Reviewing the first legal sports betting app in NJ. DraftKings review. DraftKings is the world’s largest provider of daily fantasy sports. The site is available to residents in most US states and Canada, as well as in the UK and parts of Europe. If you are in New Jersey, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Tennessee, Colorado, Illinois or New Hampshire, you can also play on DraftKings Sportsbook and bet on sports.
Two leading Las Vegas Strip bookmakers have resigned their long-tenured positions to join DraftKings, the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operation which in process of transitioning to Nevada-style bookmaking.
John Avello, formerly lead bookie at Wynn Resorts confirmed that he has resigned his position. Avello’s initial role at DraftKings includes oversight of retail sportsbook trading and risk management, according to the company.
“Johnny is considered a legend in Las Vegas,” DraftKings’ Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder, Matt Kalish, said in a statement Monday. “He is very respected in the gaming industry and brings well over 30 years of experience, insights and ideas to DraftKings.”
According to the company, Avello will remain in Las Vegas.
GamingToday has also learned Ed Malinowski, sports and racebook executive at Golden Entertainment, now owner/operator of the Stratosphere, two Arizona Charlies’ books in addition to the Aquarius in Laughlin, has resigned his post. It’s believed Malinowski, with more than 10 years in an executive role in the Southern Nevada sportsbook industry, will join Avello at DraftKings in a leadership role.
Malinowski was unavailable to confirm his new post, but did tell GamingToday via e-mail he has resigned his Golden Entertainment position. A DraftKings’ spokesperson was unable to immediately confirm or deny the hiring of Malinowski.
Frank Kunovic, former lead bookmaker at Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas properties joined DraftKings several months ago after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the law banning single-team sports betting in all other states except Nevada.
Avello, a popular bookmaking personality in Las Vegas for decades, served the past 13 years as the executive director of the Wynn Las Vegas Sportsbook. He comes from the late Lenny Del Genio tree of bookmakers originally holding forth at the now demolished Frontier Hotel/Casino.
Prominent local bookmakers who worked with the innovative Del Genio at the Frontier included Bob Gregorka, Bob Smith and many others. Del Genio was well known for first posting yearly odds on the Academy Awards, thus gaining national prominence with that practice.
When Del Genio retired, Avello took over, gaining a national reputation for his on-point odds and his entertaining commentary, usually foreshadowing the eventual winners. His expertise will now be used as DraftKings enters the sportsbook business.
“We’re committed to building a world-class sports betting operation by putting together amazing talent with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and Johnny’s arrival brings us one step closer to that goal,” Kalish said.
Bonuses and Promotions
Odds VS. The Competition
Market Depth & Variety
Draftkings Bookie Fantasy
Deposit & Cash Out
Mobile App
Bottom Line
DraftKings is a great sportsbook for casual bettors who are just getting into sports betting. It has convenient funding options, a user-friendly app, and a robust sports betting guide that defines the different types of bets available for different games. If new bettors don’t know a moneyline from a bet on the spread, DraftKings has them covered. For Colorado Rockies fans, DraftKings is the preferred sportsbook for the MLB team. Overall, DraftKings Colorado is one of the strongest sportsbooks in Colorado.
**Some of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. All bonus and promotions have Terms & Conditions that apply. 21+ for legal online gambling sites. If you think you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700.
See Draftkings in Action
DraftKings Colorado Sportsbook Promo Code 2021
DraftKings Sportsbook offers one of the best sign-up bonuses in Colorado. You do not need a DraftKings Sportsbook promo code, to claim your bonus. Just follow any of our exclusive links (like this one) and it will be automatically applied to your account on sign-up! New players will receive a deposit bonus of 20% up to $1000. Terms and conditions apply.
DraftKings Sportsbook Colorado Promo Code | None - Use our exclusive link to unlock $1,000 free |
Deposit Bonus | 20% up to $1000 |
DraftKings Sportsbook States | CO, NJ, IN, WV, PA, NH, IA, TN |
Last Verified | February 2021 |
Draftkings Bonus & Promotional Grade
Out of Colorado’s online sportsbooks, DraftKings has the best welcome bonus. DraftKings offers a sign-up bonus of up to $1,000. However, there are certain conditions that bettors have to meet.
