NFL Draft Betting Guide: Where, When, How You Can Wager In 2025

The NFL Draft begins in Green Bay on April 24. Miami QB Cam Ward is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. He’s priced at -1600 to be taken in the No. 1 spot at DraftKings.

Then things get complicated. 

What do bettors need to know when wagering on the Draft? 

Legal betting on the NFL Draft began in Nevada in 2017. In 2025, bettors in 30 states and Washington D.C., can legally wager on the event, with some books offering dozens of betting markets.

However, NFL Draft betting rules vary by state and sportsbook. Each entity has its own regulations and house rules. Bettors can wager on which player will be picked at a specific spot, which team will select a certain player, or what positions teams will prioritize. Some sportsbooks expand their offerings depending on operator guidelines, while others scale back due to the Draft's typically low-profit margins.

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Johnny Avello, Director of Race and Sports at DraftKings, was managing the Wynn sportsbook in Las Vegas when Nevada first permitted Draft betting nine years ago. A year later, betting expanded to include where specific players would be drafted.

“Since I started doing this, the number of markets has grown immensely. The Gaming Commission didn’t like us taking action on things that weren’t happening on the field,” Avello told Bookies.com. “The Draft has not been a resourceful proposition for books, overall. It's been a loser... Some places have kind of given up doing it. It's just too much work for them for the revenue that they make. But for us, we're full steam ahead with a full slate of options.”

How To Watch The 2025 NFL Draft

The Draft will air live on NFL Network, NFL+, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes. The Titans are on the clock. The Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on April 24. Coverage of Rounds 2-7 will be available in the subsequent days on the same platforms.

When & Where Is The 2025 NFL Draft

This year's draft will take place outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Below are the dates and times for each day.

Thursday, April 24: Round 1, 8 p.m. ET
Friday, April 25: Rounds 2-3, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 26: Rounds 4-7, Noon ET

Where Can You Legally Bet On The NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft has not been universally embraced by gaming regulators. Of the 38 states (plus Washington D.C,) with live and legal sports betting, 7 don’t offer Draft betting. Among those are New York and Pennsylvania, home of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

States Where You Can Bet On The NFL Draft

Here’s a list of the 30 states (plus Washington D.C.) that allow online and/or retail legal wagering on the NFL Draft. They are listed with any notable restrictions.

• Arizona: All markets must close before the start of the first round and live in-draft betting is prohibited.
• Arkansas: No restrictions. 
• Colorado: No restrictions.
• Delaware: No restrictions.​ 
• Florida: No restrictions.
• Illinois: No restrictions.
• Indiana: No restrictions.
• Iowa: Markets must close 24 hours before the draft begins. Live betting is prohibited. 
• Kansas: No restrictions.
• Louisiana: No restrictions in parishes that have approved sports wagering 
• Maine: No restrictions.
• Maryland: No restrictions.
• Massachusetts: Pre-draft bets must be placed before the No. 1 pick, round-specific wagers before each round, and pick-specific bets at least 2 selections prior. ​ 
• Michigan: Like Massachusetts, with all bets closing the night before the draft. 
• Mississippi: Retail only.
• Montana: No restrictions.
• Nebraska: Retail only.
• Nevada: Wagers on specific players must be placed at least 24 hours before the start of the first round. 
• New Hampshire: No restrictions. 
• New Jersey: No restrictions. 
• New Mexico: Retail only.
• North Carolina: Pre-draft bets must be placed before the first pick, round-specific wagers before each round, and pick-specific bets at least two selections prior. ​ 
• Ohio: No restrictions in markets approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
• Oregon: No restrictions
• Tennessee: Pre-draft bets must be placed before the first pick, round-specific wagers before each round, and pick-specific bets at least two selections prior. ​ 
• Washington, D.C.: No restrictions. 
• West Virginia: All markets must close the night before the draft. 
• Wisconsin: Retail only.
• Wyoming: No restrictions.

Legal Sports Betting States Without NFL Draft Betting

Here’s a list of the 7 states that allow legal sports betting but not wagering on the NFL Draft.

• Connecticut
• Kentucky
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Virginia

Best Strategies for NFL Draft Betting

Timing is everything when wagering on the NFL Draft. In general, the earlier you bet, the better — as books will pull markets once news of trades or picks breaks or because of other unforeseen circumstances. 

“Get your bets in beforehand because there are a lot of rules about when can offer picks,” says Fanatics Trader Ethan Useloff. “If you’re looking to get a bet in. Get it when see it offered.”

Avello recommends betting on what you know — like the needs of your favorite team.

“If you know that the Miami Dolphins need an offensive lineman, and you know that's the way they're pointing, then look at that market. This is a good way to go because you’ve got a good feel for your team,” Avello said.

How Sportsbooks Set NFL Draft Odds

Setting lines for the Draft is uniquely challenging.

“Everything is connected,” Useloff told Bookies.com. “One decision leads to another, and that’s what makes it tough offering to have as a sportsbook.”

Fanatics uses a combination of internal data and external information to shape odds. The Draft’s fluid nature means traders must be ever vigilant for the latest posts from Adam Schefter or Ian Rapaport – in addition to the company’s bet ticket – which tracks every wager on the site.

“It does come down to where we think action will come while trying to prevent any huge liability,” he said.

Even popular consensus can be overridden if liability becomes a concern.

“The real crux of what we're doing comes down to where do we think bettors are going to end up moving their money towards?”

Odds and limits are set through consensus among traders and the risk team.

“It’s almost like an NFL War Room where someone stands on the table for their guy,” Useloff said.

The final call comes from the head of football trading and the risk team.

“The risk team sets the limits. Those are the folks who say we’re willing to take ‘X’ amount of dollars on ‘X’ individual bets. And the head of football is going to be the one who will be approving all of this.”

What Happens When A Trade Is Made

What happens when a Schefter Bomb drops?  

“The first thing we're going to do is we're going pull that market from site to make sure that we have time to have a thoughtful conversation about what is responsible for our company, and what's responsible for the bettors," Useloff said. 

Avello says DraftKings is prepared to adjust in real-time.

“We’ve got a lot of eyes on this. We know what’s going on,” he said.