BetMGM vs DraftKings: Which Is Best In 2025?

Yes, both share many similarities, and BetMGM and DraftKings are both heavyweights in the ongoing sports betting bout, but being originally rooted in different spheres has produced two distinctly different sportsbooks.

DraftKings, coming from its fantasy sports base, is a top betting app for dedicated sports fans. Based on its casino and leisure background, BetMGM is a different beast that prioritises gameplay and entertainment.

Which one reigns supreme then in the battle for supremacy? We’ve set the criteria for evaluating whether BetMGM or DraftKings is the best, but will it be a knockout result or a split decision?

Below is a quick snapshot of how BetMGM and DraftKings compare in each category:

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Quick Comparison by Category

We’ll explore each of these categories in more detail throughout the article, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, and standout features of each platform. 

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Welcome Bonuses & Promotions

From the starting blocks, BetMGM and DraftKings differentiate themselves in how they reward new customers. Into the main race, and the two giant sportsbooks continue to engage their audience with an array of promos and betting bonuses, tailored to both occasional bettors and consistent users.

BetMGM Welcome Offer

BetMGM rolls out a sizeable safety net for new users with its current welcome deal. Once you sign up and deposit, your very first wager is backed by a first bet offer worth up to $1,500. If that bet comes up short, BetMGM will return your stake in bonus bets - capped at the $1,500 limit.

So, if your first wager is $500 and loses, you’ll get $500 in bonus bets. If you bet $2,000 and it loses, you’ll still get the max $1,500 in site credit. Bonus bets typically land in your account within 24 hours and must be used on the sportsbook - there’s no option to withdraw the bet credit itself, but any profit from winning bonus bets is yours to keep.

There are location caveats too: this offer isn’t currently available in New York or Nevada, so it pays to check your state’s eligibility before diving in.

DraftKings Welcome Offer

DraftKings takes a slightly different approach. Right now, new users who sign up, deposit $5 or more, and place a first wager of at least $5 on any market will receive $300 in bonus bets—but only if that first bet wins.

The $300 bonus is paid out in twelve separate $25 bonus bet tokens. You’ll receive them shortly after your qualifying bet settles as a winner, usually within 72 hours. Each bonus bet is valid for 7 days, and you keep the winnings from any successful bonus bet, but not the original stake value.

This offer is particularly appealing due to its low barrier to entry. With a minimum odds requirement of just -500, it’s possible to bet on a heavy favorite to maximize your chances of triggering the $300 bonus.

Our Verdict: Welcome Bonus

Regular Customer Promos at BetMGM and DraftKings

Like DraftKings, BetMGM’s promos for existing promos vary from time to time and around the biggest sporting events on the calendar. Overall, BetMGM’s regular user offers are a smidge more generous than DraftKings, but the latter usually has a slightly wider range available. Here’s a bit more detail on how we base that verdict.

BetMGM

Once you’re underway with BetMGM, expect to be presented with regular odds boosts, second-chance bets, and free-to-play competitions. Lions Boosts are BetMGM’s branded repeat odds uplifts that are on offer daily for a variety of sports. Assorted other odds boosts are offered frequently by BetMGM and almost always for the year’s sporting highlights.

BetMGM will drop a second-chance bet token into your account from time to time as you go on with them too. With this promo, should a bet lose, you’ll get your stake back. BetMGM also features bonus bet promos, usually for major tournaments with a minimum bet and odds requirement to claim.

You’ll also find no-outlay contests at BetMGM for the chance to win prizes including bonus bets, extra SGP and parlay boosts, and wager insurance tokens. Such contests are sports-themed and include “Swing for the Fences” (baseball) and “Fast Break” (basketball).

DraftKings

DraftKings is relatively comparable to BetMGM for its array of regular promos during ongoing use. DK’s variety of odds boosts is great and tends to be league and event-specific, changing throughout the season as the top sports rotate into center stage. There can be some epic odds boosts at DraftKings, at times at 100% or more. Boost packs for multiple enhanced prices also feature, such as three for MLB weekends.

You’ll usually find a wider range of “no sweat” betting offers at DraftKings than at BetMGM. They often apply to major competitions like the NBA Finals or big game days such as the MLB opening weekend. DraftKings does run prize contests, and while they’re less frequent and accessible than those at BetMGM, they tend to have big jackpots but with a slim chance of ever winning.