DraftKings currently offers a 20% deposit match bonus up to $1000. There is a 25x playthrough requirement, though. Check terms and conditions before depositing.
For bettors who will use DraftKings consistently over the next 30-45 days (when the sign-up bonuses expire), these are pretty good bonuses. It’s a better deal than:
- FanDuel’s single risk-free bet of up to $1000.
- BetMGM’s single risk-free bet of up to $500.
- BetRivers’ $250 match with its welcome code, 250MATCH
- William Hill’s risk-free bet of up to $500 with a $250 deposit.
However, Fox Bet’s welcome bonus is almost identical. It also offers $500 risk-free bet and a $500 deposit bonus. However, it matches site credits at a faster rate than DraftKings. While DraftKings players have to deposit $25 for $1 of site credits, Fox Bet bettors only have to deposit $2 for $1 site credit. That allows new players to accumulate account funds faster for larger bets in the beginning.
Sign-up and welcome bonuses come in many forms. However, many of these bonuses require bettors to put their own money down or fulfill other conditions. Despite the attached strings, welcome bonuses are great ways to ease new bettors into wagering.
Draftkings Odds VS. The Competition
The NFL season is coming up, and hopefully returns safely. DraftKings is certainly interested in the NFL’s returns. It already has odds on the NFL’s first week. Its odds are moderately good, but there are only a few lines with standout odds. Here’s one of their standout lines alongside their odds for the Broncos’ first game:
Texans | Chiefs | Titans | Broncos | |
---|---|---|---|---|
DraftKings | +370 | -500 | +108 | -130 |
FanDuel | +350 | -460 | 110 | -130 |
BetRivers | +370 | -500 | +108 | -130 |
BetMGM | +350 | -455 | +105 | -125 |
Fox Bet | +350 | -450 | +105 | -125 |
Sky Ute Sportsbook | +365 | -475 | +100 | -110 |
Bet Wildwood | +305 | -500 | -105 | -135 |
DraftKings has the best odds on the underdog, but sacrifices odds on the favorite. With the exception of Bet Wildwood, most of the NFL odds are pretty close together. These differences will mostly matter to bettors wagering high amounts of money. Out of the sixteen Week 1 games, DraftKings has the best odds on:
- Four underdogs
- One favorite
DraftKings’ NFL odds aren’t standout figures, but DraftKings has the best odds on a quarter of the underdogs. Bettors will have to check DraftKings to make sure they’re not missing a good deal on NFL odds.
ColoradoSharp.com Is Officially Licensed By Colorado Division Of Gaming Enforcement To Promote Legal Sports Betting In Colorado
Draftkings Market Depth and Variety Grade
DraftKings has a wide selection of sports and bets. Bettors can find lines on core professional sports. However, DraftKings has expanded its selection to sports like professional volleyball. Bettors can even find betting lines on darts, table tennis, and e-sports. There’s no shortage of international leagues to choose from, either. South Korean baseball leagues are still available.
But there are limits to what DraftKings can offer. The Colorado Division of Gaming has alist of approved games that sports betting operators can offer betting lines on. No one can go rogue and offer lines on a new sport without approval from theColorado Limited Gaming Control Commission.
Sports betting operators can, however, vary in the types of bets they offer. Almost all sportsbooks offer moneyline, point spread, and prop bets. But DraftKings offers single wagers and round robins. That gives bettors a few different ways to wager on their favorite sports. DraftKings has many events to bet on and many ways to bet on them. It’s one of the best sportsbooks for bettors looking for choice.
Draftkings Deposit and Cashout
Putting money into and withdrawing money out of a DraftKings account is super easy. Once a DraftKings account is set up, bettors will be able to deposit money through:
- Online Banking.
- Credit or Debit Cards.
- PayPal.
- Prepaid Card.
- Wire Transfer.
- Cash.
There are a few options for withdrawals, including:
- Mailed Check.
- PayPal.
- Automated Clearing House (it’s basically an e-check).
- Cage Pickup.
Whether bettors want to pick up money in person (unlikely mid-pandemic) or want to manage their money virtually, DraftKings has them covered.
Draftkings Sportsbook Mobile App
DraftKings’ app offers an easy sign-up, a user-friendly interface, and a straightforward way to bet.
