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BetMGM vs. DraftKings - Which Sportsbook is Better in 2024?

BetMGM and DraftKings have emerged as two of the most popular online sportsbooks in the country after expanding rapidly over the past few years. Which of these online sports betting brands is better?

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Why Choose BetMGM Sportsbook
Industry-leading promotions, bonuses, and contests
Amazing proprietary technology allows for live-streaming
Elegant design helps avoid distractions
Great rewards program
24/7 support via live chat
Why Choose DraftKings
First legal sportsbook launched in the U.S.
Fantastic sign-up promos and bonuses
Excellent live-betting platform
User-friendly website and app
Live-streaming within the website and app

An Overview of Two Great Sportsbooks

DraftKings became the first legal online sportsbook to launch in the United States when it made its debut in New Jersey on August 1, 2018. The brand was already popular thanks to the success of its daily fantasy sports contests. It made a natural transition into sports betting after the Supreme Court declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional. The ruling allowed states outside of Nevada (and Oregon, Delaware and Montana, to an extent) to pursue regulated sports betting and DraftKings was ready. Three weeks later, BetMGM - initially operating as PlayMGM - became the country’s second online sportsbook. Both DraftKings and BetMGM Sportsbook quickly expanded out of New Jersey and launched in many states across the country, where they compete for customers by offering large bonuses and tempting odds.

FeatureDraftKingsBetMGM
Overall
Sports & Bets Offered
Odds
Live Betting
Mobile Betting
Desktop Interface
States Availability
Sports Betting Guides

BetMGM

BetMGM is a joint venture between casino giant MGM Resorts International and UK online gambling heavyweight Entain. MGM has casinos across the country, putting it in a prime position for market access, while Entain has a wealth of industry expertise, having operated popular brands such as Ladbrokes, Coral, Bwin, and PartyPoker for many years. The holding company for the 50-50 BetMGM joint venture is called ROAR Digital, and it also operates the Borgata online Sportsbook in New Jersey (MGM Resorts International runs the land-based Borgata casino).

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DraftKings

Entrepreneurs Jason Robbins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman created DraftKings back in 2012, and it initially operated out of Liberman’s house. It launched its first DFS contest in 2012 around the start of the MLB season. By 2018, DraftKings was a household name across the country, having invested heavily in marketing campaigns to promote its popular contests, which flourished before sports betting was legalized. When the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, the law that banned sports betting outside of Las Vegas, in 2018, DraftKings added an online sportsbook powered by Kambi.

Two years later, DraftKings Sportsbook merged with white-label sportsbook provider SBTech - and a special purpose acquisition company - and became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It then switched from the Kambi platform to SBTech. The company’s market valuation soared, leaving it flush with cash. In August 2021, it agreed to acquire Golden Nugget Online for nearly $1.6 billion in stock. DraftKings then launched an audacious $22.4 billion bid to buy Entain, the co-owner of BetMGM. That could have caused a major headache for MGM Resorts International, but the bid ultimately collapsed due to various issues, including the complications regarding the BetMGM Sportsbook joint venture. As such, BetMGM and DraftKings remain rival online sportsbook brands. They both offer online casinos in some states, too. DraftKings continues to offer its DFS contests across the country, while BetMGM has an online poker room.

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A Comparative Breakdown of BetMGM vs. DraftKings

BetMGM and DraftKings are two of the best online sportsbooks in the business. Yet they each have their strengths and weaknesses, so we have broken the battle down into several key categories: Welcome offers, ongoing bonuses, available sports, mobile app, quality of the odds, in-play betting, deposits and withdrawals, partnerships, and loyalty programs. Read on to learn which sportsbook stands out in each category.

FeatureDraftKingsBetMGM
Deposit MatchYesYes
Welcome OfferBet $5, Get $200 in bonusesBet $5, Get $158 in bonus bets
Daily Odds BoostsYesYes
PromotionsOngoingOngoing

Welcome Offers

DraftKings offer a bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets instantly DraftKings launches a new, enticing welcome bonus quite frequently. The DraftKings Sportsbook promo code allows new customers to make a deposit of $5 and then wager $5 on any NFL, NBA, College Basketball, College Football or UFC. Players must be 21+ years old to sign up and use a DraftKings promo code. The offer is for new DraftKings Sportsbook customers only. The player just needs to deposit $5 into the DraftKings Sportsbook account, after that they can place a wager of $5+ on any sport. Then, users will receive $200 instantly plus any cash winning from the original wager once it settles. They are more attractive than the BetMGM Sportsbook bet $5, get $158 in bonuse welcome offer.

