The ESPN BET vs. FanDuel matchup pits a newly rebranded book with serious media firepower against a market leader that’s been setting the standard since 2018.
ESPN BET came out swinging in late 2023 with aggressive promos and name recognition, but FanDuel remains the sportsbook to beat.
Even with all the ESPN branding, FanDuel is the better product across the board. It does pretty much everything on a higher level. It’s got a better user experience across both desktop and mobile, a significantly richer betting menu, stronger overall odds, and a bigger welcome bonus for new players.
That said, ESPN BET has a few things going for it, like creative odds boosts, great promotions, and unique bet types like grouped TD scorer props. More importantly, ESPN BET has a loyalty program, something FanDuel still doesn’t offer on the sportsbook side.
Overall, FanDuel is the clear winner in the ESPN BET vs. FanDuel showdown. But ESPN BET does enough to make it worth keeping around as a secondary book, especially if you want to double-dip on promos or grab value in markets FanDuel might not price the same.
Ratings
States
Sign-Up Bonus
Odds
Bet Types
Sports Offered
Features
Live Betting
Deposits
Withdrawals
Customer Support
Platforms
FanDuel vs. ESPN BET Overview
ESPN BET | Fanduel | |
|---|---|---|
Odds Assist Ratings | 73/100 | 94/100 |
Welcome bonus | $100 in bonus bets | Bet $5, get $200 bonus if your bet wins |
Promo code | None Required | None Required (claim here) |
Available in | 19 states + DC | 22 states + DC |
Sports covered | 20+ | 21+ |
Minimum deposit | $10 | $10 |
Mobile app | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Customer Support | Live chat, email, phone, X | Live chat, email, X |
State Availability – Winner: FanDuel
FanDuel runs in 22 states and D.C., putting them 3 states ahead of ESPN BET in availability.
You can learn more about ESPN BET’s state availability and FanDuel’s state availability here.
Sign-Up Bonus – Winner: FanDuel
FanDuel gives new users $200 in bonus bets if their first $5 wager wins. It’s a simple offer: bet $5, win it, and unlock $200 in bonus bets with just a 1x playthrough. You’ve got 7 days to use the funds, and any winnings from those bets are yours to keep.
ESPN BET’s welcome offer is easier to hit, but less rewarding. Just place any $10+ wager and you’ll get $100 in bonus bets, win or lose. That bonus is split into five $20 tokens, each with a 7-day expiry and 1x playthrough requirement. It’s more forgiving, but the fixed token sizes limit how you can use the funds.
Both promos have low entry points, but FanDuel’s bonus offers more control and a bigger upside. If you can clear that first win, you’ll walk away with a bonus that’s easier to break up and use however you like.
Incentives for Returning Players – Winner: Tie
When it comes to sportsbook promos and loyalty rewards, ESPN BET is right there with FanDuel. Both sportsbooks consistently offer promos for returning players, ranging from profit boosts and bonus bets to parlay insurance and limited-time specials during major events.
FanDuel rolls out daily boosts, Bet & Get offers, and SGP bonuses across major leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB, giving you either a boosted payout or protection if one leg misses. They also line up targeted promos for high-profile events like the Super Bowl or March Madness, with risk-free bets during playoff games and odds boosts tied to tournament runs.
ESPN BET offers a broad lineup of promos across different bet types and sports. You'll run into Bet & Get deals on parlays, insurance offers tied to shootouts, buzzer-beaters, or first goalscorers, and one-off boosts linked to things like first goalscorer props or star player milestones in soccer and basketball.
Where ESPN BET pulls ahead is with its sportsbook loyalty program. FanDuel doesn’t offer one, but ESPN BET lets you earn points with every wager and convert them into bonus bets. It’s a simple system that adds long-term value for frequent players.
Odds– Winner: FanDuel
FanDuel edges out ESPN BET when it comes to pricing.
In a multi-sport odds comparison, I ran across thousands of lines, and FanDuel consistently offered the lowest average vig among all U.S. sportsbooks. That edge shows up most on spreads, totals, and especially player props, where they routinely price better than competitors, including ESPN BET.
ESPN BET is competitive, but their pricing doesn’t match FanDuel’s across the board. FanDuel sticks to 20-cent lines for most 50/50 markets and has better long-term value for straight bets.
Still, no sportsbook offers the best number on every market. If you want to squeeze the most value from each wager, check out my odds comparison tool to see which book offers the top price in real time.
User Interface – Winner: Tie
FanDuel delivers the best overall user experience in the U.S. sportsbook market. The app is lightning-fast, easy to navigate, and a great job separating prop categories so you’re not scrolling forever.
Building Same Game Parlays happens automatically without digging through clunky tabs.
The desktop version mirrors that ease of use, and features like real-time stat tracking and biometric login (Face ID, fingerprint) make the entire process seamless.
