Let me begin this Fanduel DFS review by taking a closer look at the welcome bonus – a 100% matched bonus of up to $100.

As a new user, I was encouraged to opt in to promotions and fill out a simple registration form. However, there was no need to enter a Fanduel fantasy promo code in order to redeem the bonus.

After passing verification checks, I was required to make a minimum qualifying deposit of at least $5. I would then find a 100% matched bonus added to my account. The bonus lasted for 14 days and must be played through once.  The process of playing through the bonus is incredibly straightforward, as you can use your bonus bets as contest entries. Once the contest has finished, you’ll be able to withdraw/play with any winnings freely.

How to Sign Up – become a member of Fanduel DFS today 

Before joining a fantasy site, you’ll want to have answers to questions like “How does PayPlay work?”, “How do I log in to DraftKings”, and “How do I sign up with Fanduel?” covered. The latter is exactly what I hope to explain through the use of this handy step-by-step guide.

1. Download the app or visit the Fanduel daily fantasy site
2. Click on the Join Now button
3. Select state, email address, username, and create a password
4. Click “Create account”
5. Enter some basic personal information, including full name, residential address, date of birth, etc
6. Once verified, you’ll then be able to head on over to the cashier section and make your first deposit

When it comes to working your way around Fanduel, you may find things are a little cluttered at first. The Fanduel DFS platform is full of perks and features, meaning that it may seem a little busier than most of the competition.

With that being said, the blue, black, and white color scheme ensures that all text and important links are easily identifiable. Plus, you’ll be able to work your way around the site within one or two clicks of a button.

You’ll find that promotional banners sit at the top of the screen, followed by links to all available sports, esports, and contests. You can add funds to your account by clicking on the tab in the top right-hand corner and the scrollable lobby makes it easy enough to find upcoming NFL, NHL, and daily premier league fantasy contests.

Background – the continued growth of Fanduel DFS

Fanduel was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, back in 2009. The first fantasy contest was held in 2010, featuring just ten users and a total prize pool of $40,000. In 2013 and 2015, additional funding had been secured, leading Fanduel to a total value of over $1 billion.

During a huge growth period, Fanduel acquired a team of experts from Zynga 365 Sports, an analytics company called numberFire, and the esports DFS service from AlphaDraft. It was also rumoured that DraftKings and Fanduel were set to merge; however, this was soon blocked by the Federal Trade Commission. Had this proposed move gone through, my latest guide detailing how draftkings daily fantasy works would have been remarkably similar to this one.

Instead, in May 2018, a merger occurred between Fanduel and Paddy Power Betfair. This merger came at the same time as the overruling of PASPA, opening the doors for Fanduel to add sports betting to its offering.

Since then, you’ll find that the Fanduel Group has done all it can to increase its appeal, now providing players with streams of DFS contests, sports betting, a horse racing channel, and an online casino.

Reputation – a cut above the rest 

Over the years, Fanduel DFS has established itself as one of the most impressive fantasy sports providers around. The platform continues to grow, making use of cutting-edge technology, the latest statistics, trained analysts, and player insight to amend, adapt, and add relevant contests that appeal to all.

When working my way around some real-user reviews, I found the majority of comments were positive – particularly those focused on the usability, bonuses, and availability of Fanduel daily fantasy contests. The only negatives revolved around withdrawals; however, on closer inspection, it seemed that a few of these players had issues with the verification process.

Player Experience – build your Fanduel fantasy sport lineup with ease

Once you’ve worked your way through the registration process, you’ll find that you can release your promotions, scroll through contests, and enter those in line with your bankroll freely – it just takes a bit of getting used to.

First, you’ll need to head to the cashier section and make your qualifying deposit. With your bonus bets now in your account, you can look beneath the promotional banner and select your preferred sport or esport title. From here, you’ll find that the lobby changes to showcase the upcoming contests for your chosen sport.

