BetMGM vs DraftKings - Which Sportsbook is Better?

BetMGM launched in 2018 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Entain, blending MGM's casino legacy with Entain's advanced betting technology. It debuted in New Jersey and quickly expanded nationwide, becoming one of the top sports betting sites alongside FanDuel and DraftKings. BetMGM also dominates the U.S. online casino market, backed by a $450 million investment in 2022 to compete with industry leaders like Caesars Sportsbook.

DraftKings started as a Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) platform in 2012 before launching its sportsbook in 2018 after the Supreme Court overturned PASPA. It was the first mobile sportsbook in New Jersey, initially using Kambi's technology before transitioning to its own platform after merging with SBTech in 2020. Today, DraftKings continues to expand nationwide, offering DFS, sports betting, and one of the best online casinos.

Read on for a full breakdown of how DraftKings and BetMGM compare in user experience, odds, betting markets, and more.

BetMGM and DraftKings offer competitive welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions to attract new users and retain existing bettors. The difference between DraftKings and BetMGM when it comes to bonuses and promos focuses on the welcome offer.

BetMGM Sportsbook normally provides a first-bet offer while DraftKings Sportsbook usually centers its sign-up bonuses around a bet-and-get. Regardless of whether you choose DraftKings or BetMGM Sportsbook, both operators also feature odds boosts, parlay insurance and loyalty programs, rewarding frequent bettors with exclusive perks and incentives.

Welcome Offers

When new users sign up with the BetMGM bonus code ROTOSPORTS they gain access to a first-bet offer for up to $1,500. Once you register with the bonus code and place a first bet, you can get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses. On the other hand, the DraftKings promo code has its bet-and-get offer. Once you sign up and place a first bet of at least $5, you get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Bonus bets are rewarded regardless of the outcome of your first bet.

Ongoing Promotions

Both BetMGM and DraftKings offer generous ongoing promotions for existing users, but they appeal to different betting preferences. BetMGM focuses on consistent perks like parlay boosts, daily odds boosts, and exclusive bonuses for major events such as March Madness betting promos. Additionally, BetMGM users can earn MGM Rewards points with every wager, redeemable for bonus bets, hotel stays and other perks at MGM properties.

DraftKings Sportsbook, on the other hand, stands out with daily free-to-play pools, allowing users to make predictions on sporting events and compete for bet credits. These contests reward hundreds of players, offering extra chances to win. DraftKings also features an early payout promotion on select NFL games and a slew of MLB betting promos for the long baseball betting season. DraftKings Sportsbook also has a referral bonus, providing users with multiple opportunities to boost their bankroll. To top it all off, the Dynasty Rewards program rewards bettors for almost every bet they make. These crowns can be cashed in for bonus bets and other perks.

When comparing DraftKings vs BetMGM Sportsbook, both sports betting sites offer sleek, user-friendly platforms designed for a smooth betting experience. Each operator provides intuitive navigation throughout the platform, but the overall design and features may appeal to different types of bettors. 

Website Design and Navigation

Both DraftKings and BetMGM prioritize ease of use, with well-organized menus and quick access to key betting markets. DraftKings features a darker, modern interface, while BetMGM's design closely resembles its luxury casino branding. While both platforms are highly functional, DraftKings offers a slightly more streamlined experience with quicker load times.

Mobile App Performance

Both BetMGM and DraftKings have mobile apps available for iOS and Android, ensuring bettors can place wagers on the go. DraftKings is known for its smooth performance and quick response times, while the BetMGM Sportsbook app occasionally experiences minor lag. User reviews for both highlight their live betting and streaming features, but DraftKings Sportsbook holds a slight edge in overall ratings for stability and usability.

Which Mobile Betting App is Better?

DraftKings Sportsbook has the edge here. When we tested both, we found the DraftKings Sportsbook to be a little quicker, slicker and more user-friendly. However, you will find more features on the BetMGM, and it is a better option if you like to take your time while browsing a wealth of wagering options.

Advanced bettors may prefer the BetMGM Sportsbook app, whereas casual players who want to place mobile bets as quickly and efficiently as possible may want to opt for DraftKings. From a purely aesthetic perspective, the DraftKings app has a dark, modern design, whereas BetMGM's is light, clear and elegant, so that may sway your decision.