ESPN BET runs smoothly and looks sharp, especially with features like the categorized odds boost tab and a bet slip that separates straights, parlays, and teasers. There’s also a bet-sharing option built in, which is a fun touch.
That said, their market organization is a weak spot; props are often crammed into one list with no filters, which slows things down when you’re trying to build a bet.
FanDuel also has the best ratings on both app stores (4.9 on iOS, 4.7 on Android), which lines up with my experience.
ESPN BET gets the job done, but FanDuel is just faster, better organized, and more pleasant to use day-to-day.
Market Variety – Winner: FanDuel
When it comes to betting variety, FanDuel is in a league of its own. Their coverage goes way beyond standard markets, especially when it comes to player props and specialty bets. In the NFL alone, you’ll find options like “first drive result,” “player to score 2+ touchdowns,” “most rushing yards on Sunday,” and alt receiving props in 10-yard increments.
NBA markets include things like “player to record a triple-double and win,” combo props (points + rebounds + assists), and micro-markets like “race to 10 points by quarter.” They even let you build the same game parlays off almost any combination, including live bets. Even during off-hours, FanDuel has more action live than most rivals have pregame.
ESPN BET can’t match that depth, but they still bring some interesting stuff. One of the more unique options is the “NO” touchdown scorer market, where you can back a player not to find the end zone, which is great for fade plays.
They also offer grouped scorer bets, defensive TD props, and curated pre-packaged parlays tied to big-name players. During NFL Sundays or NBA prime time, you’ll often see creative props tied to milestones or in-game events (like “X player to hit 5 threes and win”).
Overall, FanDuel is the clear winner for prop-heavy bettors or anyone chasing unique betting angles, but ESPN BET throws in just enough variety to be worth browsing alongside.
Sports Variety – Winner: FanDuel
FanDuel takes the win here thanks to a more comprehensive overall sports lineup. With 21+ available sports, they cover everything from the major US leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) to tennis, golf, MMA, cycling, and niche options like darts, table tennis, and snooker. They also consistently price international leagues in soccer and basketball, along with select esports markets.
ESPN BET prices up all the key sports you’d expect, like NFL, NBA, college football, UFC, golf, tennis, but doesn’t stretch much beyond that. Their selection thins out fast once you go past the major leagues, and esports is either limited or completely absent.
If you mostly stick to mainstream bets, ESPN BET works fine. But if you want broader coverage or occasionally dabble in lesser-known sports, FanDuel gives you more room to explore.
Banking – Winner: FanDuel
FanDuel comes out ahead in the banking department thanks to a broader set of options and smoother processing.
Both platforms support major payment methods like debit/credit cards, PayPal, ACH, and online banking. However, FanDuel adds extra flexibility with Venmo, Apple Pay, and the FanDuel Prepaid Card (Play+), giving you more ways to move money in and out of your account.
ESPN BET sticks to the basics, which works fine for most users, but if you're looking to move funds using mobile wallets or prefer more ways to withdraw, FanDuel gives you a broader toolkit.
Minimum deposits on both apps are $10, but FanDuel’s slightly wider banking menu and consistently fast payout speeds make it a more convenient option overall.
You can check out ESPN BET's deposit and withdrawal methods here and FanDuel's deposit and withdrawal options here.
Features– Winner: FanDuel
Both FanDuel and ESPN BET offer a full lineup of core sportsbook features, live streaming, cash out, and same game parlays are all in play. You’ll also find in-app bet tracking and reliable navigation on both platforms.
Where FanDuel pulls away is in how refined everything feels. Their live betting experience is faster, their parlay builder is smarter (automatically generating SGPs from selected legs), and the bet slip updates in real time, which is especially handy for tracking props like yardage or scoring totals mid-game.
ESPN BET brings some decent extras, including a shareable bet slip. They’ve also made it easier to separate parlays, teasers, and straights within the same slip.
But if you're after speed, reliability, and seamless live play, FanDuel simply executes better across the board.
Final Verdict – Winner: FanDuel Wins by a Mile
If you’re picking one sportsbook to anchor your bets, FanDuel is the clear choice.
FanDuel delivers sharper odds, a better overall app experience, more betting markets, and arguably the fastest, most reliable live betting interface in the business. It’s the most complete sportsbook out there for US players.
But that doesn’t mean ESPN BET should be ignored. Their unique promos, grouped TD scorer markets, and loyalty program make them worth using as a secondary option, especially if you’re looking to scratch promos or catch a line that FanDuel prices differently.
The bottom line is that FanDuel is the better all-around sportsbook, but ESPN BET is well worth keeping in the mix if you want to play both sides and stack more bonuses along the way.
I’ve also broken down each sportsbook separately and read my complete ESPN BET and FanDuel reviews for more details.
Interested in comparing more? Check out our other guides comparing ESPN BET and FanDuel to competitors:
