With little to choose between the heavy hitters in the US sportsbook sphere, how do you determine whether BetMGM or FanDuel is best for you? Read on as we put the MGM-Entain brand into the ring to slug it out against its Flutter-owned FanDuel rival.
FanDuel and BetMGM have a strong presence across the US. Both operate in most states where sports betting is legal, and are amongst the best betting sites in New York, which is the largest market in the country.
Both sportsbooks rate highly in all categories of our assessment criteria, but small, key differences will influence whether you go with BetMGM or FanDuel as your favorite betting app.
Overall, BetMGM plays with a wider entertainment vibe that will appeal to casual bettors and those who enjoy casino-like playability. By contrast, FanDuel packs in an extensive sporting experience, building on its legacy as one of the mainstays in the US sporting domain.
There’s much more to the pair though, meaning whether you conclude FanDuel is best or BetMGM pips it at the post, comes down to which is better at meeting your needs as a sports bettor.
Both BetMGM and FanDuel offer a range of sports betting promos that are worth taking advantage of, including generous offers for new customers as well as ongoing promos and rewards for existing players.
Sportsbook | Welcome Offer | Promo Code |
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets | ||
Get Up To $1,500 In Bonus Bets |
The BetMGM sportsbook promo for new customers stands big as a headline offer. It's a welcome offer of the matched deposit with bet insurance added in variety. BetMGM will pay you up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first wager loses.
That’s a big sum to be rewarded with and one of the biggest overall sign-up deals in the sports betting industry. However, to make the most of BetMGM’s welcome offer, you need to be savvy in how you play it.
The rewards can be used on any event across the BetMGM sportsbook and the minimum wager to qualify is just $10. You get a straight single $50 if your first losing wager is equal to or less than that value or five bonus bets of 20% for stakes above $50.
Each bonus bet can be used as a single, a parlay or a same game parlay. Most importantly, remember you get nothing as a reward if your initial bet wins. There is no minimum odds requirement to qualify for the BetMGM welcome offer.
Ultimately, with this BetMGM new user promo, you almost have little to lose by betting at sizable odds so long as you’re prepared to forfeit a real money sum in return for equal-value bonus funds.
New FanDuel users can get $150 in bonus bets when they deposit and play with an opening $5 or more. In contrast to BetMGM’s welcome offer, bet bonuses are only awarded if your first wager wins. There is no minimum odds requirement for the first wager and no bonus bets will be gained if it loses.
A qualifying wager can be used on any market on the FanDuel sportsbook. Credit awarded can be split into any multiples you like so you can use it for several subsequent wagers.
Unlike, BetMGM’s welcome offer, you can increase your chances of getting the bonus bet tokens by wagering on what you might consider to be a ‘sure thing’. The low requirement to deposit and play with $5 makes it accessible to almost everyone.
If you choose the first market on which to bet wisely, the FanDuel sportsbook promo for new customers provides an opportunity to get a generous bonus for very little outlay. It also means there’s nothing to gain by making a bet that stands little chance of winning aside from a relatively low payout on the wager itself.
Beyond enticing welcoming offers, FanDuel and BetMGM, like all other sportsbook operators, know they have to go some more to keep their new signups coming back.
Recurring betting promos at both BetMGM and FanDuel include bonus bets, profit and odds boosts. Both also run parlay promos and standalone deals for the biggest events and mainstay features in the sporting calendar.
FanDuel and BetMGM have slightly distinct approaches to delivering ongoing betting promos. Overall, FanDuel is probably the most rewarding for pure sports enthusiasts who value bonus bets and wager-specific offers.
BetMGM has a slant towards more ‘fun’ promos such as prize competitions than FanDuel. They could make someone very rich most weeks but BetMGM also has enough betting-specific extras to keep users engaged.
Specifically, FanDuel edges BetMGM for same game parlay profit boosts with a 30% extra shot offered on top of any winnings as a typical example. FanDuel also has Sunday Night and Monday Football boosts running through the NFL season.
BetMGM, on the other hand, tends to offer more straight ‘to win’ boosts that appear frequently. Many BetMGM offers of late have been to offer prizes in the form of bonus bets. One example from recent times was BetMGM’s Grand Slam Jackpot where wagering $10 on a player to hit a home run who went on to score a grand slam meant winning a share of $50,000.
Fundamentally, sportsbook loyalty and rewards programs are appealing because everyone loves a freebie, a perk or a discount right? It’s also usually true that loyalty and rewards schemes can only be maxed out by players who place a lot of bets.
In the case of FanDuel and BetMGM, the former only rewards the biggest spenders while the latter has something for all levels of staking.
BetMGM’s rewards system is one of the best for those keen on returns that go beyond just sports betting. It’s also one of the best known, partly because it links to the wider MGM Rewards program with some high-profile returns possibly involving properties in the company’s portfolio. BetMGM awards points for every wager and the rewards system is structured into tiers.
