If you’re looking for Fantasy Football betting apps that are suitable for both pro and beginner bettors, we recommend you visit DraftKings. This operator is available in 44 states and offers weekly, daily, and season-long FF contests, as well as betting on fantasy college football. But DraftKings is not the only one. Here’s everything you should know about FF betting—top sites and more.
Best Fantasy Football Betting Sites - Our Recommendation
List of the Best Fantasy Football Betting & Apps Sites in the US
Best Overall: DraftKings
Highest Salary Cap: FanDuel
Fantasy Football Betting Sites Reviewed
Here’s what, in our opinion, makes these Fantasy Football sportsbooks stand out from the competition.
DraftKings - Best Overall
DraftKings Overview
Year founded | 2012 |
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Banking options | PayPal, credit and debit cards, Venmo, Wire transfer via MVB Bank, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express gift cards, DraftKings Gift Card |
Languages | English |
License | MI Gambling Control Board, NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, West Virginia Lottery Board |
Sports Available | football, baseball, golf, hockey, UFC, NASCAR, college basketball, tennis, F1 |
Bonuses | Deposit bonus of up to $500 |
Mobile app | iOS, Android |
Restricted states | WA, Oregon, NV, ID, MT, HI |
Allowed states | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
DraftKings offers numerous weekly contests suitable for both professional and beginner bettors. You'll be able to join in Free To Play pools, head-to-head, in-game showdowns, private and public tournaments, Best Ball season-long contests, Flash Drafts, etc.
You'll also find different game styles, such as NFL Classic, NFL Tiers, NFL Showdown Captain Mode, and NFL Dark Horse Value Pick. Likewise, you’ll be able to bet on fantasy college football and have the opportunity to block up to 10 challengers in all head-to-head tournaments that come with entry fees below $1,000. Additionally, DraftKings is widely as fantasy basketball betting sitewithin the basketball community.
Regarding the welcome bonus, you can claim up to $500 in bonus bets for a minimum deposit of $5.
What We Like & Dislike About DraftKings
- You can bet on fantasy college football
- Flash Draft contests are available in almost all US states
- Best Ball season-long contests
- You can draft a new team every week
- Players from LA are not eligible for the welcome bonus
- Players from Ohio cannot participate in Best Ball tournaments
FanDuel - Highest Salary Cap
FanDuel Overview
Year founded | 2009 |
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Banking options | Debit cards, online banking, Venmo, Apple Pay, PayPal, FanDuel Prepaid Play+, Cash at Counter |
Languages | English |
License | NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board |
Sports Available | NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Golf, WNBA, EPL |
Bonuses | 20% of your first deposit up to $500 |
Mobile app | iOS, Android |
Restricted states | CT, ID, HI, MT, NV, and WA |
Allowed states | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
FanDuel allows you to pick a new team every week with which you can participate in multiple contests, such as Beat the Score, Multipliers, Head to Heads, 3-100 Player, and 50/50 contests. You'll also find beginner-friendly tournaments with low $1 to $2 entry fees and Beginner Only Contests.
In addition, you can create a Friends Mode League where you can compete against your friends for weekly and season cash awards. Your salary cap will stand at $60,000, and you can claim up to $500 with your first deposit. In fact, FanDuel sportsbook, one of the leading betting sites that accept Visa, is widely recognized for its sports bettingoptions.
What We Like & Dislike About FanDuel
- Offers Multipliers, Beat the Score, and 3-100 player contests
- You can create your own tournaments
- Beginner-friendly FF contests
- $60K salary cap
- To claim $500 you must deposit $2,500
- Strict entry limits on almost all FF tournaments
How We Rate & Review Top Fantasy Football Betting Sites
In our search for the best fantasy football betting sites, we paid attention to the factors described below.
Availability and Licence
We made sure to list only sites that are available for US bettors. What's more, we included sportsbooks that have a legit gambling license.
Promotions and Bonuses
Another important thing in fantasy betting is welcome offers, which most often come in the form of bet funds that cannot be cashed out. Good fantasy sportsbooks offer fair wagering requirements, low minimum deposits, and long time limits for bonus withdrawals.
A Variety of FF Competitions
We gave preference to sites that offer a large number of FF tournaments suitable for both pro and beginner bettors. Additionally, we checked for Free To Play tournaments.
Payment Options & Customer Support
The platforms we wrote about offer a variety of payment options that have fast payouts. Our team also made sure to only list sportsbooks with responsive and helpful customer support.
