- In fact, DraftKings CEO has explained that “anyone who has taken the time to understand the law as it relates to DraftKings’ offerings, and anyone who has seen the data. On the skillfulness of the game, it’s really, honestly not a debate.It’s clearly legal. And we have a team of great lawyers who watch everything we do.”.
- When you first load DraftKings Sportsbook, a popup page will appear and you will be asked to download the GeoComply software.If the prompt does not appear, you may need to first allow popups before re-loading the page. To do this, click on the alert next to the address bar.
- Please be aware that DraftKings cannot be held responsible for any 3rd party or client disconnections. If you are having trouble with the DraftKings website follow these steps: Check that your pop-up blocker is disabled; Make sure that you have installed the latest version of your browser.
As more states across the US offer legal sports betting or are considering legalizing sports betting, online operators are looking to get in on the action by launching their online and mobile sportsbooks.
When you first load DraftKings Sportsbook, a popup page will appear and you will be asked to download the GeoComply software.If the prompt does not appear, you may need to first allow popups before re-loading the page. To do this, click on the alert next to the address bar and select 'Always allow pop-ups from.' Enter Promo Code.A customer’s first deposit (min. $5) qualifies the user to receive up to $500 in bonus funds in the form of site credits that can only be used on DraftKings. Bonus amount is equal to 20% of that deposit amount, not to exceed $500 (the user must deposit $2,500 to be eligible to receive the maximum possible bonus amount of $500).
Many well-known brands, such as DraftKings Sportsbook and BetMGM Sports, aim to provide a seamless gaming experience to all of their customers. However, sometimes technology can provide a stumbling block in the user getting the full experience and range of options on offer.
A common term you may hear if you have downloaded a mobile sports betting app or regularly place bets online is ‘geolocation.’ This technology pinpoints your exact location to determine if you can legally place a bet. For example, you may have downloaded an NJ sports betting app and registered successfully. However, you then leave the state and travel somewhere where betting is not yet legal. You then login to the account, try to place a bet but are blocked. This is geolocation performing its duty of not allowing bets in states where it is illegal.
Geolocation error can be a make or break when trying to place your bets. It’s not just sportsbook users facing these problems, you can also get player location and geolocation errors with mobile casinos.
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The sportsbooks we have found that has the best and most reliable & accurate geolocation feature are:
BetMGM geolocation performed the best when we tested this across several states and state borders. This was closely followed by PointsBet Sportsbook which also worked very well, then DraftKings sportsbook. If you have issues with either of these sportsbooks, then follow these steps below. A good way to overcome issues like this is to use 2 betting apps then you can always use the other if one doesn’t work.
The sportsbook we had most issues with was FanDuel. We saw the FanDuel geocomply no token error quite a lot and would suggest using William Hill, BetMGM sportsbook, or DraftKings over FanDuel as it’s a persistent issue.
Current Issues with Geolocation
Let’s take a look at an example of the problems that sportsbooks encounter with their customers and geolocation. There is a bettor in New Jersey who has downloaded a mobile sport betting app and is ready to bet. They go to place their bet, which is rejected because they have ‘failed’ the geolocation test. The customer then wonders how this has happened? You may launch an app and see the error “geolocation not working” which can be annoying. As annoying as they are, player location checks are a legal requirement from a sportsbook.
This is a pertinent question amid the ongoing discussion about and expansion of mobile and online sports betting. The rules and regulations around legal sports betting state sportsbooks must use geolocation technology and are only allowed to accept bets from players physically present in-state or face hefty fines.
For this technology to work, it requires a combination of software and hardware designed to “fence” devices. So, if we take New Jersey as an example, as mobile sports betting is legal, the state is virtually “fenced” so players there can place their bets without hassle. The issues arise and get complicated when you consider other states, such as Mississippi, where mobile sports betting is legal but only on-site at physical casinos. This means a different kind of ‘geofence’ needs to be adopted.
Geolocation vendors such as GeoComply must be flexible to overcome common issues. For example, in some states, sports betting won’t occur in casinos, but rather in tiny venues that are difficult to find. In places like these, hardware needs to be installed to prevent players from placing bets until they are inside a location with an interactive sportsbook.
It is not just sportsbooks that have issues. You may also experience geolocation issues with online casinos as well as they also rely on the same technology and software.