On the other hand, the FanDuel strategy for its rewards program has still to progress to the neat system applied to its DFS players. Fantasy sports players at FanDuel get points for every dollar entry into competitions. Those points can be redeemed for free entries into contests and other perks in the FanDuel Players Club. There’s not such a scheme at the FanDuel sportsbook, where only high rollers enjoy decent rewards in its VIP Club. That’s by invitation only, so not available to most players.
A final word in this section to the refer-a-friend promos available at both BetMGM and FanDuel. BetMGM comes out on top here too. At BetMGM, once a referred friend has a first wager of $100 settled both you and the new player receive $100. At FanDuel, only the referrer gets $50 once their friend bets $50.
In order to bet at either BetMGM or FanDuel, you need to be located in a state in which your chosen sportsbook is licensed. Both are available in most of the states where online sports betting is currently legal; each is live in a similar number of states at around 22. However, there are a few differences.
State | BetMGM Available? | FanDuel Available? |
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 |
Massachusetts | Yes | Yes |
Maryland | Yes | Yes |
Michigan | Yes | Yes |
Mississippi | Yes | No |
Nevada | Yes | No (Physical Locations Only) |
New Jersey | Yes | Yes |
New York | Yes | Yes |
North Carolina | Yes | Yes |
Ohio | Yes | Yes |
Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes |
Tennessee | Yes | Yes |
Vermont | No | Yes |
Virginia | Yes | Yes |
Washington D.C. | Yes | Yes |
West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
Wyoming | Yes | Yes |
Whether FanDuel or BetMGM are better for the range of betting options and markets very much comes down to the individual and what sports and bet types they prefer. Both cover the top US sports, leagues and competitions brilliantly, including of course NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. They both also have good coverage for leagues elsewhere in the world, and also have impressive betting option depth.
It’s a little unnecessary to list the sports available at BetMGM and FanDuel and then compare them. That’s because the pair cover almost everything any sports fan could ever wish to find.
It is true though that FanDuel tends to stick to those that the overwhelming majority of bettors in the US will wager on. BetMGM has a slightly broader reach in being better for top leagues in Europe, South America and beyond.
You’ll also notice that both BetMGM and FanDuel list the most popular sports prominently and then for some lesser ones display them in the menu only when major competitions in the genre are upcoming or underway.
So we are scratching around for sports to find that aren’t included at either FanDuel or BetMGM. For FanDuel it’s badminton that isn’t covered and for BetMGM it’s water polo. Without meaning any disrespect to fans of either sport, that won’t trouble most bettors.
BetMGM also has a slight edge for women’s sport with more on offer. That said, the biggest women’s leagues like the WNBA will display prominently on the FanDuel main page under its ‘popular’ listing for top billing. Navigating to them on BetMGM requires a couple of clicks more.
Depth of sports coverage is important for some bettors. That’s particularly true for sports fans who are mostly keen on a certain type who want to be able to view markets and wager on competitions that aren’t necessarily the biggest.
FanDuel leads against BetMGM for most Americans' biggest sporting passions - football, baseball and basketball. FanDuel has slightly better coverage for college leagues in those sports too, including the NCAAB. For lesser sports, in terms of market depth, BetMGM is often better though.
Another tough one to call is whether FanDuel or BetMGM has the superior range of bet types available. Firstly, FanDuel is better than BetMGM in terms of layout and ability to easily navigate to see what wager options are available. That’s because BetMGM tends to rely on its prime mid-section listing of what’s upcoming whereas FanDuel is presented in a wider way with side and top menus better taking you to view ‘depth’ in a more meaningful way.
Aside from that, all the main bet types - moneylines, along with points spreads and totals wagers are all dealt with equally well by BetMGM and FanDuel. Delving further into prop betting and it’s very much swings and roundabouts between both sportsbooks. FanDuel does depth of football prop markets a little better than BetMGM, while BetMGM does in-game props better than FanDuel.
Of equal importance, given how popular such bets are now, is how well both betting apps deliver parlay options. FanDuel has long been considered the king of parlays because of their pioneering approach to them, particularly the same game variety. However, BetMGM is up there now as one of the top sportsbooks aiming to claim best in class for parlays.
What we will say too, is that FanDuel’s pre-packaged parlays are superior to BetMGM’s. FanDuel also leads the way with its Parlay+ feature, allowing users to combine two same game parlays from different events into a single wager. On FanDuel, there is a dedicated ‘Parlay Hub’ to quickly access specials. There’s plenty to choose from and FanDuel also has ‘top’ parlays to choose from for every big game.
That said, BetMGM does live same game parlays a little better than FanDuel, specifically with more in-play prop options to choose from. Both sportsbooks make parlay building super easy via their bet slip functionality and they’re so similar in this regard that there’s nothing to choose between them.
In terms of which sportsbook has the best odds - FanDuel or BetMGM - the former is consistently the superior performer, but only just. Both BetMGM and FanDuel have standard juice levels and the casual bettor won’t notice much when using one over the other. If you bet frequently or with high stakes though, FanDuel is probably the better option for pricing.
Where BetMGM pulls this back a bit is their marginally more generous approach to odds and profits boosts. Boosts are at the heart of BetMGM’s core offering, more so than FanDuel, whereas due to the sheer volume of users making bets at FanDuel, the book can ‘afford’ for its oddsmakers to be a tad more rewarding.
