerations too, including the quality of the odds, the betting options, the bonuses and the interface. This FanDuel review will highlight the security measures on offer, delve into the brand’s reputation and assess its overall strength. 

What is FanDuel?

FanDuel is one of the most popular gambling brands in the USA. It launched as a Daily Fantasy Sports operator in 2009, founded by Nigel Eccles, Lesley Eccles, Tom Griffiths, Rob Jones and Chris Stafford. Its first DFS contest was held in 2010, with a total prize pool of $40,000.

The brand grew rapidly during the next eight years. In 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that a federal sports betting ban was unconstitutional. A European company named Paddy Power Betfair spotted an opportunity to launch a US sportsbook, so it purchased a controlling stake in FanDuel and turned it into a sports betting brand, while continuing to run DFS events.

Paddy Power Betfair is now called Flutter Entertainment, and it is the world’s biggest online betting company. It holds a controlling stake in FOX Bet too, and PokerStars, but FanDuel is its number one priority. FanDuel Sportsbook is now available in:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

It is the most popular regulated sportsbook brand in the USA. FanDuel also runs a racebook in dozens of states, and it has an online casino.

Is FanDuel a Legit Betting Site?

FanDuel is a legitimate betting site. It is licensed and regulated by the gaming control boards, divisions of gaming enforcement or lottery commissions in more than a dozen states. It is also the official sports betting partner of various major sports leagues and franchises.

Parent company Flutter Entertainment is based in Dublin, Ireland, and listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is a very large conglomerate with more than enough liquidity to cover all winnings. There should be no concerns about the legitimacy of FanDuel.

Is FanDuel a Safe Betting Site?

FanDuel is a very safe betting site. One thing we like about FanDuel is that it has partnered with HackerOne. If anyone sports a vulnerability in the site’s code, they can create an account with HackerOne, report the vulnerability and get paid.

There is a Security Researcher Hall of Fame, but nobody has joined it since 2019, as no faults with the security measures have been discovered.

“At FanDuel, our talented team of engineers and security specialists work non-stop to make our code as secure as possible,” says the company in a safety post. “However, software without a single vulnerability simply does not exist in the real world.

“As our products evolve and technology advances, new vulnerabilities are bound to arise. But our Vulnerability Disclosure policy and partnership with HackerOne help us stay ahead of any potential problems.”

It is reassuring to find a sports betting site that is so open and honest about its security policies, and it is also great to see FanDuel investing heavily in safety measures.

What Deposit Options Does FanDuel Provide?

Most people use Visa or Mastercard credit/debit cards to fund a FanDuel account, but certain states do not allow credit card deposits. Alternatives include an e-check, a bank transfer, PayPal or a branded Play+ card.

They are all very safe methods. Another highly secure deposit method is simply to hand over cash, which is added to your account balance. You can do so at a retail FanDuel site, such as the sportsbook at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, or by visiting a store such as CVS or 7-Eleven and asking to use the PayNearMe option.

FanDuel does not accept cryptocurrency payments. Rival sites like DraftKings and BetMGM have also steered clear of Bitcoin and altcoins. If you prefer to use crypto, we recommend BetUS, BetOnline or MyBookie.

How Are Withdrawals Processed at FanDuel?

Withdrawals are processed pretty quickly at FanDuel. It isn’t as quick to pay out as sites like BetOnline, Bovada and BetUS, but it is quicker than competitors such as DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM.

The quickest options are Play+, PayPal or Venmo. If you select one of those options, you will receive your funds within 48 hours. If you do not want to use an e-wallet or a prepaid card account, you can receive an online bank transfer in 3-5 business days. Another option is a check, which will arrive in the mail in up to 10 business days.

FanDuel does not charge you for deposits or withdrawals. The process of funding your account and getting paid out is simple and secure.

What Welcome Bonuses Does FanDuel Offer?

The main welcome bonus for FanDuel Sportsbook customers is a risk-free bet of up to $1,000. If you want to claim this offer, you can sign up for a FanDuel Sportsbook account and make a deposit of $10 or more. Find a game you want to bet on and place a wager.

If your first bet is settled as a loser, you will be refunded 100% up to a maximum of $1,000. The offer is a bit of a misnomer, as it’s not a genuine risk-free bet. The refund is paid in site credit, and it has a 1x rollover. You need to wager it on another sporting event, and any profit you earn is paid in cash.

Your free bet amount is not included in your return. That means you need to place a winning bet at odds of +100 or greater just to recuperate the amount you lost on your first bet, which is easier said than done. It is still an impressive offer, but it is worth bearing in mind that this is not an actual risk-free bet, as the refund is not paid in cash.

