Daily fantasy sports (DFS) is a popular form of online gaming where players draft a lineup of real-life athletes and compete against other players for cash prizes. While paid contests are the backbone of the DFS world, free rolls are a great way for newbies to test the waters and see if they have what it takes to compete in the big leagues.
DFS free rolls are free-to-enter contests and offer real money prizes. Even though they have lower payouts than paid contests, they are an excellent opportunity to learn the ropes of DFS and see if this is a form of online gaming you want to pursue.
The following guide outlines how DFS free rolls work and which sites/apps offer them.
Best DFS Sites Offering Free Rolls
Several DFS sites run free rolls regularly across different sports. The contests can vary greatly in pricing structure and competition depending on the provider.
Here’s an overview of the popular DFS platforms and their free roll offerings.
Sleeper
Sleeper is one of the most versatile DFS apps for contest variety. You’ll find season-long drafts, daily snake drafts, classic Pick’em games, and even a peer-to-peer mode called PicksVS where you go head-to-head with other players.
They also run numerous promotions for regulars, including If/Then, Protected Pick, and the Give/Get referral program. On top of that, there’s the Shop, a rewards system where you spend “Cookies,” an in-app currency you can either buy or earn by referring friends. Cookies unlock avatars, mascots, and other extras that add a little personality to your account.
Freerolls aren’t technically part of Sleeper’s model, but the app offers the biggest no-deposit bonus you’ll see in DFS, which basically amounts to the same thing—playing no-cost entries without putting your own money on the line. New users get $20 free just for signing up, plus a 100% match on their first deposit up to $100.
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Underdog
Underdog is my top-rated DFS app. It offers strong Pick’em payouts and a wide range of draft contests, including Best Ball and Battle Royale formats that run daily and season-long.
Underdog regularly offers the biggest welcome bonus in the space. Currently, new users receive a $50 in bonus entries after placing their first $5 and a gimme pick simply by signing up and making the qualifying deposit.
Underdog regularly features gimme entries as part of its ongoing promotions and loyalty system. These usually show up on the main page and rotate weekly.
You might also unlock a free $1 entry into Champions, a peer-based Pick’em contest where you build an entry and go head-to-head against other users instead of the house.
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PrizePicks
PrizePicks is my go-to DFS app for Pick’em games. It offers multiple ways to play, including Power Play for max payouts, Flex Play with insurance, and Arena mode where you face off against other users.
No other app beats PrizePicks on top-end payout. You can win up to 2,000x your entry, which is the highest ceiling in the DFS Pick’em market.
PrizePicks regularly drops promos for active users. One of the most popular is the “free square” promo, where a star player’s projection is set absurdly low—like 0.5 points or yards—making it almost a guaranteed hit.
There’s also Streaks, a free-to-play prediction game. Make one pick a day, stack your streak, and if you hit 32 in a row, you could walk away with $1 million.
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Betr Picks
Betr Picks is a DFS app that specializes in Pick’em games. It often includes a no-deposit bonus as part of the sign-up offer, which basically amounts to free daily fantasy sports play right out of the gate.
The ceiling is the big selling point. With Mystery Multipliers in the mix, a perfect 7-pick entry can pay up to 10,000x, which is way beyond the usual payout caps you see on most Pick’em apps.
What I like day to day is the variety of stat categories. You’re not stuck with the basic points menu, and since everything’s on half-points, there are no pushes. Each leg is either a hit or a miss
I’m a big fan of the Group Play peer-to-peer contest. Instead of sweating your entry in a vacuum, you’re grouped with other users who played the same pick size, and it turns into a little race as the stats come in. Since every $1 segment is scored on its own, it plays more like a leaderboard battle than a single all-or-nothing result.
>> Get Betr Pick’s $10 No Deposit Bonus + 50% Deposit Match up to $200 With Promo Code ASSIST Here
Dabble
Dabble is an Australian DFS operator that has been gaining traction in the US since late 2023. It offers Pick’em games where players decide whether 2 to 12 athletes will exceed or fall short of specific stat projections, taking on the house in each prediction.
Freebies are the name of the game at Dabble. When you sign up using the promo code ODDS, you'll receive a $10 no-deposit bonus. Beyond that, there's more to enjoy, with promos such as rocket boosts and the spin-the-wheel deal.
Dabble also rolls out freerolls. Leading up to the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend, they partnered with Basketball Forever to launch Hot Hands, a freeroll game. By making accurate predictions, players had the chance to win one of 200 custom All-Star jerseys.
Dabble offers competitive payouts for 2, 3, 4, and 6-pick entries. If you're searching for a Pick'em app or free daily fantasy sports promos, Dabble is definitely worth including in your rotation.
>> Get Dabble’s $10 No Deposit Bonus With Promo Code ODDS Here
ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay is one of the most user-friendly DFS platforms available, making it a great option for beginners. Unlike FanDuel and DraftKings, ParlayPlay focuses exclusively on games against the house.
There are two core games offered at ParlayPlay—More/Less and Hit It. The former is a player stats prediction contest in which players need to predict athlete stats across multiple sports. Meanwhile, the latter involves estimating a player's likely range based on a specific stat.
