FanDuel is the biggest name in the online sports betting game — that much is hard to argue. However, BetMGM is sneaking up the ladder and is gaining popularity nationwide. Pretty much every sports bettor has tried FanDuel, but there may be some who have yet to give BetMGM a try. Might BetMGM actually be a better option than FanDuel? Well, let’s review the two sportsbooks and see which is going to be the better option.
What Is the Difference Between BetMGM and FanDuel?
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So much of choosing the sportsbook that’s right for you comes down to preference — from your betting style to personal risk tolerance to the user experience of the app. What may be absolutely essential to one bettor could be completely irrelevant to another. So instead of definitively stating whether BetMGM is better or worse than FanDuel, we’ll look at the differences between them so you can determine for yourself.
BetMGM-FanDuel: Market
FanDuel is the No. 1 sportsbook in the United States and thus has adapted its betting markets to be more U.S.-specific than BetMGM has. For the record, BetMGM is No. 3, trailing FanDuel and DraftKings. That said, BetMGM does have the wider selection of sports, with more international offerings such as a large number of overseas basketball leagues. FanDuel, on the other hand, keeps its focus on North American sports a bit more, though it does have some international markets like soccer as well.
Both sites offer live, in-game betting as well as live streaming, and the types of bets they offer are essentially the same. FanDuel has more deals with professional sports teams and leagues than BetMGM, but that is not super-relevant to the bettor experience. What matters more are the odds that both sites offer, and on a macro level there is not much difference between the two — both have competitive, fair odds by all accounts.
All told, BetMGM covers more markets, whereas FanDuel has a stronger hold on online sports betting in U.S. markets. BetMGM Casino, however, is the No. 1 online casino in the country.
BetMGM vs. FanDuel: App & Site Functionality
The apps for each of these sportsbooks are both pretty well regarded and user friendly. You can check out full, in-depth reviews of the FanDuel app and BetMGM app; suffice it to say, FanDuel gets the slight edge here. BetMGM has improved its functionality by adding new navigation features in the last year or so, but FanDuel has had one of the best-reviewed apps on the market since sports betting gained traction in the U.S.
FanDuel keeps things simpler, focusing on user experience, while BetMGM is a bit more complex and thus is more prone to glitches and crashing. If you want more features at your fingertips, than perhaps BetMGM is the better app for you — though you may have to deal with some clunkiness. If you’re a more casual bettor who just wants something polished, then FanDuel is probably the right option.
It is also worth noting that reviews of payout times from customers generally indicate that FanDuel processes withdrawals faster than BetMGM. This is not blanket statement and your experience may vary, but that is the consensus for now based on customer reports online.
BetMGM vs. FanDuel: Promos and Rewards
BetMGM and FanDuel both have ongoing promotions:
- BetMGM: Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if Your First Bet Does Not Win
- FanDuel: Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Wins + 3 Months of NBA League Pass
FanDuel’s offer gets you a good quantity of bonus bets for a $5 initial bet — and for now you get three months of NBA League Pass along with it. BetMGM’s promo, on the other hand, is paying you back in bonus bets if you lose your first bet. In terms of dollar amount, BetMGM has the more generous promo, but FanDuel gives you the bonus bets without having to risk an equal amount of personal funds — though you do have to win your first bet.
BetMGM has a massive advantage with its rewards program, 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. FanDuel, meanwhile, does not have a sportsbook reward program, though the DFS side does have FanDuel Points.
BetMGM vs. FanDuel: Legal States
The last thing to consider is whether you even have the option to bet on BetMGM and/or FanDuel where you live. Both sportsbooks are available online in most states with legal sports betting, but here is a full list of states that host either BetMGM, FanDuel or both:
| State | BetMGM? | FanDuel? |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | No |
| 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 |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
Again, much of this is subjective. In terms of odds and availability, there is not a huge difference between the two. Market-wise, BetMGM has more options, but FanDuel is bigger in the U.S. The real difference comes down to the app and rewards — and FanDuel has the better app and BetMGM the better rewards program. In the end, the better question is, “Is BetMGM a worthy competitor to FanDuel?” The answer there is a resounding yes.