Latest Fantasy Football Betting Sites Compared - June 2023
What Is Fantasy Football Betting?
Fantasy Football betting involves drafting real NFL players and creating a virtual team that you can bet on. These fantasy players will get points every time real-life players achieve some kind of success, like scoring touchdowns.
You’ll find this type of betting as an option at many sportsbooks. Bet on a daily and weekly basis by entering 50/50 and head-to-head competitions and fantasy football tournaments. Some of the best Fantasy Football bookmakers will also allow you to participate in Snake drafts, Dynasty tournaments, and Best Ball competitions.
What Kind of Bets Can You Place on Fantasy Football?
You can win money by placing these two bets:
Head-to-Head Bets – In these single-opponent matches, you bet that your fantasy team will score more points than your opponent's team.
Player props – Placing bets on individual performances of the player. For example, how many touchdowns, runs, or interceptions the player will make during the game.
Are Fantasy Football Betting Sites Licensed & Regulated in the US?
All platforms that offer sports betting, including fantasy football are regulated by an authority body of the state they operate in. That said, know that since fantasy football is considered to be a skill-based game rather than a game of chance, in legal terms, betting on fantasy football won't be considered gambling.
Are Fantasy Football Betting Sites Legit?
Fantasy Football betting sites are legal in 45 US states, with the exception of Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.
Top Fantasy Football Leagues and Events to Bet On
To bet on fantasy football, you’ll first have to choose a competition. Some of the most common tournaments and events you’ll find on fantasy betting sites are:
Drafts
Best Ball competitions
Dynasty tournaments
Free To Play competitions
50/50s
Guaranteed Prize Pool tournaments
Drafts
You choose the players who will be in your fantasy team. This selection will be based on real players who play in the National Football League. The draft ends after you fill the roster.
There is also something called an Auction draft. Here, instead of drafting your players, you bid on them. The standard team budget usually stands at $200, while bids start at $1. Each team is entitled to 16 players, with 9 starters playing each week, while the rest sit on the bench. Starters include 1 quarterback, 2 receivers, 2 running backs, 1 kicker, 1 tight end, 1 team defense, and 1 flex.
You'll also find something called Snake drafts. These drafts allow each team to have an equal chance of building a competitive fantasy team. Simply put, all teams will take turns when selecting players, while the order of selection will be reversed in each round.
Best Ball Competitions
These competitions allow you to play with the same team for the entire season or the entire tournament. Best Ball contests are played in several rounds. After the end of each round, the team with the most points goes to the next round. The winner is the team with the most points at the end of the season or tournament. The payouts will be based on your team's total points accumulated.
Dynasty Competitions
In this contest, you keep all your players throughout the season until you trade or drop them. In fact, you can have 20–30 players. Most Dynasty competitions incorporate head-to-head rounds. That is, you play against a different team every week. The winner will be the team that gets the most points during that week.
Free To Play Competitions
The best fantasy football betting sites also offer something called Free To Play, or F2P competitions. By joining these free tournaments, you get to play against other players from your pool. The value of the prize will be calculated according to the number of players and the number of winners.
50/50 Tournaments
These types of tournaments are very lucrative as they involve 10 to 100 players. The goal is to finish high on the pool table, thereby winning twice the amount of the entry fee.
Guaranteed Prize Pool Tournaments
Daily fantasy tournaments where you are guaranteed to get the prize money for winning. There are two types of GPP tournaments: a single-entry and a multi-entry competition.
Top Fantasy Football Teams to Place Bets On
To create the best team, you need to pay attention to the following factors:
Find running backs that can handle a full workload – Make sure to pick a running back that can handle a full workload, like Jonathan Taylor, Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, or Christian McCaffrey.
Pick a quarterback with a high-end passing ability – When selecting quarterbacks, check their average rush attempt per game and how many rushing touchdowns they scored. The highest-ranking fantasy QBs right now are Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson.
Find quick wide receivers – The highest-rated receivers right now are Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, and Cooper Kupp.
Pair up the kickers with the quarterbacks – A good strategy is to choose a kicker and a quarterback who play on the same team. For example, if your QB is Jalen Hurts from the Philadelphia Eagles, you should pair him with the Eagles' kicker, Jake Elliott. Keep in mind that you can pick a maximum of 4 players from the same team.
Find versatile tight-end players with blocking and offensive skills – The highest-rated tight-end players are Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, and T.J. Hockenson.