Winner: DraftKings Sportsbook

Ongoing Bonuses & Promotions

BetMGM Sportsbook bonus code offers lots more ongoing bonuses and promotions than DraftKings. If you value daily bonuses, BetMGM Sportsbook is a great choice. Also, BetMGM Sportsbook offers up to 40% extra on successful parlays with four to seven legs, along with one game parlay insurance on NFL, NBA, college football, and Premier League soccer. BetMGM provides more odds boosts than DraftKings, too.

The “Promos” section at DraftKings looks a little threadbare by comparison. It offers great welcome bonuses, but there are not many ongoing promotions. You can earn up to $50 in sportsbook credits or $50 in casino or poker credits for every eligible friend you refer, with a limit of 20 friends per month. Also, BetMGM casino's welcome offer is a 100% Deposit match of up to $1,500 + $25 on the House for users that reside in Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. You will have to use bonus code BOOKIE1500 to qualify in all four states. Plus, you can take part in free-to-play daily pools, which offer cash prizes to the bettors at the top of the leaderboard. DraftKings also provides daily odds boosts, but fewer than BetMGM Sportsbook.

Winner: BetMGM Sportsbook

Available Sports to Bet On

SportDraftKingsBetMGM
NFL YesYes
NBA YesYes
MLB YesYes
NHL YesYes
NCAA basketballYesYes
NCAA football YesYes
Golf (PGA) YesYes
Cycling NoYes
Handball YesYes
Horse Racing NoYes
Lacrosse NoYes
MMA (UFC) YesYes
NASCAR YesYes
MLS YesYes
Premier League (EPL) YesYes
Table Tennis YesYes
Tennis YesYes
Boxing YesYes
Water Polo YesYes
Volleyball NoYes
Aussie Rules YesYes
Darts YesYes
Rugby YesYes
Cricket YesYes
Snooker YesYes
Swimming NoNo
Surfing NoYes

It is worth noting that BetMGM runs on Entain’s proprietary technology, so you will receive a unique user experience at that sports gambling site. DraftKings Sportsbook runs on the SBTech platform, which also powers the likes of Betway, Golden Nugget and Resorts Sportsbook, so it offers a very similar user experience to those sites.

Sports like Aussie Rules and water polo are not always shown on the homepage, but they appear when big tournaments are taking place. Olympic sports also appear during those times.

The SBTech platform at DraftKings Sportsbook listed 19 sports at the time of this review. It did not have cycling and volleyball, but they do appear when events like the Tour de France and the FIVB World Championship are taking place. DraftKings Sportsbook does not cover lacrosse or cycling. BetMGM Sportsbook therefore has a slight edge, but they are niche sports.

When it comes to the major sports, both brands cover them in exhaustive detail. For example, BetMGM has online sports betting on basketball in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the UK, alongside NBA and college basketball. DraftKings Sportsbook also covers most of those countries.

It is close, but BetMGM does cover more sports and offers a slightly broader selection of betting options.

Winner: BetMGM Sportsbook

Mobile Betting App - Which is Better?

FeatureDraftKingsBetMGM
iPhone AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Website FunctionalityYesYes

Both BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from iOS users on the App Store. Users at Google Play tend to be more critical. BetMGM has an average rating of just 2.4 there, although it is from a small base, while DraftKings Sportsbook has an average rating of 3.8 at Google Play. A few users have complained about bugs and technical issues on both apps, but the majority of customers are very happy with the mobile betting experience they have received.

Both BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from iOS users on the App Store. Users at Google Play tend to be more critical. BetMGM has an average rating of just 2.4 there, although it is from a small base, while DraftKings Sportsbook has an average rating of 3.8 at Google Play. A few users have complained about bugs and technical issues on both apps, but the majority of customers are very happy with the mobile betting experience they have received.