Player location check
As a bettor, one of the most annoying phrases we come across is player location check unable to verify location. So what exactly is a player location check? What this effectively means is your device cant speak to the sportsbook and confirm where you are. We can usually get around this issue by installing a plugin (such as GeoComply, or GeoGuard) or making sure that location settings are turned on from our cell. These need to either be set to on all the time or when using the app. We show you below in details how to do this.
No matter what state you are trying to bet in, it is a legal requirement by a regulated sportsbook to prove your location. Operators use very clever software to detect if you are using a VPN. If you are looking for a way of how to get around FanDuel restrictions or bypass FanDuel location checks, this is against the operator’s terms of use and can get you suspended and blocked from using them, or any other online betting site.
How Sportsbooks Could Overcome Geolocation Issues
One option open to sportsbooks to work around issues such as the one mentioned above in remote locations is to train route operators who service betting kiosks in how the technology works. Another option could be installing multiple hardware pieces, so if one breaks down, you have another reliable one still working.
Many state lawmakers have expressed concern about how geofencing will work in practice in their locations. It may be the case that geolocation needs to become even more accurate, to the inch, to stop potential breaches.
What to do if you have location issues with the sportsbook?
A question we are often asked is why do we get geolocation issues and how can we fix them. If you have problems with the sportsbook confirming your location, there are a few steps we use. If you see Draftkings location not found, for example, try these steps below.
- Make sure you are physically in a legalized state
- Make sure location settings are turned on in the settings
- If both of the above are done, try restarting your phone
- If this fails, uninstall the app and download it again
- Allow location settings again, open the app & login
Normally toggling your location on and off, then restarting your phone should fix any issues you may have with a sportsbook app and the geolocation settings.
If you are still experiencing issues, reach out to the sportsbook in question customer support team as there may be an issue with your account.
Turning location setting on from your mobile
It is essential the sportsbook can access your location and geolocate me. It is very easy to do this. If you use an iPhone, iPad, or even iPad, you can find this setting in:
- Settings
- Privacy
- Location services (toggle on)
- Access the app and confirm to share location
If you use any Android handset or tablet, location settings can be found in:
- Settings
- Location (toggle set to on)
- App permissions
- Find the app
- Select Allow all the time or when using the app
If you are using an Android mobile, or tablet, you may see the error Android location services not working. If this happens, follow the steps above and this should fix the issue.
Is geolocation or Geocomply always accurate?
They are as close to perfect as you can get, but like with any technology they have issues every now and then (think mobile phone or wifi signal dropping). They can pinpoint your location to within a few inches when outside, but there may be issues when you are indoors as walls and roofs can block the signal. The technology used in PA online sportsbooks and NJ online casinos is extremely accurate.
Like any piece of technology, it is never 100% accurate and will always throw up some complications from time to time. How do you get around these issues? Well, we use at least 2 sportsbooks so that if we are having issues with 1, we have a backup to allow us to get that bet on.
Why do sportsbooks need Geolocation?
As online gambling is not legal in every state, a sportsbook will need to prove you are in a state that does allow online betting (or casino). The best way to do this is to use your location feature that is built into your mobile. Geolocation (often offered up by Geocomply) can pinpoint your location to within a few inches and is often very accurate. However, like a lot of technology, it has its moments and never works 100% all the time.
If you use a desktop computer or a laptop, you may need to use a geolocation plugin (also called geocomply plugin) on your internet browser. In a similar fashion to your mobile, this can confirm your location using your IP address.
As this technology is still quite new and in its infancy, we only expect this to get better and more accurate. This will hopefully lead to less frustration and issues. It is illegal to use a VPN to try and spoof your location and is not something we recommend you do. Players trying to use a DraftKings VPN will not be able to access the site as there is the software to detect you are using a VPN.
In the meantime, you can use one of the recommended sportsbooks that we feel have the best geolocation access. If you need any additional help, you can always get us on twitter @Gamble_USA and we will try our best to help.
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If you’re in New Jersey, you have access to DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a rundown of where you can find DraftKings for sports betting now and in the future.
DraftKings Sportsbook online
Here are the states where you can find DraftKings:
DraftKings in NJ
The well-dressed DraftKings NJ sports betting platform operates under the license of Resorts Atlantic City, but it’s available across web and mobile channels statewide. As long as you’re in the state, you can wager.
The product is perhaps more polished and market-ready than we expected from DraftKings. The company was, after all, solely a daily fantasy sports outfit until May 2018.
