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Everything About DraftKings and Available Locations in the USA

August 12, 2024

Everything About DraftKings and Available Locations in the USA

DraftKings made its debut in the US back in 2012. A few years later, it launched its DFS platform, alongside a few other operators, including FanDuel. Fast forward a bit, and now it’s live in more than 20 US states, offering everything from fantasy sports to online betting and casino games.

US bettors from major markets like Arizona, Indiana, and New York can all legally access the platform and place their bets on top sports events. Still, there are some limits to its availability and betting products, and that’s what we are here to discuss.

Join us on our mission as we explore DraftKings and the main betting options it offers, as well as its legal areas of operation.

Brief Overview of DraftKings

The story of DraftKings is a standard “American Dream” story of a business that was set up in a basement by a group of friends. However, what started off small as one of the first DFS projects in the US has now evolved into an industry giant and one of the largest betting brands in terms of market share nationwide.

Over the first couple of years, DraftKings only offered DFS betting. Initially, the operator featured DFS MLB betting only, or to be precise, a spin-off baseball DFS competition based on MLB.

The Major League Baseball organization quickly recognized its potential, so DraftKings became the first MLB-sponsored daily fantasy sports operator on US soil. MLB invested heavily in the project, so DraftKings had enough funds to award millions of dollars annually to top-performing DFS players.

It wasn’t long before the NHL made a similar investment in DK, helping the brand gain traction in the United States. The operator has achieved numerous milestones ever since; here’s a summary of the biggest ones:

2015: DraftKings obtains an official UKGC license for offering online casino games.
2018: The first official DK sportsbook opens its doors to bettors in New Jersey.
2019: DraftKings opens the first New York-based sportsbook in Waterloo, as well as its first betting venue in West Virginia.
2020: DK introduces new retails in Iowa and Mississippi. Company shares get listed on NASDAQ for the first time. Michael Jordan invests in DK and becomes the official board advisor for the brand.

States Where DraftKings Legally Operates in the US

Currently, DraftKings runs an online sportsbook in a total of 26 US states and plans to expand further. However, different states have different gambling and betting laws, so the company cannot offer the same products and services everywhere.
You can use this guide as a starting point to learn where DraftKings’ sportsbook and casino solutions are legal.

DraftKings Sportsbook Availability

Thanks to the widespread accessibility of DraftKings in the US, you can currently bet with DK in 28 states. However, in some, you can only place bets online, whereas in others, you have to visit a brick-and-mortar venue.

Of course, you can also do both in some places, as long as you are over 21. Let’s take a closer look at legal US locations and their availability:

Arizona — Online and retail at TPC Scottsdale
Colorado — Online and retail at Bally’s Black Hawk
Connecticut — Online and retail at Foxwood Resort Casino
Washington D.C. — Online only
Illinois — Online and retail at Wrigley Field and Casino Queen
Indiana — Online only
Iowa — Online and retail at Wild Rose Casino & Resort
Kansas — Online and retail at Boot Hill Casino and Resort
Kentucky — Online and retail at Mint Gaming Hall
Louisiana — Online and retail at Golden Nugget Lake Charles and Queen Baton Rouge
Maine — Online only
Maryland — Online only
Massachusetts — Online only
Michigan — Online and retail at DraftKings Sports & Social Troy (sports bar) and Bay Mills Resort & Casino
Mississippi — Retail only at Golden Nugget Biloxi
New Hampshire — Online and retail at Filotimo Casino & Restaurant and Gate City Casino
New Jersey — Online and retail at Resorts Casino & Hotel
New York — Online only
North Carolina — Online only
Ohio — Online and retail at DraftKings Sports & Social Columbus (sports bar)
Oregon — Online only
Pennsylvania — Online only
Tennessee — Online and retail at DraftKings Sports & Social (sports bar)
Vermont — Online only
Virginia — Online only
West Virginia — Online only and mobile betting on-site
Washington — Retail only
Wyoming — Online only

And if you are based in Michigan, Ohio, or Tennessee, DK’s social sports bars provide a whole different feel to retail betting. You can visit official “Sports & Social” bars in Troy, Columbus, and Nashville to have a fun chat and drinks with other bettors and place your mobile bets on the spot.