Both apps are polished, easy to navigate, and user-friendly. BetMGM packs more features and betting options into its app, so you might find it a more comprehensive sports betting platform. Yet DraftKings tends to run a little smoother. Pages load quicker, and it is very easy to place bets using the DraftKings app. BetMGM has a light, aesthetically pleasing background, whereas the DraftKings Sportsbook app has a more stylish and modern black background. These are two of the best sports betting apps in the industry, bar none.

Winner: DraftKings Sportsbook

Odds Comparison

OddsDraftKingsBetMGM
NFL MoneylineAbove AverageAverage
NFL SpreadBelow Average Average
NFL TotalBelow AverageAverage
NBA Moneyline Average Average
NBA SpreadBelow AverageAbove Average
NBA TotalBelow Average Average
NHL MoneylineBest Average
NHL Spread AverageGood
NHL TotalBelow Average Average
NCAAF Moneyline AverageAverage
NCAAB Moneyline AverageAbove Average
Soccer Moneyline Average Average
Odds

Both online sports betting brands offer standard juice sides and totals for NFL, NBA, college football and college basketball games. They also take a similar margin on moneyline bets. There is not a great deal of uniformity to the margins that either sportsbook takes on its moneylines. Sometimes DraftKings Sportsbook offers a tighter margin on a game, but BetMGM Sportsbook offers tighter margins on other games.

One thing worth pointing out is that BetMGM and DraftKings often open with contrarian lines and odds. They are not afraid to go against the broader consensus lines offered by the majority of their competitors. For that reason, BetMGM will often provide market leading moneyline odds on one team, and DraftKings will often provide the best moneyline odds on the other team.

They also regularly offer point spreads that differ from the majority of their rivals. For example, if most sportsbooks make Cleveland the 2.5-point favorite to beat Baltimore, you might find that Cleveland is the 3-point favorite at BetMGM and the 2-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook. In that case, BetMGM would be the best option for betting on Baltimore, and DraftKings would be the best option for betting on Cleveland.

For that reason, it might make sense to sign up for an account with both sportsbooks. That means you get two welcome bonuses, but it also means you can quickly grab the best available odds and lines at either sportsbook on each game. Shopping around for your odds and lines will boost your chances of generating an overall profit over the course of the season.

Winner: Tie

Live In-Play Betting

BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook both offer very comprehensive live betting sections. They are both easy to navigate, and they both update their lines quickly and regularly. DraftKings covers more sports in-play, including the likes of table tennis, cricket, snooker and darts. Their in-play coverage of NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL games is pretty similar. However, BetMGM provides more comprehensive live betting coverage of sports like soccer, with more games to choose from, and it covers more niche sports like cricket in-play.

BetMGM Sportsbook offers live streaming of sports like soccer, tennis, table tennis and volleyball within its app and website courtesy of a deal with Sportradar. DraftKings Sportsbook has a similar live streaming deal in place with Sportradar, but it also allows you to watch one live MLB game each week on its app, along with UFC fights and motorsports, so DraftKings Sportsbook may have an edge in terms of live streaming. Both sportsbooks allow you to cash out live bets before the game has finished, while BetMGM also allows you to edit open bets. BetMGM also keeps you updated with live stats and animations on live sporting events, so we will give BetMGM a narrow win in this category.

Winner: BetMGM Sportsbook

Payment Options & Cash Out

FeatureDraftKingsBetMGM
Deposit Options88
PayPalYesYes
Play+YesYes
Debit/CreditYesYes
Online Bank TransferYesYes
Minimum Deposit$5$10
Deposit Min/Max – Debit/Credit Card$5/$2,000$10/varies
Deposit Min/Max – PayPal$5/$2,000$10/$10,000 (Skrill)/Others (none)
Minimum Withdrawal$1-$15$20
Withdrawal Options44
PayPal WithdrawalYesYes
Bank Transfer WithdrawalYesYes

BetMGM accepts deposits via Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. You can alternatively use PayPal, Skrill, wire transfer, e-check, PayNearMe, or a branded Play+ card, or pay in cash at the casino cage. DraftKings Sportsbook offers all of those deposit options apart from Skrill. If you like using Skrill, go to BetMGM. Otherwise there is no difference. BetMGM has the higher minimum deposit ($10), while neither operator charges fees for deposits and withdrawals.