ParlayPlay offers a $5 free sign-up bonus for new players and is one of the few DFS platforms with a no-deposit bonus. The site also occasionally runs freerolls, typically for NFL games. With over 2,000 entrants on average, the playing field is pretty comprehensive, and the prizes are in the $500 range.
>> Get ParlayPlay’s $5 Free + 100% Deposit Match Sign-Up Bonus With Promo Code ODDS100 Here
FanDuel
FanDuel is one of the biggest names in the world of gambling, not just the daily fantasy sports industry.
FanDuel DFS’ forte is salary cap contests, where players draft a lineup of athletes and collect points based on their rosters’ real-life performance. The top-ranked players win prizes, which can be pretty big in case of guarantees. They also offer Pick'em games through the FanDuel Picks product.
FanDuel runs several free rolls weekly, mainly focusing on the NFL and NBA. The competition can be pretty stiff, with up to 10,000 entrants sometimes.
FanDuel's free rolls include pop quizzes and player stats game challenges. Pop quizzes are luck-based, while game challenges ask players to predict how a certain athlete will perform against a specific statistical category.
As far as player incentives go, FanDuel is hard to beat. New players are eligible for a free entry just for registering. In addition, FanDuel offers various incentives through its rewards program.
>> Get a Free Entry at FanDuel for Signing Up + a 100% Deposit Match Up to $100
DraftKings
DraftKings is a brand that needs no introduction among DFS players. For over a decade, it has been at the top of the market alongside its biggest rival, FanDuel.
The provider offers a comprehensive range of contests to suit every budget and skill level, including GPP tournaments, double-ups, best ball, head-to-head, 50/50, and multiplier contests, to name a few.
DraftKings gives a big welcome bonus upon signup and a range of benefits for existing players. They have one of the best rewards programs in the industry. One of DraftKings' most notable features is its mobile app. It has an easy-to-use interface and a responsive design.
There are typically 200 to 1,000 participants in the pool, and winnings are distributed as entry tickets or DraftKings virtual currency rather than in cash.
What Are DFS Free Rolls?
DFS sites and apps offer a variety of contests, but they all fall into two categories—paid and free.
A paid contest requires players to make an entry fee, ranging from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars. On the other hand, as their name implies, free rolls are free daily fantasy sports contests that don't require any upfront payment.
DFS providers typically feature free rolls to entice new players to test their platforms. It’s a popular promotional incentive, similar to a no deposit bonus. For operators, free rolls are a low-cost way to show off their platforms and attract users who might also join paid contests later.
For players, free rolls are a low-risk way to learn the ropes and test strategies. They're a great starting point for those who are new to DFS and want to practice before committing to paid contests. Additionally, free rolls give players a chance to win real money prizes, albeit with smaller payouts.
Benefits of DFS Free Rolls
DFS free rolls are a good way to get started in the world of daily fantasy sports effortlessly. They offer several benefits, including:
- Minimize risks: Free rolls allow you to try out DFS without risking any of your own money. Although free rolls don't have the same level of prize pools as paid DFS contests, players can still win valuable prizes. This makes them a great way to build your bankroll or simply have some fun playing DFS.
- Test the waters: You can see if you enjoy playing DFS and get a feel for the format and gameplay. You can pull the plug on the whole thing if it turns out that's not something you're interested in without ever spending a dime.
- Learn to play: Free rolls give you the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of DFS, such as how to create a lineup and manage your salary cap. This can be a valuable learning experience for players who are new to DFS or are looking to brush up on their skills.
Drawbacks of DFS Free Rolls
While DFS free rolls offer many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider. These include:
- Low payouts: A major disadvantage of free rolls is that the payouts are typically on the lower side compared to those in paid DFS contests. They range from $50 to $2,000, on average.
- Small winning percentage: The number of players who win in free rolls is usually lower than in paid contests. With many people participating in each free roll, the chances of coming out on top can be slim. This makes it challenging to build a bankroll through free rolls alone.
Common Pitfalls in DFS Free Rolls
- Playing it like a paid contest. A lot of people build “safe” lineups like they’re protecting a bankroll. In a freeroll, that usually just lands you in the middle of the standings with nothing to show for it. If you want to take down first, you have to build like you’re trying to win, not survive.
- Jamming all the chalk. When you load up on the most obvious plays, you’re basically mirroring the field. Even if the chalk comes through, you’re still fighting a massive tie zone because your build didn’t create any separation.
- Ignoring variance and upside. Freerolls are high-variance by nature. If you’re scared to take a few high-ceiling shots, you’re basically drawing dead for a top finish. You don’t need a full galaxy-brain lineup, but you do need some juice.
- Picking names instead of spots. Big-name players don’t win contests by themselves. Role, minutes, usage, matchup, and game environment matter way more than name value. If you ignore context, you end up with a lineup that looks good on paper and scores like every other average entry.
- Blowing it off because it’s “free.” That mindset is a leak. Freerolls are a low-risk way to test builds, learn how fields behave, and snag tickets into paid contests without paying for the reps. If you take them seriously, they can bankroll your next few entries.
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