Your team's defense players must have a large number of tackles, interceptions, and defended passes – The teams with the best defense in fantasy football are the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and Denver Broncos.
Make sure your flex player is a running back, receiver, or tight end player – Since flex players must be able to cover multiple positions, you should pick receivers, running back, or tight end players. Currently, the best flex players are Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, and Austin Ekeler.
Fantasy Football Betting Bonuses & Promo Codes
As with real sports betting, fantasy football bettors can claim numerous welcome bonuses and dedicated promotions. The most common bonuses include bonus bets. On that note, below are the rules you must follow to claim the bonuses and cash out.
Wagering Requirements
You must make a minimum first deposit imposed by the platform. You must also be physically located in an eligible state. Moreover, the bonus funds cannot exceed a specified amount imposed by the site you bet on.
Time Limits
All bonus bets come with a specific time limit. If you fail to claim the bonus within the specified time frame, it will expire.
Bonus Funds Restrictions
Once you acquire your bonus funds, you won't be able to cash them out. Instead, you'll have to use them to make future bets on the best Fantasy Football bookmakers you play on.
Why Bet on Fantasy Football?
Benefits of Fantasy Football Betting | Drawbacks of Fantasy Football Betting |
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You get to build a fantasy team from scratch. | FF is not ideal for beginners since it requires football knowledge and experience. |
You can participate in multiple tournaments, such as head to heads, 50/50s, and multipliers. | It has shorter seasons that can last for only 14 weeks. |
FF is a game of skill not luck, which means that every match will present a unique challenge. | Some competitions are unavailable in particular states. |
You can create a team using players from all NFL leagues. | |
You can earn rewards each week by accumulating points and moving up the ladder. | |
You can participate in Free To Play contests or create your own tournaments. |
How To Sign Up To A Fantasy Football Betting Site?
Creating an account on fantasy football betting sites is easy. To show you the simplicity of it, we’ve created a step-by-step guide using DraftKings’ process.
Step 1: Tap the Sign up Button
Step 2: Verify Your Account by Entering Your Personal Information
How to Deposit at Fantasy Football Betting Sites?
You can make a deposit on FF platforms in a few easy steps.
Step 1: Log Into Your Account and Click on the Deposit Icon
Step 2: Select the Amount You Wish to Deposit and Your Preferred Payment Method
How to Withdraw Winnings Using Fantasy Football from a Betting Site?
The withdrawal process is also straightforward. Follow the steps provided below.
Step 1: Log Into Your Account and Enter the Withdrawal Section
Step 2: Enter the Amount You Wish to Take Out and Choose Your Payment Option
Fantasy Football Deposit & Payout Times
While your deposits will be processed immediately, withdrawal time will depend on the method you use. With that in mind, here's how things stand at two of the most popular fantasy football sportsbooks:
Payment Methods | DraftKings Withdrawal Time | FanDuel Withdrawal Time |
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Bank wire | Up to 2 days | 3-5 business days |
Checks | 3-5 business days | 7-10 business days |
Venmo | Up to 2 days | Up to 48 hours |
Debit cards | 1 day | Up to 48 hours for first withdrawals and up to 24 hours for all subsequent withdrawals |
PayPal | Up to 2 days | Up to 48 hours |
How To Choose The Best Fantasy Football Betting Site in 2023
If you want to find the best fantasy football bookmakers, keep an eye on the factors described below.
Restricted States
Since betting on fantasy sports is illegal in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Hawaii, you won’t find sites that allow players from these states to bet on fantasy football. On the other hand, this type of betting is legal in all other US states.
Moreover, some FF tournaments are unavailable in certain states, so make sure to check if your state is on the prohibited list before creating an account. You can try to use a VPN to place your bets; however, we advise you to avoid this since many sites use VPN detection tools.
Safety, Reliability, and Reputation
Choose a site that is regulated by the authority body of the state it operates in, such as the MI Gambling Control Board, the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, and the PA Gaming Control Board. Furthermore, opt for sites that offer responsive customer support and safety measures, such as SSL encryption and responsible gambling tools.
Payout & Withdrawal Speed & Terms
Bet on sites that offer numerous payment options and fast payout time. On that note, the processing time usually takes between 24 hours and 10 days, depending on your method. For example, PayPal and Venmo withdrawals take 2 days, while checks take between 3 and 10 days. Again, you won't be able to cash out your bonus funds; instead, you'll have to use them for future bets.