Bettors don’t even have to login if they want to view DraftKings’ odds. There’s a link to the sportsbook below the login boxes for people who want to view the odds, but don’t want to create an account. DraftKings asks for bettors’ name, email address, and the last four digits of a bettor’s social security number. The social security number accomplishes two things:
- It ensures users are old enough to engage in sports betting per state regulations.
- The user really is who they say they are (it’s an anti-money laundering)
Once that easy setup is done, bettors can either browse the popular betting lines on the screen or look for something else in the quick links at the top of the screen or the A-Z listings on the banner at the bottom of the screen. After that, placing a bet is as easy as clicking on the odds and placing a bet. There was a box for how much I wanted to bet, and another telling me how much I could win. It’s tantalizing to see how much $20 is worth with +950 odds.
It’s easier to find what you want than FanDuel’s app, and it’s a far more user-friendly than BetMGM’s app. DraftKings is also obviously ahead of the sportsbooks that still don’t have apps ready to go.
Overall Score
DraftKings Sportsbook is a great way for casual bettors to easily wager on the new sports leagues available. Its welcome bonuses and odds make it a welcoming sportsbook. DraftKings’ sportsbook tends to have lower odds than its competitors on odds below about +400, but it’s an advantage when the odds are negative. It’s also incredibly easy to manage funds in a DraftKings account, and the mobile app makes it even easier.
Anyone looking for a trustworthy, easy-to-use sportsbook can turn to DraftKings with confidence. If I could sign up and find my way around, then anyone reading this will be able to too.
Is DraftKings’ Colorado Sportsbook Legit?
New bettors may feel uncomfortable depositing money into an app. How do they know they’re going to get paid if they win? Or whether their personal information is safe? DraftKings, its partners, and its history lend a great deal of credibility. Here are five reasons bettors can trust DraftKings.
It’s Licensed With The State Of Colorado
Colorado requires every online sports betting entity to secure a license with the State of Colorado. The process of obtaining a gaming license in Colorado includes automatic disqualifiers, including:
- A past conviction of a gaming-related felony.
- Identification as a career offender.
- Being a city manager in one of the casino cities.
The process eliminates conflicts of interest and shady characters who shouldn’t control sportsbooks.
Its Licensed Partnerships In Colorado
Not only does DraftKings have the authority to operate in Colorado, but it is also launched a retail sportsbook inside the Golden Mardi Gras casino in Black Hawk on September 25. The Golden Mardi Gras casino also had to go through the process of licensing to have DraftKings in their casino, so they’ve been vetted by and are accountable to the State of Colorado. Also in September 2020, DraftKings announced its partnership with the Rockies, which makes it the preferred sportsbook and DFS operator for the Colorado Rockies.
Required Financial Reserves
According to Rule Six of Colorado’s Division of Gaming’s sports betting regulations, all licensed sports betting operators are required by law to have enough money in the bank to pay out winnings.
The Penalties For Not Paying Out
If sportsbooks fail to pay their winners–or fail to fulfill their basic duties as legitimate sportsbooks–then sportsbooks can lose their right to operate in Colorado. Rule 10 also gives citizens the right to initiate complaints with the State of Colorado if they feel it’s warranted. Good luck finding that kind of recourse against an illegal betting site.
DraftKings’ Best Interests
Since DraftKings’ fantasy sports have been live across the country for years, it cannot afford a reputation as an unreliable sportsbook. One of the most important things that sportsbooks sell is legitimacy. Sportsbooks can’t grow effectively without government and consumer trust. If DraftKings wants to continue expanding into new states, it cannot afford to abandon ethical business practices now.
WHY CHOOSE DRAFTKINGS OVER AN ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING SITE?
Sure, DraftKings is available in Colorado. But why bet there when bettors have a bookie they’ve worked with for years or another offshore site they may have used without a problem?
There are a couple of key reasons to pick a legitimate sportsbook. One is the accountability that’s already been alluded to in the section above. If a bettor’s bookie runs out of cash, then bettors don’t have any recourse to collect their winnings. (Not without admitting that they were using an illegal bookie, anyway.)
However, there’s one more reason that bettors should go through licensed sportsbooks: taxes.