DraftKings Casino Availability

While DraftKings sportsbook and DFS are available in more than half of the US states, the online casino is only accessible in a few:

DraftKings DFS

The fantasy sports enthusiasts among you will be pleased to learn that DraftKings DFS is legal in almost every US state. The only exceptions are Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington, which are yet to legalize DFS.

However, not all types of fantasy sports are available in all locations since some states explicitly prohibit players who opt in for the Pick’em fantasy. These are the states where Pick’em DFS products are still not legal:

Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Washington
West Virginia

So, if you reside in one of these places, you may not be able to access the full DFS offer at DK, primarily their Pick6 product.

DraftKings in Canada

Apart from the US states we’ve mentioned, DraftKings is also legal in Canada, where you can also place your wagers through the DK website or official sportsbook app. The site has been legally available ever since the iGaming expansion in 2022. However, Ontario is still the only province offering legalized betting, gambling, and DFS combined, and the only partner province of DraftKings in the Great White North.

While you can participate in daily fantasy sports and manage your casino and sportsbook deposits and withdrawals from other provinces, you can’t legally play DK casino games or bet outside Ontario.

Why Is DraftKings the Best DFS and Sportsbook Site in the US?

Besides its widespread accessibility, which is also characteristic of some other DFS and betting sites, DraftKings has a lot to offer in terms of features. Here’s why it’s the number one pick for US-based sportsbook enthusiasts and DFS fans.

Benefits of DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings provides US bettors with some of the most diverse wagering options on the North American market, starting with popular ones like the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, UFC, and PGA betting. It also covers college basketball and college football, in addition to a range of different markets for tennis, soccer, and other sports.

The main betting features include live markets, a stats hub, and betting boosts within the Game Lines section. Here, you’ll have a chance to build your own MLB parlay or get a multi-parlay boost. Plus, you can explore these boosts for specific games and get a chance to bet on playoff series leaders and props. You can also check out Sportsbook Pools, an exciting way to bet against other players’ wagers who have placed bets on the same event as you.

To up the ante, DraftKings also features bonus bets, allowing both new and existing members to place multi-parlay wagers with boosted odds ranging from +150 to +700. As if that wasn’t enough, the operator also went a step further to reward newcomers with up to $150 in bonus bets for placing a bet worth just $5. DK’s Reward Center is the hotspot for online bettors, and you will also find bet builder boosts and parlay boosts for betting on specific leagues like the MLB.

DraftKings’ online betting app offers a smooth user experience. It is rated 4.8 out of 5.0 stars on the AppStore by more than 745,000 users. The DFS Fantasy app is also very popular — and more than 5 million downloads and a 4.7 rating from 152,000 users on GooglePlay vouch for it.

Benefits of DraftKings Casino

While DraftKings Casino isn’t as widely available as the sportsbook, it is still worth checking out. Players who live in the states where this casino operates can explore a collection of online slots provided by NextGen, IGT, Microgaming, and NetEnt.

Besides over 700 slots, DraftKings Casino also features live dealer tables and table games provided by Evolution Gaming and Playtech. Dozens of progressive jackpot games are also there to spice up the gaming experience, including Must-Hit jackpots, and Multi-Level jackpots.

It’s one of the best online casinos in the US in terms of jackpot prizes since it offers both linked on-site progressives and game-specific jackpots. You can win the Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega jackpots going up to $1 million. Or, if you prefer other options, such as live dealer or table games, you can try your luck at those — there may be a grand prize waiting for you.

The site also features leaderboards, where you can win prizes and points that can be redeemed for real playing credits in USD. Plus, the list of ongoing promotions goes on and on, covering everything from daily offers and referrals to deposit match bonuses and more.

FAQ

Where is DraftKings legal?

DraftKings is legal in 27 US states, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. It will likely spread further in the US as the local gambling regulations loosen up.

Is DraftKings safe?

Yes, DraftKings is safe for US players since it is licensed in 27 states for sports betting and in 5 for casino games.

Where can I access DraftKings online casino?

You can access the DraftKings casino from Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

What’s the legal age limit for playing at DraftKings?

The minimum legal age for playing at DraftKings is 21 for both the sportsbook and the casino.