Deposit Options
Most FF platforms offer their players the opportunity to make a deposit using Visa and Mastercard, PayPal, Venmo, and wire transfers. Keep in mind that online banking and VIP Preferred deposits are often unavailable as options for fantasy betting. That said, you should also find sites that offer immediate deposits, zero transactional fees, and low minimum and large maximum limits.
Fantasy Football Betting Selection
Fantasy football bookies must offer a large number of tournaments, from traditional season-long leagues to exciting variations, such as Beat the Score, Head to Heads, Dynasty, and 50/50 contests. The sites must also be beginner friendly by offering novice-only and low-entry fee tournaments.
Another thing that sets a great DFF platform apart from an average one is the salary cap which must be over $50k since you'll be using this money to create your ideal team.
Fantasy Football Betting Bonuses and Promotions
Welcome or sign-up offers most often come in the form of bet funds that cannot be cashed out. Therefore, you should find platforms that provide lucrative sign-up bonuses that come with fair wagering requirements. In other words, look for low minimum deposit limits, high withdrawal limits, and long-time limits for bonus cashouts.
Cost & Fees
Fantasy football sportsbooks will allow you to participate in Free To Play and money tournaments. When it comes to the former, you'll have to pay an entry fee that will depend on the type of contest.
For example, the minimum entry fee for DraftKings tournaments stands at $0.01. You’ll also encounter inactivity fees if your account is idle between 6 and 12 months. On that note, inactivity fees usually stand at $2 per month.
User Experience & Mobile Compatibility
To find out which site will best suit your betting style, be sure to read reviews from other players. This will help you find out what makes a platform stand out, and what are its biggest drawbacks. Likewise, to find the most accurate information, use a trustworthy review platform.
The bookie you choose as your go-to place for DFF betting should also offer a dedicated mobile app compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Cashier Policy And T&Cs
The last thing you need to pay attention to is the Terms and Conditions. Although most T&Cs are very long, don't skip this section, as you'll find all information about bonuses, limitations, and cashier policy there. To put it simply, you’ll find out what are the restrictions for withdrawing money, what is the refund policy, and what are the conditions for participation in a contest.
Other Popular Fantasy Sports Betting Sites
Besides betting on football, two other more popular fantasy sports include basketball and hockey. But you can also try your luck with other fantasy sports, such as:
Baseball
Golf
MMA
F1
NASCAR
Fantasy Basketball
Basketball is the second most popular fantasy sport that you can bet on during the NBA season. Your fantasy team will include players who play in the following positions:
Center
Point guard
Shooting guard
Power forward
Small forward
NBA fantasy tournaments come with high prizes that can go up to $1 million. You'll also be able to draft a new team every day.
Fantasy Hockey
DFS NHL drafts include players that play the following positions:
Goalie
Defense
Center
Winger
While lineup requirements will differ from site to site, you’ll most often have the option to pick up to two goalies and between two and four skaters.
Fantasy Football Betting Sites to Avoid
Not all fantasy football betting sitesare safe and legit. In other words, you should never bet on sites that are not transparent about their gambling license and platforms that have a questionable reputation. This is important because there are sports betting platforms that operate under the mask of fantasy sports. On that note, there are two DFF sites you should avoid:
SunBets
How To Gamble Responsibly in the US
Whether you bet on real or fantasy football, it’s important that you understand the idea behind responsible gambling. This concept will teach you how to control your betting habits and your budget. On that note, good DFF platforms offer a variety of gambling tools.
Deposit and Time Limits
These tools will help you manage your budget by allowing you to set deposit and time limits yourself, which can be adjusted on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. If you exceed this limit, your account may be temporarily suspended.
Self-Exclusion
This tool allows you to request a ban from accessing your account for a period of 1 to 5 years, depending on the site and state's rules. After this limit expires, you'll be able to bet again.
Additional Gambling Resources
You can also find information about gambling addiction, as well as phone numbers where you can contact companies that deal with people who have a gambling problem.
Responsible Gambling Organisations and Charities in the US
Responsible gambling is a crucial aspect of the gaming industry, and several organizations and charities are working tirelessly to promote safe and responsible gambling practices. In this table, we have compiled some of the top responsible gambling organizations and charities in the US that are committed to helping individuals and families affected by problem gambling.
Organization | Contacts |
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National Council on Problem Gambling | Official Website |
New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) | Official Website |
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | Official Website |
NYS Gaming Commission | Official Website |
American Gaming Association | Official Website |