Fanduel Sportsbook is both the largest mobile sportsbook in the US in terms of handle and a sports betting industry leader in terms of innovation. They are the first US sportsbook to bring live streaming of sports to the mobile app, deliver a first class live betting experience and provide up to the minute competitive odds. Without question, Fanduel will become a go to mobile sports betting platform for bettors nationwide.
Fanduel is a subsidiary of enormous Irish Bookmaker Paddy Power Betfair who currently own 61% of the Fanduel company. They operate in the US as the Fanduel Group. This purchase, affected back in July 2018, gave Fanduel access to mobile betting functionality already field tested and significant first mover advantage. This in part is the reason that their mobile sports betting platforms are market leading in the US.
The Take Away: Fanduel Sportsbook is an essential addition to any sports bettors repertoire. They deliver a high class betting experience that caters for beginners through to serious professional bettors. Fanduel Sportsbook will continue to be at the forefront of industry innovation and that is a journey all sports bettors should want to be part of!
Overall Rating: 78%
Ratings Methodology
In rating Fanduel Sportsbook, a weighting of 20% was given to each of the User Interface, Available Markets and Competitive Odds features. This weighting reflected those features that were deemed most important to an overall betting experience. A weighting of 10% was given to each of Live Betting and Promotions features and finally a 5% weighting was given to Payment Methods, Loyalty Rewards, Partner Deals and One Percenters.
The overall rating was then given by taking those individual weightings into account. It is important to note that a 100% rating would indicate the best possible online sportsbook model. There are some examples from international markets that give a pointer to what this ideal model may look like. At this point that model does not exist in the US as the online sports betting market is still maturing.
User Interface
The Fanduel Sportsbook mobile app and web browser user interfaces are both smooth, reasonably quick and the colour scheme is easy on the eye which allows for longer viewing time on the app. A continual desire to improve the user experience will see Fanduel continue to deliver a high quality product for their bettors.
In a recent article by Reuters Niall Connell the general manager of the Fanduel Group Sportsbook said “We’re trying to build the most engaging and entertaining sports betting experience in the U.S.”
They are certainly having a good go at this.
The top section of the platform is quite visual in its promotion of upcoming events and special offers. There is also quick navigation menus through to live events, upcoming and featured sports. The full slate of sport offering is located to the left.
In the New Jersey version of the platform the casino games are quite heavily pushed which for pure sports bettors may be an annoyance however it is not overbearing.
The user interface is not a best in market model when compared to global standards at this point but rest assured it is only a matter of time before it bridges that gap.
Available Markets
The Fanduel Sportsbook offers the full slate of sports available in the New Jersey market and it is assumed this would remain the case in all states as a nationwide roll out moves into full swing. The advantage of being majority owned by a global gambling giant Paddy Power Betfair is that market data is shared across a network of company owned books and updated in real time.
For example London based BetFair (their fixed price book) and fixed odds Australian giant Sportsbet, all under the same umbrella, use sports specific experts to frame markets on local sports which are then shared around the network. As part of this network Fanduel is not only able to offer a huge range of markets but also in a timely manner.
Fanduel caters for all major US sports and include development and minor leagues for the true sports specialist. Futures markets are well catered for with major sports futures posted early. For example some NBA futures markets are posted immediately after the end of the previous season with further markets like season over and under wins added after the draft and free agency period.
International sports are reasonably well covered with Soccer offerings being particularly thorough. If you can place a bet on leagues from countries you can’t pinpoint on a world map then you know your sportsbook has you covered.
Fanduel also offer Cricket, Rugby, Darts and Austrailian Rules Football on the board. Worthwhile for serious bettors aiming for high turnover or for those looking to place an overnight account boosting parlay.
Competitive Odds
Like most retail sportsbook the Fanduel Sportsbook odds are probably not the most competitive in the game but on the flip side they are not the worst. On all major US sports you will be able to find -110 opening lines. Perhaps not the -105 you may occasionally see around the place but still competitive.
The issue with the concept of best odds is that no bookmaker can sustain the best odds on all markets at all times. With Fanduel you know you are going to be able to find the market you desire and you probably a price that is comparable to most of the industry. The benefit is you are betting on your mobile on the run.That is hard to beat.
If you truly want the best odds all the time then you need to be operating accounts with multiple sportsbooks. In that case then you would be crazy not to have an account at Fanduel.
Live Betting
The Fanduel Sportsbook Live Betting platform is equivalent to the best in the US sports betting industry and arguably the stand alone best. It covers a vast array of sports and often many markets within each sport. Traditional live betting markets like Tennis, Soccer, American Football, Basketball and Baseball are well catered for. In fact Fanduel is a market first mover as far as live streaming of sports along with live odds.
In late April 2019 Fanduel signed a deal with Switzerland’s Sportradar to stream live content alongside their live odds. While this deal only pertains to European soccer and tennis, it is a view to the future of live betting. There is something pretty reassuring about knowing your sportsbook is the innovator in the sector.
To access the live streaming bettors simply navigate through to the live betting platform and alongside the odds for any sport in question an icon will appear inviting the bettor to watch live. One small caveat with betting live using a streaming platform is that the stream will be in the vicinity of 30 seconds delayed to real time. You will see the odds change well before the action occurs, almost a giveaway that a big moment is about to occur.
While some would argue this plays right into the sportsbooks hands it is simply a limitation of the technology. I would still rather be betting with a sportsbook that offers streaming than one that doesn’t. Fanduel has you covered in this department.
On sports where the watch feature is not available, Fanduel offers excellent graphics animating the play to give the bettor an impression of the flow of the match being bet on. Accompanying this is an array of statistical data that a bettor can use to interpret in their own manner. For instance when live betting on the MLB a graphic showing the pitch count, the location of the pitches, runner on base and basically any other information you would care to know at that point. It really is an excellent service.