Loyalty & Rewards Programs

BetMGM is the clear and easy victor in the loyalty ladder, purely because DraftKings doesn’t have such a program. BetMGM’s rewards scheme is extremely popular and can be fruitful. Linked to the wider MGM Rewards program, bettors earn points in a tiered scheme that can return betting bonuses or perks and experiences at MGM Resorts properties.

Refer-a-Friend Promos

You’ll be able to enroll in a refer-a-friend program at both DraftKings and BetMGM. Both operators work their schemes in the same way. That is, send a referral link to a contact, and when they open an account and start wagering, you both get digital credit.

BetMGM’s buddy system is more rewarding than that at DraftKings. With BetMGM, you can refer up to 20 friends a month and you’ll both get $100 when they wager the same amount. That could result in a huge bankroll boost.

At DraftKings, you and an acquaintance will get bonus credit matched to the value of their first deposit up to £100. DraftKings runs its refer-a-friend program in periods usually lasting two to three months or so. You can refer a maximum of five contacts in any promo period.

Our Verdict: Regular Customer Promotions

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Betting Options & Markets

A healthy range of sports to choose from and a plentiful supply of markets to bet on is a key criteria for choosing which sportsbook is best for you and what you’ll be wagering on.

Assessing BetMGM versus DraftKings in this category reveals a few takeaways. Both have extensive coverage for the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, as you’d expect. BetMGM surpasses DraftKings for its international coverage and how it handles the biggest US sports. DraftKings has the edge for its array of betting options, plus sports beyond the ‘big four’.

Range Of Sports & Events

Fans of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey are well served by BetMGM and DraftKings. After all, estimates put the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA as accounting for up to 60% of the business done by both sportsbooks.

The pair also offer some of the most extensive menus of bet types in the US sports betting industry too. Ahead of most others, BetMGM and DraftKings have led the way in developing innovative and unique bet options, so there are a ton of ways to get in on the action at both.

Depth Of Coverage

BetMGM tends to have more sports on offer than DraftKings. On any given weekend, you’re likely to find 30-plus sports menus at BetMGM. That compares with around 20-plus at DraftKings. Outside of America’s top four sports, expect to find great coverage of soccer, golf, tennis, and autosports at both.

For niche sports, BetMGM has the edge over DraftKings with events to be found even in lacrosse and surfing at the former that don’t feature at the latter. BetMGM also has a broader reach globally, and that reflects in the league coverage it has, such as the top European soccer championships. That said, you’re more likely to find offseason futures for upcoming overseas leagues at DraftKings than at BetMGM.

Our Verdict: Range of Sports & Depth of Coverage

Betting Options

DraftKings is the premier sportsbook in the US for a range of betting options. No other betting provider has more wager types than DraftKings. BetMGM is no slouch though, but it does tend to stick with the most popular bet categories. It hits the heights and is often better than the rest in this regard however.

As with all the best sportsbooks, you’ll find moneylines, point spreads, and totals up front and center on every game market at DraftKings and BetMGM. DraftKings just tops BetMGM for moneylines, particularly for NFL games, and DK’s alternate spreads and totals are exceptionally customizable. On the flip side, BetMGM is more likely to hand out odds boosts on individual matchups than DraftKings, which adds greater value to straights.

For parlay and same game parlay betting, DraftKings and BetMGM come out neck-and-neck. DraftKings takes the crown for its parlay and SGP flexibility as one of the best for the legs you can combine with few restrictions. BetMGM’s “edit my bet” feature is great for parlays and gives you more control to change a bet to cash out on a likely loser. BetMGM’s prepackaged “special” parlays are usually better than at DraftKings.

DraftKings is prop bet crazy with a vast variety of such game-event pre-match and in-play markets. BetMGM does a fine job with prop bets too, and its menu for game, player, and team versions is simply quicker, easier to navigate, and place a bet. That’s essential for live prop bets when every second counts.

When it comes to live betting, whether you prefer DraftKings or BetMGM will very much be a personal choice. BetMGM has a really neat in-play center for games underway with enough live markets and insight to suit most bettors. BetMGM is also superior to DraftKings for live streaming with official broadcasts from the MLB and other leagues from the US and around the world.

