While DraftKings holds a top spot in the online sports betting industry, BetMGM is steadily climbing the ranks and building a strong brand across the United States. Everyone knows DraftKings — literally everyone — but there might be some who haven’t explored the offerings of BetMGM. Is it possible that BetMGM could be a better sportsbook than DraftKings? Let’s go over both books to determine which might work better for you.
What Is the Difference Between BetMGM and DraftKings?
Finding the sportsbook that suits you best largely depends on your style — markets you like to play, risk tolerance and the overall user experience of the mobile app. What one bettor considers a must might be entirely insignificant to another. Rather than giving a verdict on whether BetMGM surpasses DraftKings or vice versa, let’s examine what does and does not separate them, allowing you to make your own informed decision.
BetMGM-DraftKings: Market
As the second-most popular sportsbook in the United States, DraftKings has tailored its betting markets to be more U.S.-centric compared to BetMGM, which is currently third in terms of market share. Despite this, BetMGM definitely has a broader range of sports options, including a bunch of international offerings like overseas basketball leagues. While DraftKings provides a good number of markets itself, it is limited compared to BetMGM.
Both platforms feature live, in-game betting, along with live streaming. DraftKings has more partnerships with professional sports teams and leagues than BetMGM, although this probably does not impact the bettor experience. The important aspect is the odds offered by both sites, and on a broader scale, they are pretty similar — both have competitive and fair odds.
In summary, BetMGM covers more markets, while DraftKings is a bigger player in online sports betting within U.S. markets. That said, BetMGM Casino is the No. 1 online casino in the country.
App & Site Functionality
Both sportsbook apps are highly regarded and user-friendly. We have detailed reviews of the DraftKings app and BetMGM app here at OddsShopper, and in terms of basic user experience, DraftKings has a slight advantage. Despite BetMGM enhancing its functionality with new navigation features in the past year, DraftKings has consistently maintained one of the best-reviewed apps since the rise of sports betting in the U.S.
DraftKings prioritizes simplicity, while BetMGM is a bit more sophisticated and is more susceptible to glitches and crashes. If having a lot of features at your disposal is important to you, BetMGM might be perfect for you, even if it comes with some clunkiness. For a more casual bettor looking for a simple, polished app, DraftKings is likely the better option.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that customer reviews regarding payout times generally label DraftKings as the quicker withdrawal than BetMGM. Individual experiences may vary, but this is the consensus based on customer reports online.
BetMGM vs. DraftKings: Promos and Rewards
BetMGM and DraftKings both have ongoing promotions:
- BetMGM: Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if Your First Bet Does Not Win
- DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $200 PLUS 1 Month of NFL+ Premium
This honestly depends on preference. DraftKings’ promo has no strings attached — just bet X and get Y — while BetMGM covers your first bet for a larger amount. BetMGM does, however, have arguably the best rewards program in the game — called BetMGM Rewards, where you earn points that you can redeem for credits at the sportsbook or online casino, or convert them into rewards to spend at MGM locations. DraftKings is no slouch with its reward program either: The Dynasty Reward Program, where you earn Crowns and can convert them to rewards like merch and other bonuses.
These books are pretty similar in this regard, but BetMGM is basically the standard in terms of rewards.
BetMGM vs. DraftKings: Legal States
The final factor is the availability of BetMGM and/or DraftKings for betting in your location. While both sportsbooks are accessible online in most states with legalized sports betting, here is a list of states that host either BetMGM, DraftKings or both:
| State | BetMGM? | DraftKings? |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes |
| Connecticut | No | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes |
| Maine | No | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | No |
| New Hampshire | No | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes |
| New York | Yes | Yes |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes |
| Oregon | No | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes |
| Vermont | No | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
Again, much of this is subjective. BetMGM has the larger selection of betting markets and the better rewards program, but DraftKings is more user friendly and is available in more states. In terms of sportsbook quality, the best way to describe the two is: BetMGM is better for seasoned bettors who want a lot of versatility out of their sportsbook, while DraftKings is the more flexible option in terms of catering to novice or intermediate bettors. Whichever one you are, there are certainly elements to both that may catch your fancy, so be sure to try them out!