It takes BetMGM 3-5 days to process and approve payout requests, which is on the slow side. DraftKings also advises customers that withdrawals are processed within five business days (though they are faster at times), so neither site is particularly quick at paying sports betting and online casino customers. At DraftKings Sportsbook, your payout options are an online bank transfer, PayPal, VIP Preferred e-check, Play, a wire transfer, cash at the cage, or check by mail. BetMGM Sportsbook pays out via e-check, wire transfer, PayPal, Play+, Skrill, check by mail, or cash at the casino cage.

Both operators provide secure, reliable withdrawals, but DraftKings Sportsbook sometimes pays out quicker than BetMGM, so we will give it the edge in this round of the battle.

Winner: DraftKings Sportsbook

Partnerships

Both of these operators have tied up a wide range of partnership deals with sports leagues and franchises. It is the official sports betting partner of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, the Vegas Golden Knights and various other teams. Its brand ambassadors include Wayne Gretzky, Barry Sanders, Marshawn Lynch, Chris Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Jalen Rose, and Ariel Helwani, while Hollywood star Jamie Foxx fronts many of the brand’s commercials and online promos.

DraftKings Sportsbook has more partnership deals in place than BetMGM Sportsbook, but many of them are DFS partnerships as opposed to sports betting partnerships. It is an official sports betting partner of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, and it also has partnerships in place with NASCAR and UFC. DraftKings also owns Vegas Sports Information Network. Bryson DeChambeau is the face of DraftKings’ golf products. It is also the sports betting and online gaming partner of the New York Giants and various other teams, so DraftKings Sportsbook clinches a narrow victory in this category.

Winner: DraftKings Sportsbook

Loyalty Programs

BetMGM Sportsbook customers will gain access to the popular M life Rewards program. You will accumulate points by placing bets, and your points can be redeemed for rewards at MGM Resorts International properties such as Bellagio, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, The Mirage and New York-New York in Las Vegas, and Borgata in Atlantic City. You start off in Sapphire tier, and you can climb up to Pearl, Gold, Platinum, and finally Noir if you place a large volume of bets. This is a comprehensive loyalty program, but the redemption rate is complex. It states that you get 9 iRewards Points for a straight bet at odds of -110, and 12.5 points for a $25 parlay at odds of +300 as a guide. When you reach 2,000 points, you can exchange them for a $25 sportsbook bonus.

DraftKings Sportsbook allows you to rack up loyalty points, known as Crowns, by placing sports bets, wagering in the online casino and entering DFS contests. You receive 1 Crown for every $2 wagered. You can eventually redeem your Crowns for site credit, known as DK Dollars, at a rate of around 552 Crowns per $1. That amounts to a cashback rate of 0.091%. There are six tiers - Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Black.

Winner: BetMGM Sportsbook

Location & Availability

StateDraftKingsBetMGM
New JerseyYesYes
NevadaNoYes
MississippiNoYes (retail)
PennsylvaniaYesYes
MichiganYesYes
West VirginiaYesYes
ColoradoYesYes
ConnecticutYesNo
New YorkYesYes
LouisianaYesYes
VirginiaYesYes
IndianaYesYes
IllinoisYesYes
TennesseeYesYes
IowaYesYes
WyomingYesYes
Washington, D.C.NoYes (limited area)
ArizonaYesYes
New HampshireYesNo

Sports Offered at BetMGM Sportsbook Vs. DraftKings Sportsbook

Both of these sportsbooks offer very comprehensive coverage of major sporting events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, the NBA Finals, the World Series and the Stanley Cup playoffs. They offer pre-game and in-play betting on every NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, MLB, and NHL game, and they offer a wealth of futures betting options too. You can bet on every UFC event, Grand Slam, ATP, WTA and Challenger tennis tournaments, PGA Tour events, NASCAR races, and all the biggest boxing bouts.

BetMGM offers a couple of additional sports betting options - lacrosse and water polo - but in general they are pretty much identical in the betting markets they provide. They both offer extremely comprehensive coverage of soccer, including the lower leagues in countries like England, Spain, Italy and Germany, along with leagues in places like San Marino and Gibraltar. They also provide a similar number of betting options on each game, with same game parlays available on football, basketball, and soccer.