DraftKings’ version is more detailed and will better suit those with enough knowledge to make use of its array of live stats and an enormous slate of live props. You could make a case for using DraftKings as your prime source of live sporting information, even beyond betting, given the range of information at hand.

DraftKings leads over BetMGM for futures betting. That’s pretty much for all of the top leagues and competitions as they’re usually up super early with great coverage and market-leading odds.

Our Verdict: Betting Options & Markets

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Which Offers The Best Odds?

There’s no clear winner as to whether BetMGM or DraftKings offers the best odds across the board. Overall, taking an aggregated view, the two sportsbooks are broadly comparable and competitive with each other and the rest of the field. You’ll find individual variance on a market-by-market basis. Signing up with both is a good option as DraftKings and BetMGM are consistently at the top end for odds on the biggest sports.

There are a few notable takeaways to add. Firstly, Vig (or juice) - that is the cut a sportsbook applies to odds - is often a little higher at BetMGM than DraftKings. That’s primarily for the most popular markets, though, and BetMGM is more competitive for odds with relatively low levels of public money. You’ll often find that underdog odds are best at DraftKings while BetMGM powers ahead for favorites, particularly for NFL and MLB games. 

What we do find is that BetMGM is better than DraftKings for odds boosts on individual games, while it’s a flip-flop between the two for parlays, with DK being superior for combo bet boosts. You’ll find more profit boosts at DraftKings than at BetMGM, which is great for those who know how to max out this form of enhanced pricing. A boost at one of these sportsbooks will always outpower the other, so keep an eye on the promos page at each.

Our Verdict: Best Odds

DraftKings has a slight edge for value hunters and parlay bettors thanks to lower vig, more profit boosts, and stronger underdog odds. However, BetMGM holds its ground with sharper pricing on favorites and standout boosts for marquee matchups. The real smart play? Use both to shop for the best line each time.

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Usability & Mobile App Experience

We demand a lot from our betting apps, and rightly so. User experience is often an all-or-nothing factor for using a sportsbook. A lot of adjectives are applied to usability - seamless, flawless, responsive, intuitive, fast etc - but you’ll most often just ‘get’ an app or you simply won’t. DraftKings and BetMGM are firmly in the top tier for this criterion and score highly. There are differences in using them, however.

First up, both are fine-looking platforms. BetMGM possibly looks a little classier and is a smooth experience. DraftKings sticks to its principles in delivering a sports betting app that’s highly proficient with depth and much to please.

Navigation at the pair differs subtly, with a bottom menu button for accessing the sports menu at BetMGM and left-hand positioning at DraftKings. The top upcoming and live markets are displayed down the middle at both. Loading is perhaps slightly quicker on the DraftKings app, but getting to where you want to be often takes fewer clicks on BetMGM’s.

Both score highly for the all-important bet slip and subsequent tracking of wagers placed. There’s little to choose between BetMGM and DraftKings with super functionality. BetMGM places its bet slip at the bottom, which requires a tap to view, while DraftKings places it permanently up top left. Which you find preferable will purely be a matter of personal choice.

Whether you ultimately consider DraftKings or BetMGM to have the best app UX and interface will come down to how quickly you take to one or the other and your own enjoyment. DraftKings is an all-encompassing sports app with detailed, integrated betting, while BetMGM is an easy-to-use, simple-to-play betting platform with enough depth to keep you returning.

Our Verdict: Usability & Navigation

Registration & Banking

Sign-Up Process

The registration process at BetMGM and DraftKings is almost identical and quick at both. Signing up at each requires you to provide personal and contact details. You will need to verify a new account at both by uploading ID documents.

If you already have a DraftKings DFS account, it’s even quicker, and likewise, should you already be registered for BetMGM Casino. It’s also worth noting that BetMGM accounts are now portable across state lines too, so if you travel and bet, this could be a neat option for you.

Payments & Withdrawals

BetMGM and DraftKings both support the nation’s most popular banking methods. That includes bank transfers, credit and debit cards, and the biggest e-wallet options, plus Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Payments are always instant at BetMGM and DraftKings, and both are leading the way in speeding up withdrawals. You’ll often get your winnings paid out the same day with the pair now, despite them advertising worst-case longer timescales as standard. DraftKings tends to be slightly faster for withdrawals than BetMGM, but not by much.