When reviewing BetMGM vs DraftKings, it's important to know where each sportsbook is legally available to meet your sports betting needs. Below is an analysis of the U.S. states where BetMGM and DraftKings are live and regulated to accept wagers.

📌 State regulations may change, so always check with your sportsbook for the latest availability.

Both DraftKings and BetMGM offer a wide range of betting markets, making them top choices for sports bettors. Whether you're looking for NFL betting sites, NBA betting sites, or niche sports, each sportsbook provides diverse wagering opportunities.

Sports Coverage

DraftKings and BetMGM both cover all major leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and major soccer competitions. DraftKings Sportsbook edges out BetMGM in a variety of niche sports, offering more options for bettors interested in darts, Aussie rules football and table tennis. However, BetMGM provides a strong focus on golf, MMA, and international basketball, catering to fans of those markets.

Bet Types

Both BetMGM and DraftKings offer an extensive selection of bet types, including moneyline, spreads, totals, parlays and player props. DraftKings Sportsbook stands out with innovative features like same-game parlays across more sports, while BetMGM's Edit My Bet feature gives users the flexibility to adjust wagers after placing them. BetMGM also offers frequent profit boosts on parlays, appealing to bettors who enjoy multi-leg wagers.

Odds and payouts are critical factors when choosing between BetMGM and DraftKings, as small differences in pricing and speed can impact long-term profitability and your sports betting bankroll.

Competitive Odds Analysis

Both BetMGM and DraftKings offer competitive odds, but DraftKings Sportsbook often provides slightly better moneyline odds on underdogs, while BetMGM is known for more favorable pricing on favorites and futures markets. BetMGM frequently rolls out odds boosts across key sports, while DraftKings provides profit boosts and daily specials that cover a wider variety of events.

Payout Speeds and Reliability

When it comes to payouts, both BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook support various withdrawal methods like PayPal, online banking, and Play+ cards. BetMGM withdrawals typically process within 24-48 hours, while DraftKings Sportsbook is slightly faster for PayPal and Play+ transactions. User experiences suggest that DraftKings is more consistent with quick payouts, while BetMGM may have additional verification steps for larger withdrawals.

Both DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM offer flexible deposit and withdrawal options, making it easy for bettors to manage their funds. As trusted PayPal betting sites and credit card betting sites, they ensure secure transactions, though processing times and limits may vary.

📌 Banking limits and options may vary based on state regulations and sportsbook policies.

Reliable customer support is essential when choosing a sportsbook, and both DraftKings and BetMGM Sportsbook provide multiple ways for users to get assistance. Their support systems help resolve account issues, betting inquiries, and banking concerns efficiently.

Support Channels

BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook both offer live chat, email, and phone support, ensuring users can reach out in different ways. Live chat is the quickest option, available 24/7 on both platforms. DraftKings has a slight edge in response times, with users reporting faster resolutions through chat, while BetMGM's phone support is a helpful alternative for those who prefer speaking with an agent.

Help Resources

BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook provide comprehensive help centers, featuring FAQs, account management guides, and betting rules. DraftKings offers more interactive tutorials for new users, making it easier to understand bet types and promotions. BetMGM, however, integrates MGM Rewards support, allowing users to get assistance with both sportsbook and casino-related queries in one place.

BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook both promote responsible gaming by offering tools like deposit limits, wager limits, self-exclusion, and timeout periods. Users can set restrictions on their betting activity, and both DraftKings and BetMGM Sportsbook provide access to responsible gambling resources, including links to support organizations like the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

Security Measures

BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook implement strong encryption protocols to protect user data, ensuring that personal and financial information remains secure. DraftKings and BetMGM also use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added account security. Privacy policies are transparent, outlining how user data is handled and giving customers control over their personal information.

Here are more factors to take into consideration when deciding whether to sign up for BetMGM or DraftKings. From ongoing bonuses and promos and betting options to user experience and customer support, each sportsbook has its strengths and weaknesses, making it important to choose the one that best fits your betting style.

✅ BetMGM vs DraftKings NFL – Both of these NFL betting sites offer standard wagering, totals, same-game parlays, futures, and live betting, but BetMGM provides more prop bets and allows you to select a favorite team for personalized NFL betting promos and bonuses. DraftKings Sportsbook typically has better moneyline odds for NFL games.

