Is FanDuel Legit?

Companies featured on this page may be our partners who compensate us if you sign up for one through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or opinions in any way. Must be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See full disclosure.

FanDuel is the top legal, regulated online sportsbook in the U.S. It dominates the country's sports betting scene, holding the largest market share of any book.

If you’re considering joining, you can rest assured that FanDuel is legit

You can sign up for FanDuel and access the current sign-up bonus here or read on to learn more about what makes FanDuel legitimate.

On this page

FanDuel Sportsbook Background

In May 2018, the Irish-based gambling giant Paddy Power Betfair (now Flutter Entertainment) bought the majority stake in FanDuel. Flutter acquired the Stars Group in the following year to become the largest online gaming operator in the world.

FanDuel branched out into sports betting in 2018. After launching an app in NJ, it spread to more than a dozen other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming, and West Virginia.

FanDuel gained market access in these states via partnerships with local casinos, gaming entities, and professional teams. The sportsbook had to be approved each state’s gaming commission, proving time and time again it’s safe and reliable.

If you’re considering joining FanDuel, you can rest assured it’s a trustworthy platform.

Why FanDuel is Legit

FanDuel is licensed, legal, and safe to use. If we haven't convinced you of the sportsbook's trustworthiness yet, let's examine some indicators that will reassure you.

  • Licensed & regulated: FanDuel is approved by more than a dozen state regulators. As a condition of operating in each state, it must pass a strict licensing process that ensure customer safety and game integrity.
  • Secure app & website: The sportsbook incorporates top-notch security measures to ensure that its customers’ sensitive data is fully protected at all times. These include SSL encryption, firewalls, third-party audits, and a security team that constantly monitors the platform’s safety grid.
  • Reliable payouts: FanDuel has a great track record for timely payments, which can’t be said for many offshore books. Also, with FanDuel, you’ll have a way to settle payment issues if something goes wrong.
  • Responsible gambling: Much like other regulated sportsbooks, FanDuel complies with responsible gambling protocols imposed by jurisdictional regulators. It provides a dedicated RG page with numerous educational resources on preventing and coping with problem gambling. Also, it features responsible gambling tools, like deposit, time, and wager limits.
  • Numerous sports partnerships: FanDuel partnered with more than a dozen media outlets, sports organizations and leagues, including the NFL, MLB, NHL, New Jersey Devils, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Pat McAfee, XFL, Brooklyn Nets, DC United, Tennis Channel.

More on FanDuel’s Background

FanDuel started as a daily fantasy operator in 2009. The company quickly gained prominence and became a powerful force in DFS. Throughout the 2010s, it reigned supreme in the sector along with its biggest rival, DraftKings.

FanDuel and DraftKings announced their intent to merge in November 2016. Due to the obstruction by the Federal Trade Commission, the deal was called off the following year. The reasoning behind the block was to maintain competition between the two operators and to prevent monopolies. It was estimated that the combined platform would hold 90% of the market share in paid DFS contests.

The fall of PASPA in May 2018 was another milestone in FanDuel's journey. The move laid the groundwork for FanDuel's foray into sports betting. FanDuel sold the majority of its stakes to Paddy Power Betfair less than a month after PASPA’s annulment.

FanDuel sportsbook debuted in NJ on September 1, 2018, right after securing a license from the NJDGE, the state’s regulator. As legalized betting spread across the country, FanDuel expanded into other markets.

It’s currently live in at least over a dozen states, trailing only BetMGM and DraftKings in terms of availability (as of the time of this writing). FanDuel operates in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Arizona, and New York, to name a few jurisdictions.

States Where FanDuel Operates

FanDuel State Availability & Rankings

FanDuel Sportsbook is currently available in AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, WV, WY, VT, and VA.

Complaints About FanDuel

FanDuel's story has largely been one of an upward spiral, despite some bumps in the road. When the company was riding high with its DFS platform in 2015, it got caught up in an insider trading scandal along with its fiercest competitor, DraftKings.

Namely, a report on DFS winnings released that year revealed that a handful of users won 90% of the prize money. DraftKings and FanDuel were heavily scrutinized for their business practices and were forced to pay $1.3 million in settlements and banned their employees from playing on their own and competing sites.

The company faced several class-action lawsuits for alleged payment delays and withdrawal terms. In one case, a new customer wanted to withdraw $300 from his $500 deposit at FanDuel, but the sportsbook refused to do so due to its anti-money laundering policies.

These are the types of complaints that many DFS, sportsbooks, and casinos deals with regularly, so it’s not really a cause for concern. From that point on, it was mainly smooth sailing for FanDuel.

FanDuel's biggest criticisms revolve around geolocation issues and slow customer service in the app and website.

Final Thoughts: FanDuel Is Legit & Safe to Use

The general consensus in betting circles is that FanDuel is a legit sportsbook, and there's a lot of evidence to support that claim. Also, FanDuel DFS is also ranked at the top of our list of the best DFS sites and apps.

More than a dozen government-backed regulators constantly monitor the site. If it engaged in unethical practices, it would have to pay enormous fines and possibly go out of business.

As for the safety of your personal and financial information, there’s nothing to worry about as FanDuel uses the latest security measures to prevent data theft.

Here are some other FanDuel resources you may be interested in:

Dave Rathmanner

Dave Rathmanner is the Founder & CEO of Odds Assist. After struggling to find helpful sports betting resources and honest reviews when he first started betting, he decided to create the site he always wished he had. Dave has been betting on sports since NJ legalized it in 2018 and regularly analyzes sportsbooks to find the best options for bettors. Aside from creating new content for OA readers, Dave is also passionate about researching betting markets, creating models, and developing profitable betting strategies.