DraftKings Casino vs. BetMGM Casino

Bettors in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia can play online casino games at DraftKings and BetMGM. The DraftKings casino features 481 slots, 73 table games, seven video poker games, and seven specific live dealer lobbies spanning blackjack, roulette, baccarat, game shows. It features games from highly rated developers such as IGT, Microgaming and NetEnt. The BetMGM casino has a larger range of slots (708), more video poker games, and a similar range of virtual table games and live dealer games. Both sites have many of the same games, but they also both have exclusives. Overall, BetMGM has a slightly better online casino, which you would expect, as its parent company owns some of the world’s most famous casino properties.

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Why Choose the BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the most sophisticated online wagering platforms in the world. Entain’s proprietary sports betting technology is superb. It packs a lot of information into each page, but the elegant design ensures that it never feels cluttered. The sporting coverage is extremely comprehensive and the odds are competitive. It provides a wealth of great features, including statistical information about upcoming games, live streaming, cash out, and a same game parlay builder.

BetMGM also offers more promotions than most of its rivals, including a generous welcome bonus and some great contests. It provides several convenient deposit methods, and withdrawals are always secure and reliable. BetMGM also beats DraftKings Sportsbook when it comes to customer service. It provides 24/7 support via live chat, which is unavailable at DK. BetMGM is a really strong all-round online sportsbook and we highly recommend it.

Why Choose the DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings provides some of the most exciting sign-up bonuses in the country, so it is easy to see why it has already racked up such a large customer base. In some states, you can enjoy sports betting, DFS, and casino games all under one roof. The wagering platform at DraftKings Sportsbook is not unique, but it is very polished and user-friendly, and its odds and lines are also competitive.

The DraftKings mobile app is perhaps a little better than BetMGM’s. Pages certainly load quicker at DraftKings, and it is possibly a better option for beginners. DraftKings also offers convenient deposits, secure withdrawals, great features, and an excellent live betting platform. It is also a better option for MLB fans, as you can stream some games live within the app and the website.

Final Verdict: Which is Better? DraftKings or BetMGM?

It really is a close call. BetMGM covers a couple of additional sports, it provides better customer service, it accepts Skrill deposits, it offers more statistical information to help bettors make educated decisions, and it is a very impressive all-round sportsbook. Its online casino is also slightly better. DraftKings Sportsbook has a more stylish website and app, a simpler user experience, and a loyalty program that spans its online sportsbook, DFS contests, and online casino.

Both of these operators are very similar in terms of betting limits, the quality of the odds, sporting coverage, wagering options, deposit and withdrawal methods, security, and reliability. It is very difficult to split them, so it may be better to sign up for an account with both. That means you benefit from two welcome bonuses, and you can always claim the best odds or lines on every game.

DraftKings vs. BetMGM FAQ

Which Sportsbook Launched First, DraftKings or BetMGM?

DraftKings Sportsbook became the first legal online sportsbook to launch in New Jersey when it went live on August 1, 2018. Three weeks later, BetMGM Sportsbook - initially known as PlayMGM - became the second legal online sportsbook to launch in the country when it made its Garden State debut.

Does the Same Company Own DraftKings and BetMGM?

No, DraftKings is a Boston-based company that merged with SBTech in 2020 to form an online gambling giant. BetMGM is co-owned by MGM Resorts International and Entain, a UK-based firm with vast experience in the industry. In 2021, DraftKings mounted a bid to buy Entain for $22.4 billion, but it ultimately failed, so they remain rival companies.

Can I win More at BetMGM or DraftKings

Both BetMGM and DraftKings offer a maximum payout of $1 million per bet. The odds are reasonably similar, and there is no significant difference between the amount you can win at BetMGM and DraftKings.

Which Sportsbook Has Better Odds, BetMGM or DraftKings?

Both BetMGM and DraftKings offer standard juice lines on football and basketball sides and totals. They both offer competitive moneyline odds, futures betting odds, and prop betting odds. Sometimes BetMGM Sportsbook has a better price, and sometimes DraftKings Sportsbook leads the way, but on the whole, they are equal in this regard.

Which Sportsbook Offers Better Promotions, BetMGM or DraftKings?

BetMGM and DraftKings both offer very compelling welcome bonuses and loyalty programs. However, BetMGM provides more ongoing promotions and bonuses for existing customers than DraftKings, so it has the edge in this category.