Our Verdict: Registration & Banking

Customer Service & Support

Customer service standards are largely set in the US sports betting industry now and users should always expect a range of contact options to include email, telephone, and 24/7 live chat. You’ll get all those at DraftKings and BetMGM, along with decent help pages that are easy to access from their apps.

It is response times and resolutions that make or break support options. Customer views are often mixed for all sportsbooks, including BetMGM and DraftKings. That’s down to personal experience and expectations. DraftKings perhaps has the edge for overall customer service resolutions over BetMGM. However, both will direct you to a chatbot first when attempting contact, and BetMGM is actually easier and quicker to get to a human than DraftKings. That will matter to many.

Our Verdict: Customer Service

Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is important, as is a sportsbook’s approach to it. DraftKings and BetMGM prominently promote safe betting in their messaging. You’ve probably already seen advertising and campaigns from the pair focused on responsible gambling.

DraftKings and BetMGM also offer a range of tools to assist users in their quest to gamble responsibly. This includes setting deposit and wagering limits, implementing cooling-off periods, time checks, and so forth. Both provide advice on safer gaming and links to external support agencies. DraftKings has a neat stats page too so that you can track your activity and tweak your habits if you’re concerned.

Are BetMGM & DraftKings Available In My State?

At present, DraftKings is available in 28 US states, while BetMGM operates legally in 22 US states, plus Washington, DC. Both sportsbooks are live in many of the same jurisdictions, but DraftKings currently has a broader footprint.

You must be physically located in a state where the sportsbook is licensed to place a wager, and you must also meet that state's minimum legal gambling age (usually 21).

If you’re traveling outside your home state, you can continue to use BetMGM or DraftKings as long as you're in another state where your chosen sportsbook is legal. Location is verified via geolocation technology on your device.

Here’s how availability currently compares:

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Overall Rating & Which Should You Choose?

In sportsbook terms, the BetMGM versus DraftKings in the ‘best’ stakes is possibly one of the hottest matchups. That’s because while at their core, both are alike, the approach of each differs with nuance and user experience.

Overall, DraftKings is one of the ‘purest’ sportsbooks on the market with an ultra-modern vibe. It will appeal to bettors of all levels but should very much reward big sports fans and followers. BetMGM delivers a more holistic experience with the brand’s casino identity playing out in use while remaining true to delivering a top-rated sportsbook.

So, it’s over to you here. Which is best, BetMGM and DraftKings? Your verdict will undoubtedly be based on what you want from a sportsbook.

BetMGM: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A sumptuous, user-friendly interface.

• Highest value welcome offer in many states.

• Superb live betting experience.

• Great rewards and refer-a-friend programs.

Cons:

• Navigation and structure might not suit those familiar with using other sportsbooks.

• Juiced up secondary markets compared with others.

• Specialist bettors might not always find the market they want.

DraftKings: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A definitive sportsbook with rarely rivaled depth,

• Excellence in prop betting and alternate lines.

• Great odds for the most popular ‘keen’ markets.

• Powered by data from the vast DraftKings universe.

Cons:

• Not always the easiest to navigate to the most popular secondary markets that most will seek out.

• May be a tad overwhelming for newbies.

• No rewards scheme.

BetMGM vs DraftKings: Final Verdict

BetMGM and DraftKings are two of the biggest names in US sports betting, and it shows. Each platform offers an excellent all-round experience, but they also cater to slightly different preferences. Which sportsbook is best for you ultimately depends on your betting style, your state’s bonus availability, and how you prioritise usability versus market depth.

Here’s how they stack up across the key categories:

If we had to pick one overall winner, we think BetMGM comes out on top. It offers the stronger welcome bonus, more generous ongoing promos, and a smoother, more intuitive interface - all backed by a highly regarded rewards and referral program. It’s a superb choice for bettors who appreciate simplicity, consistency, and long-term value.

That said, DraftKings has serious appeal for more experienced users. With unmatched betting flexibility, superior futures markets, and consistently sharp odds for underdogs and prop bets, it’s a platform that rewards those who dig deeper and bet smarter.

As always, the best move may be to keep both in your betting toolkit. That way, you can take advantage of BetMGM’s polished platform and perks, while using DraftKings to maximise betting value on the markets that matter most to you.

Our Verdict: Best Overall