FanDuel and BetMGM deserve their places in the top few sportsbooks in the US for usability and app experience alone. Those two factors are also critical for customer retention as betting industry research consistently demonstrates.
There is hardly anything to choose between FanDuel and BetMGM in this regard. Which you prefer will come down to personal preference and a liking for the layout and navigation mechanisms at one or the other.
If we were made to choose the outstanding features of the overall experience of using FanDuel versus BetMGM, we’d say FanDuel is marginally quicker to load. It’s also easier to switch between pages than BetMGM.
On the other hand, BetMGM’s app leads from the top in that the biggest events are displayed right bang in the center of the screen while FanDuel’s navigation relies a little more on clicking on menus.
For the all-important bet slip, bet placing and bet tracking factors, there is also little to sway towards BetMGM or FanDuel. Both are among the best for ease of access but also for not intruding on the markets pages you’ll be viewing while loading up your wagers - a factor that can be infuriating at some other sportsbooks.
There’s essentially no difference between the signup processes at BetMGM and FanDuel. Both are super easy and it’s almost impossible to encounter a problem provided you have some basic personal and identification details to hand. Both have just a few registration steps.
Another area where there is a negligible difference between FanDuel and BetMGM is the range of payment methods available. Both have an extensive menu of options including debit/credit cards, e-wallet options and bank transfers. The only thing that FanDuel offers that BetMGM doesn't is the use of Play+ Prepaid cards and their own branded FD gift card.
Withdrawal options are equally extensive at FanDuel and BetMGM, and both are near-identical for the all-important speed with which funds hit your account. Both have industry-standard withdrawal times of one to three business days for most methods.
BetMGM and FanDuel are also very similar in terms of the customer support options available. Both offer help pages, FAQs, 24/7 live chat, email and phone support. The pair are also active on social media and can be reached that way for standard-type enquiries.
FanDuel is perhaps a smidge more effective in dealing with customer issues promptly than BetMGM in our experience, though wider user reviews do sometimes highlight good and bad experiences in problem resolution for both.
The burgeoning spread of online gambling in the US in recent years continues to be a hot topic and one of concern to professionals and legislators alike. BetMGM and FanDuel have been increasingly vociferous in their advertising campaigns in promoting responsible gambling.
Both FanDuel and BetMGM display links to their responsible gambling pages prominently on their platforms. These pages go into detail on the support available to anyone concerned about their betting patterns and the tools available.
FanDuel’s content may be superior to BetMGM’s but the pair have near-identical measures that can be implemented to safeguard users from being excessive in both time and money spent on their apps and websites.
There’s little to choose between FanDuel and BetMGM. Which you prefer will come down to what you want. Compared to BetMGM, FanDuel is still the bigger player and has been around longer with a strong legacy built on sport. By contrast, BetMGM is a sportsbook with nods to the company’s core business areas of entertainment and gaming.
Certainly, neither FanDuel nor BetMGM perform better than the other across all categories for evaluating sportsbooks. It’s largely a contest that only you can decide the winner of by testing both to see which you prefer.
All in all, again this is a largely even battle though perhaps FanDuel is a sportsbook for the mega-sports fan who enjoys betting frequently, while BetMGM is the product for casual enthusiasts who follow sports and enjoy a wager on big occasions.
BetMGM Pros:
A great all-rounder offering an experience that owes much to casino-style playability and access.
Comprehensive market depth that goes beyond the biggest sports in the US.
A sportsbook that is continually improving year on year and whose ownership and partnerships have delivered industry-leading and exceptional tech.
BetMGM Cons:
Still to complete its journey into being an expansive live betting experience that rivals the very best, notably FanDuel.
Largely sets market-standard odds with fewer opportunities to find value beyond its admittedly excellent boosts and ongoing promos.
FanDuel Pros:
One of the very biggest betting operators in the US making for a great reputation and one of the strongest offerings in the business.
Competitive odds with some regular standouts that surpass many rivals.
An integrated sports experience with enormous depth built on DFS gameplay, data insights and sharp markets.
FanDuel Cons:
May be too big and expansive for the very occasional bettor.
Not the best for those who like to switch between sports betting and casino play.
It’s impossible to deliver a conclusive verdict on whether FanDuel is better than BetMGM as it will always come down to a personal opinion and preference.
FanDuel and BetMGM deliver exceptional bonus opportunities and which one is best for promos depends on how you view value for the sports you wager on and the bet types you prefer.
BetMGM and FanDuel are consistently competitive in the odds they set. FanDuel might have a slight edge in offering better odds across the board than BetMGM.
Of course you can. We’d recommend it. As two of the biggest sportsbooks in the US, running both FanDuel and BetMGM alongside each other is a good choice and makes sense for odds comparisons and making the most of the promos on offer at each.
There’s no question on this one currently. BetMGM’s loyalty program is better than FanDuel’s. BetMGM has one of the best rewards schemes in the industry while FanDuel has yet to develop a comprehensive one.