Where The Taxes From Sports Betting Go
Colorado has big plans for the taxes they’ll make off a legal sports betting industry. Prop DD, Colorado’s sports betting legalization bill, lists where sports betting taxes will go in the state:
- Sports Betting Regulation.
- Gambling Addiction Services.
- Hold Harmless Fund.
- Water Projects.
The first two services are self-explanatory, but a hold harmless fund may be new to some bettors. Taxes from sports betting operators go into a fund for businesses that may lose money to sports betting legalization. For example, a small casino without a sportsbook may lose some of its slots and table players to a sportsbook down the street. If that casino can show a decrease in revenue that’s caused by sports betting, then they can file to receive some of the money in the hold harmless fund.
The water projects are straightforward but broad. The idea is to use sports betting tax revenue to fund projects that will manage Colorado’s water supply. This is a big deal because Colorado supplies water for other states as well as itself. As climate change became a greater issue in Colorado, these water funds became more important to environmental groups. So, they managed to successfully lobby for sports betting tax revenue to fund water conservation.
Anyone who places a bet at a licensed Colorado sportsbook will support these projects and organizations. Conversely, placing a bet with your favorite bookie at IHOP will not.
WHY CAN BETTORS TRUST DRAFTKINGS WITH THEIR MONEY?
So DraftKings is legitimate and the tax revenues support important state initiatives, but how safe are bettors’ money? Leaving hundreds of dollars in some app seems unsettling.
However, DraftKings goes to great lengths to protect their patrons’ money. They have plenty of account safety features, and they separate their money and bettors’ money.
DraftKings’ Account And Web Security
DraftKings gives users a bunch of different ways to secure their account. There are additional “strong” authentication features that users can activate. DraftKings is also SSL secured, which only allows users and DraftKings’ server to see information bettors put in. It’s how DraftKings can ask for the last four digits of their users’ social security number and their money.
DraftKings’ In-House Handling Of Money
The money that players put into their account is separate from the money DraftKings pays its employees with. DraftKings’ sportsbook terms stipulate that customer funds must be placed in a segregated account. Keeping customer and business money separate prevents unexpected business expenses from robbing bettors of their rightful winnings. It’s one more way that customer funds are protected from business pressures. (Can you say the same about your IHOP bookie?)
DRAFTKINGS COLORADO FACT SHEET
Age to participate | 21 |
Where DraftKings is legal* | OR, NV, MT, CO, IA, IL, IN, AR, MS, TN, WV, PA, DE, NJ, NY, RI, NH |
DraftKings' Colorado partner | Golden Mardi Gras Casino, Black Hawk |
*Legal only means the state has legalized some form of sports betting, not that DraftKings is live in every listed state. It is not.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. Seedraftkings.com/sportsbookfor details.
FAQ
Yes. Bettors can sign up on the DraftKings Sportsbook app or website. Bettors need to provide their home address and last four digits of their social security number. Although, the geofence determines bettors’ locations, DraftKings still needs personal information for identify verification.
Yes. Per Colorado law, DraftKings must geofence its website and app to make sure that only Colorado bettors are placing bets.
However, they can create DraftKings accounts from anywhere. Bettors just have to place bets within Colorado’s borders.
Bettors will see their wins in their transaction history. Then they can request a withdrawal by check, online wire transfer, or online banking. There’s an in-person cash option, but it’ll have to wait until after the coronavirus pandemic.
Yes. DraftKings has an entire section dedicated to live in-game sports betting. It’s a great way to watch the odds change mid-game, cash in on an emerging underdog, or to monitor existing bets.
Draftkings Bookie Ufc
Bettors must be at least 21 to bet at Colorado’s sportsbooks. Presumably, this is one way that Colorado legislators tried to protect college students. One of the chief opponents of sports betting is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They’ve protested sports betting’s expansion, and they probably had to be pacified when Colorado drafted regulations upon Prop DD’s passing. Whatever the reasons, young peoples’ well-being was top of mind in Colorado.
Draftkings Vs Mybookie
No, currently only the sports betting app is available because online casino games are not currently legal in the state.
It uses a geofence to create a barrier around Colorado. Bettors’ devices give DraftKings location information, so they know whether a bet is in Colorado. DraftKings also knows whether a device is coming from out of state, so it won’t accept bets from parts of the country where sports betting is illegal.