It was the first online sportsbook in the state and currently is the biggest in terms of revenue.
DraftKings in West Virginia
DraftKings Sportsbook announced a deal in December 2018 to operate WV sports betting via mobile. DraftKings partnered with Penn National Gaming, which runs Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
DraftKings Sportsbook went live in WV in August, around the same time as rival FanDuel launched. While West Virginia is a relatively small state, it’s still important for DraftKings to expand everywhere it can.
DraftKings in Indiana
The third state for the DraftKings Sportsbook app was Indiana. It was one of the first two sportsbook apps to go live in the state on Oct. 3.
Indiana is not a huge state, but it’s notable for its proximity to several large cities where sports betting is not yet legal, including Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville.
Land-based DraftKings Sportsbooks
There are currently two land-based DraftKings Sportsbooks in the US:
- DraftKings Sportsbook at Resorts, in New Jersey
- DraftKings Sportsbook at Scarlet Pearl Resort in Mississippi.
States that may have DraftKings Sportsbooks in the future
Potential for growth is capped in the short term, however. While FanDuel has racked up market-access partnerships throughout the country, DraftKings is still pretty lean on that front.
Here’s the list of states in which you might see the next DraftKings Sportsbook pop up, and it’s not a very long one:
New York
Apart from NJ, New York is the only other state in which DraftKings has a confirmed point of entry. It announced a partnership with Del Lago in July 2018 that covers both retail and online/mobile operations. If that materializes, Del Lago could end up christening the first on-property, DraftKings-branded sportsbook in the country.
That’s all well and good, except NY sports betting is not yet in place. Voters approved the activity for four commercial casinos in 2013, but regulators have lagged on implementation. What’s more: that existing law excludes online/mobile wagering, so a new one likely will be required before the DraftKings Sportsbook app launches in NY.
Recent rumblings create some cause for optimism on the retail side, but the timeline for NY sports betting is still very much up in the air.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a little closer to becoming an online sports betting state than its neighbor. Full legalization came late in 2017, and launch arrived in November 2018.
DraftKings figures to be a candidate to partner with one of the PA casinos, but it would have limited ability to fully leverage its brand. State regulations permit each casino to deploy just a single online/mobile platform displaying its own logo. Each may only use one sports betting partner.
Draftkings Sportsbook Odds
About half of the 13 prospective licensees are off the board, it appears:
- SugarHouse/Rivers: Owned by Rush Street, which has a partnership with Kambi. That’s DraftKings’ supplier, too, but there’s no indication it is part of the deal.
- Parx: Recently announced that it will use GAN to power its operations. It works with Kambi as well.
- Presque Isle/Lady Luck: Both will soon be operated by Churchill Downs, which has established a partnership with SBTech.
- Harrah’s: Parent company Caesars has an NJ partnership with Scientific Games that figures to carry across the border.
It’s also impossible to pin down a timeline for the launch of online PA sports betting, but it’s coming sometime in 2019.
Nevada
This one could be interesting, since Nevada is one of the few states in which daily fantasy sports is explicitly prohibited as a skill game. DraftKings is a sports betting company now, though, an activity that is very much legal and thriving in the Silver State.
It has generally seemed unlikely that DraftKings would pursue Nevada sports betting, but nothing is a given anymore. The company recently announced plans to open an office in Las Vegas, which at least draws a raise of the eyebrow. DraftKings wouldn’t pay for a license to offer DFS as a “gambling” game, but might it do so in the world of widespread sports betting?
It’s also worth noting that CG Technologies is being pushed out of the Nevada market amid a string of gaming violations. Either it or the many sportsbooks it serves will need to find a replacement supplier, and a shiny new option has just become available courtesy of DraftKings.
File that last bit of evidence in the circumstantial folder.
Other candidates
Any state with legal sports betting should be considered a candidate for a DraftKings Sportsbook, really. In this post-PASPA world, company executives have made no secrets about their ambitions.
Rhode Island and Delaware have both legalized sports betting, too. Neither operates mobile betting, however, although it is legal in Delaware. The industries in both states are administered by state-chosen suppliers under the lottery’s direction.
It looks like the states broken down above represent the complete list of candidates for DraftKings Sportsbook in the short term. Despite its early lead, it’s even possible that it could still be stuck in only NJ and Mississippi when the calendar ticks over.
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At least they have Barkley.