You will find the same sign-up bonus at rival sites like WynnBET, BetMGM and TwinSpires. FanDuel does seek to differentiate itself by offering great welcome bonuses on a limited-term basis. For example, you could bet $5 at boosted odds of 56/1 (+5600) on the last Super Bowl and get a $280 cash payout if you backed the winning team. It has also run “Bet $10, Win $200” offers in the past for new bettors.

What Loyalty Bonuses Do FanDuel Customers Receive?

FanDuel is one of the few online sportsbooks without a loyalty program. It issues loyalty points to Daily Fantasy Sports customers, but there is no loyalty program for online sports bettors.

However, it compensates by providing a long list of additional bonuses for all customers. Odds boosts, parlay boosts of up to 40%, free bets and risk-free bets are just some of the offers you’ll find at FanDuel Sportsbook. It also runs sportsbook contests that you can enter for free. These contests offer millions of dollars per year in prize funds.

What Sports Does FanDuel Feature?

FanDuel Sportsbook accepts bets on football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, hockey, UFC, boxing NASCAR, cricket, cycling, darts, handball, rugby league, rugby union and table tennis. It will also accept bets on the Olympic Games and Winter Olympics when they are running.

You can find lots of different leagues and cups to bet on, from the NFL, NBA and MLB to basketball in Israel, hockey in Slovakia and soccer in Albania. It continues to run DFS contests and it has a very good racebook, so the list of available betting options each day at FanDuel is very long.

What Wagering Options are Available at FanDuel?

FanDuel offers lots of alternate spread and alternate total points markets on football and basketball games. There are plenty of game and player props too.

For example, in a hockey game, you can bet on the spread, moneyline, total goals, first goalscorer, three-way moneyline with no push, whether there will be overtime, both teams to score, period betting, player goals, player points, player assists, player shots and goalie props.

There are same game parlays available on football, basketball and soccer, but not on ice hockey. It had lots of futures markets.

The odds at FanDuel Sportsbook are pretty average. It has high betting limits, and you can win up to $1 million on lots of different sports, so high rollers should feel welcome, although the lack of a loyalty program might push them to a site like Caesars or BetMGM instead.

Does FanDuel Provide Live Betting?

FanDuel Sportsbook has a busy live betting section. It takes bets on hundreds of live sporting events each day. You can find your way around the live betting section quickly, and it provides lots of live lines, so this is a great online sportsbook for live betting.

It offers live streaming too. You can watch some NHL games live, along with basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer and table tennis.

Does FanDuel Have a Casino?

FanDuel has an online casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. It also runs the online casino for Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

The casino has a pretty small range of games, which is disappointing. However, it does feature games from well-regarded suppliers such as IGT and NetEnt, and it has live dealer games from Evolution, so the quality is high.

There are casino bonuses too, and it has a good casino lobby, which is easy to navigate. It just needs to expand the range.

What Special Features Does the FanDuel Site Include?

The ability to live stream NHL games should win over hockey fans. You can also cash out open bets, create same game parlays and browse blog posts covering a variety of sports.

The main selling point of FanDuel is that it offers a sportsbook, racebook and online casino in some states. If you are not in one of those states and you want all of those options at one site, BetUS, BetOnline and MyBookie have you covered.

What are the Key Strengths of FanDuel?

FanDuel has the top-rated sports app on the iOS App Store, which is no mean feat. It is a beautiful app, which makes it quick and convenient for you to get your bets on.

It also has large bonuses, lots of boosts and ongoing promos, and high betting limits, while it covers lots of sports in a very thorough fashion. FanDuel is great for live betting. It offers 24/7 customer service through live chat too. Another strength is the speed and reliability of the payouts.

We are also impressed by FanDuel’s commitment to player safety and its partnership with HackerOne, which is very reassuring.

What are the Weaknesses of FanDuel?

FanDuel does not have a loyalty program, which could dissuade some players from registering an account. It also provides fewer deposit options than some of its rivals.

It also accepts bets on fewer sports. For example, there is no lacrosse section, and it rarely has volleyball betting. The odds could be sharper too. The online casino section is also very sparse compared to rival sites.

Another downside is that FanDuel is only available in certain states. If you are not in a state that FanDuel operates in, you could go for BetOnline, BetUS or MyBookie instead. They are available in almost every state, and they all provide a very comprehensive service.

Is FanDuel a Reliable Online Sportsbook?

FanDuel is a reliable online sportsbook with a great track record for security. It is owned by a major, public listed company and it is a trusted brand.

There are a few minor issues, but overall FanDuel is a great sportsbook. The quality of the app, the size of its bonuses and the regularity of its promotions set it apart from many rivals.