✅ BetMGM vs DraftKings NBA – BetMGM Sportsbook offers more prop bets, in-depth game stats, and live NBA streaming, while DraftKings Sportsbook provides better moneyline and prop-betting odds. Line differences can vary, so having accounts at both can help you get the best line on each bet. When comparing DraftKings vs BetMGM basketball betting, both DraftKings and BetMGM Sportsbook provide all of the top betting markets along with a slew of NBA betting promos.

✅ Bet Types – BetMGM Sportsbook wins in this category, as both sites offer alternative sides and totals, props and same-game parlays, but BetMGM generally provides a broader selection of prop bets.

✅ Live In-Play Betting – BetMGM covers more live sporting events and offers a more comprehensive live streaming service. Both are strong for live betting, but BetMGM edges out DraftKings in this area.

✅ Partnerships – BetMGM sponsors major teams like the New York Knicks, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia 76ers, while DraftKings is an official partner of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR and UFC. With wider league partnerships, DraftKings wins this round.

✅ Loyalty Programs – Both offer tiered rewards programs (MGM Rewards and Dynasty Rewards) where users earn points for betting. BetMGM's program is superior, as points can be redeemed at retail casinos and Hyatt hotels, making it a more versatile loyalty system.

✅ Odds Boosts – DraftKings Sportsbook provides more frequent odds boosts across major sports, often featuring six to seven daily promotions. BetMGM offers Lion's Boosts, but they are less frequent, making DraftKings the better choice for boosted odds.

✅ Where is it easier to sign up, DraftKings or BetMGM? – Both offer a fast and simple registration process, but DraftKings Sportsbook is quicker if you already have a DFS account, while BetMGM allows sign-ups using PayPal or Yahoo Sports details, making it slightly more convenient for some users.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings shot to fame as a leading provider of Daily Fantasy Sports contests. It quickly added another string to its bow by launching a Kambi-powered online sportsbook in New Jersey after the federal sports wagering ban was overturned.

DraftKings has since expanded across the country, and it is now one of the most widely available in the United States. It also has an online casino and an NFT marketplace, while it continues to run popular DFS contests. DraftKings Sportsbook is no longer powered by Kambi, as it merged with a rival provider called SBTech in 2020, so it now runs on high-quality in-house technology.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM MGM Resorts International, the owner of famous casino resorts such as Bellagio, Borgata and MGM Grand, teamed up with UK company Entain to launch BetMGM as a 50/50 joint venture in 2018. Entain owns brands such as Ladbrokes, Coral and PartyPoker, and it brings proprietary technology to the partnership. MGM Resorts brings brand power and market access, and it has proved to be a formidable combination. It launched as PlayMGM in 2018, but it quickly rebranded as BetMGM.

DraftKings tried to throw a wrench in the works by mounting a $22.4 billion bid for Entain, but it fell apart due to Entain's relationship with MGM Resorts. Entain and MGM pledged to invest a combined $450 million in strengthening the BetMGM brand in 2022, taking their total investment to $1 billion. BetMGM has the No. 1 online casino in the country, along with a racebook in some states.

All of these information leads to the question: Which sportsbook is better, BetMGM or DraftKings? BetMGM comes out on top in more of the key categories than DraftKings, so it may well be the better one overall. It provides more choice and flexibility for bettors than DraftKings Sportsbook because it has more betting markets, more features and more deposit options.

BetMGM also offers far more ongoing promotions. BetMGM and DraftKings are the top two online casinos in the country too, but BetMGM is slightly better, as it offers stronger game quality and game variety.

However, this is certainly not a straightforward win for BetMGM. If you prefer to place bets quickly and efficiently on a fast, reliable, powerful wagering platform, DraftKings is a better choice. It generally offers more lavish sign-up bonuses than BetMGM, and its odds are often better. You can also take part in DFS contests, which BetMGM does not offer.

It is also interesting to note that DraftKings and BetMGM rarely agree on a consensus line, so you often get the best odds or terms on one team at DraftKings and the best terms on the opposing team at BetMGM, so it might be worth signing up with both.