You’ll be able to discover the name of each contest, the number of current participants, the prize pool, and the entry fee. Then, you’ll need to click on the multi-entry tab to get yourself started. Depending on the contest you have entered, it is then quite simply a case of doing your research, building your squad, and letting the action unfold. Should you end up on the leaderboard, you’ll find that your prize is added to your pot within 24 hours.

Fanduel prides itself on providing an immersive daily fantasy sports experience online or on the go. You will find that you can visit the platform and unlock all of the same great perks through your mobile browser or through the dedicated mobile app.

The mobile site has been optimised to suit the smaller screen while still managing to maintain a similar design. You’ll also find that the same contests, promotions, and additional features are available to you. The mobile app has been designed slightly differently. Although you’ll find that the same colour scheme has been utilised, the layout mimics many other top applications allowing you to quickly navigate around the app, build lineups, and unlock further promotions. Tabs are neatly displayed at the bottom of the app, while the rest of the screen is devoted to a scrollable lobby.

FanDuel fantasy sports offering

FanDuel mobile fantasy sports betting

When it comes to funding your Fanduel DFS experience, you shouldn’t run into too many problems. I found a great selection of reputable methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Venmo, Paynearme, Bank Transfer, and more. You can make a minimum deposit of just $5 and maximums will be capped at $2,000 per day, $4,500 per week, or $10,000 per month. Of course, this will vary considerably for those invited to join the VIP program.

Depending on your chosen deposit method, you should find that funds are added to your account almost instantly. There are also no fees attached to your deposits; however, it is always worth reviewing the terms of your chosen payment method. With your withdrawals, you’ll find a similar selection of options available. If you didn’t complete verification checks at the sign-up stage, you’ll be encouraged to provide copies of your documents now. From here, you can then expect to wait between one hour and seven days to receive your withdrawals. Again, this all depends on the method selected.

In this next section of my Fanduel DFS review, I wasted no time putting the support team through its paces. Currently, you will find that you can get in contact through a range of methods, including live chat, email, and a toll-free number. Additionally, you’ll have plenty of FAQs to work through.

As you would expect, live chat provided the quickest response times and the most effective way to resolve queries around the clock. Email responses will be returned within 24 hours, and wait times for the toll-free number were competitive, too. The selection of FAQs covered just about everything you’d need. So, if you don’t wish to contact support, you can do some digging, bolster your own knowledge, and find out more about the site this way.

With an established name like Fanduel, I didn’t have too many concerns about legitimacy and licensing – surely, if these guys were running a scam, something would have been picked up already. However, to ensure that my reviews remain fair and honest, I needed to make sure of this myself.

Unsurprisingly, I soon found that Fanduel had secured legitimate licensing and was deemed safe to operate in 44 US states. I also found that the Fanduel platform allows you to impose your own safer gambling limits, follows KYC/AML processes, makes use of the latest encryption technology, and keeps all of your funds stored in a segregated account.

Prohibited Countries – Available in almost all US states 

Before you can use a promo code for Thrive Fantasy or unlock a 100% matched bonus from Fanduel, you’ll need to make sure your chosen platform is available to open its virtual doors in your area.

While working my way around the Fanduel DFS site, I found that almost all US states could enjoy the perks of this platform. Unfortunately, Fanduel remains unavailable to those in this list.

• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Montana
• Nevada
• Washington

Beyond the 100% matched bonus available to new users, Fanduel DFS fans will be able to enjoy a selection of top promotions. You can refer your friends and reap rewards, enter huge global tournaments with sizable prize pools attached, and make the most of a weekly DFS contest boost. Additionally, you’ll find perks come from joining the Players Club.

The Players Club works in a similar way to most rewards programs. You’ll begin as a ‘Free Agent’ and work your way through the tiered system based on your deposits, entries, and achievements.  While working your way through the tiered rewards program, you may receive an invite from Fanduel directly to join the VIP club. Alongside the previous perks detailed, you’ll find that you will unlock personalised promotions, free entry to contests, larger limits, and a dedicated account manager.