Cash Out is also an offering from Fanduel that all bettors should be aware of. While it doesn’t always add great value there are times where it is very useful and the fact it is offered by Fanduel on their mobile app allows bettors to cash out with immediacy. A worthwhile feature for sure that is tied very closely to the live betting platform.
Fanduel Sportsbook’s Live Betting platform is reason enough to become a Fanduel client.
Promotions
Unfortunately Fanduel is not a market leader when it comes to ongoing daily and weekly promotions. Having said that they certainly do not leave bettors empty handed when it comes to a free hit or two. Perhaps the fact Fanduel is a market leader they don’t feel it necessary to be seducing customers all the time with seemingly gimmicky promotions.
Fanduel’s sign up bonuses are very generous. They offer these for both the sportsbook and the online casino, which is actually operated by older brother Bet Fair. Grab these sign up bonuses from school of bets by hitting any of the fanduel banners you see on the sight. They are a great way to begin you betting relationship in a profitable manner.
Fanduel offers very handy daily odds boosts which are not specific to any sport but are related to the big events of the day. If you find yourself betting on mainstream markets regularly then its always useful to check out these odds boost as they may just line up with your betting train of thought any way. It never hurts to grab some extra juice!
The ongoing Parlay insurance promotion is always a good one as well. It is a multi sport promotion so a bettor can parlay up legs from a variety of sports and still receive cash back on the parlay if loses by just one leg.
Fanduel has some work to do if it is to match other sportsbook on the strength of their promotions. This is not reason enough to look elsewhere to bet. Fanduel has you covered and will continue to do so well into the future.
Deposit/Withdrawal Features
Fanduel has an excellent variety of payment options. Being able to mobilize money in your betting account quickly is a must. Likewise being able to liquidate it after you have picked up a good win is also important.
Fanduel offers:
- Bank Transfer
- Visa and Mastercard Transactions
- Pay Near Me
- PayPal
- ACH – e-check
- Cash Deposit at Casino
Credit and Debit card deposits are virtually instant. The issue here is that some financial institutions are not supportive of using their credit/debit cards to deposit to gambling sites and others will charge a cash advance fee and charge a higher rate of interest on these transactions.
The bank transfer method is widely accepted by most banks but can take a couple of business days (in some cases up to 5) to appear in your account. In this case you need to be preplanned and process the deposit well before you wish to begin betting.
The ACH e-check method is instant for as long as the required ID is supplied and verified.
Paypal is a wonderful addition that not all sportsbook offer. As long as it is linked to your bank account then deposits are virtually immediate.
PayNearMe allows Fanduel to send a barcode to your phone that can be scanned at 7-Eleven, CVS, and Family Dollar and paid with cash only. Funds are usually available for wagering within 15 minutes. Limits are $500 in a rolling 24 hour period $10,000 in a 30 day rolling period.
A cash deposit can be made at a participating casino, for instant in the New Jersey case, at the Meadowlands racetrack. Ass the Fanduel roll out continues across the country cash deposit locations will appear more readily.
Fanduel does offer a branded card much like other sportsbooks have. The idea behind these cards is that by being powered by visa or mastercard, a prepaid amount of money can be loaded onto them from the bettor’s regular credit card. The sportsbook branded card can then be used like any prepaid card, for retail transactions, cash withdrawals and most importantly to make an immediate deposit to the sports betting account.
Loyalty Rewards Program
As yet Fanduel does not offer a loyalty rewards program on their sportsbook. They have a fantastic program involved with their fantasy sports so it is sensible to assume that one day soon something similar will move across to the sportsbook. Here’s hoping!
Some other books will use points systems to reward bettors for wagering activity. The rewards come in the form of bonus bets, merchandise or deals with partnered companies. Hopefully this is commonplace in the future.
Partner Deals
Fanduel is quite active in the partner deal space. Being a subsidiary of Paddy Power Betfar they have access to the TVG network which focuses on thoroughbred and harness racing. A huge plus for bettors interested in that space.
Fanduel is the official wagering partner of the NHL which gives them access to NHL data, branding and of course content. Perhaps one day soon this will involve streaming of NHL games through the app.
FuboTV and Fanduel have entered into an agreement that allows Fanduel betting data to be shown alongside sports streaming. While this is a limited roll out at the moment it is set to expand. If you are a subscriber to FuboTV and a sports bettor you are sure to enjoy this one.
One Percenters
One percenters are those things that on there own offer only small benefit but as a collective can make a real difference. Fanduel offers some great one percenter value.
Live streaming of tennis and European soccer is a huge win for bettors. As previously explained in the article this may well expand to bigger deals down the track. The ability to see live sport simply by being logged into your sportsbook account is a huge plus.
The quick link between the Fanduel sportsbook and the Betfair Casino through the use of the same account is a major plus. If you are inclined to enjoy some casino games then you will find this functionality very useful.
Three Areas For Improvement
An Odds settings changer would be a useful addition to their user interface. The ability to switch between American, Decimal and Fractional odds is always useful for bettors and is on offer at many other sportsbooks.
More promotions would be appreciated by the bettors. While not totally necessary promotions do lift the fun factor for bettors. After all, for the vast majority, sports betting is about fun and entertainment.
Finally Fanduel has the chance to be a market leader with a loyalty rewards program. They have the capability to deliver this better than most in the market. There is plenty of competition out there for a bettor’s business and some loyalty rewards in the form of bonus bets or discounts wouldn’t go astray.
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The Game Starts Now!
Fanduel’s rating of 78% is full of upside. The experience any bettor can expect from Fanduel is good and over time this may turn into far better than good, possibly great. We recommend all bettors have an active account at Fanduels and find ‘more ways to win’!
