We at TheGameHaus are top dogs when it comes to finding the best online sportsbooks and putting them under the microscope. Our Draftstars review will let you in on one of the hottest bookies available to UK punters.
We’ll go under this bookie’s hood and evaluate bonuses, UI design, mobile betting options, and more. You’ll find everything there is to know about Draftstars’ sports and horse racing betting options.
Bonus offer – no welcome offer, but plenty of ongoing promos
Draftstars is an Australian-licensed bookie, so although a tad disappointed, we weren't surprised not to find a welcome offer for new players. Amendments in Australian gambling laws have prohibited sportsbooks from offering signup bonuses. But gambling laws or not, the lack of a bonus knocks a few points off the Draftstars rating. Typically, operators offer bonuses like the one at Stake.com, where you get a 200% matched deposit bonus up to $1,000 and 10% rakeback on all your losses with the code
TGHSTAKE.
That said, the lack of a welcome bonus shouldn’t deter you from signing up with the Draftstars betting site. That’s because the sportsbook redeems itself by providing a decent range of exciting promotions for existing bettors. You must, however, successfully sign up with the sports betting site to get a peek at these promos.
Usability, look & feel – everything neat and tidy
No doubt, the Draftstars website is vibrant and inviting. This can be attributed to the appealing graphics set against a dark background, which makes colours pop. First-timers will find it easy to navigate the platform using the compact menu that comprises clear labels. It’s here that you can find different categories on how to play, contest rules, etc.
When you move on to the sportsbook’s lobby, you'll notice featured sports, and pinned contests along with their entry costs, payouts, and prize pools. Identifying the FAQs section and mobile app download links is also quick and easy. While testing the site during our Draftstars review, we were happy to get fast loading times.
App / mobile site – downloadable iOS/Android apps
Draftstars has earned the reputation of being a top daily sports operator, and its mobile app is a large part of that. Our Draftstars review can confirm that the app is free to download on Android or iOS devices from the respective app store or directly from the website. Some users might feel the overall outlook of the app is a bit bland, but we reckon the speed and intuitiveness more than make up for that.
In fact, the Draftstars app is considered to be among the easiest bookmaker apps to use and allows you to be in control of your betting. The app gives you access to numerous betting features, from multiple free entries to large prize pools.
Payments – cards and POLi
As with all the
best betting sites, to enter any of the exciting contests at Draftstars, you must have funds in your account. Our Draftstars review picked up a handful of payment methods, which include Visa, Mastercard, and POLi. eWallets and cryptocurrency aren't on the line-up, which may disappoint crypto-savvy gamers and those with digital wallets like PayPal.
The good news is minimum deposits are quite low and start from $5. Note that as an Australian bookie, all payments are in AUD, so players from elsewhere must perform the necessary conversions. However, withdrawal fees vary depending on the country you’re from.
Customer service – FAQs and email support
Our Draftstars review found that the operator won’t leave customers in need high and dry, especially those new to fantasy betting. You’ll find substantial information on what the concept entails and how to go about making a deposit. For other players, email is the most effective form of customer support on the platform.
Any queries you send using this contact option are responded to within four hours. It's not the quickest turnaround time, but you can use this option every day. However, the support team is only available for a limited time between 6 and midnight. If the team were available 24/7 and had more contact options like live chat, this would significantly bump up our Draftstars rating.
Licence & security – everything in place
Before signing up with the sportsbook, the prudent bettor will always ask a question like—is Draftstars legit? You’ll be pleased to learn that Draftstars is a legitimate bookie licensed by the Northern Territory Government of Australia, a respected gambling authority. It opens its doors to players from most countries, including the UK.
Sure, the bookie has its legal bases covered, but is Draftstars safe? The sportsbook is SSL-encrypted to protect personal and financial details shared on the platform. Password protection systems are also in place for both desktop and app users. Our Draftstars review can confirm that the operator is all about promoting responsible gambling and partners with organisations like Gambling Help Online to achieve this.
Rewards & loyalty program – ongoing promos
Players that gauge a sportsbook’s appeal by its rewards program may lose a good thing on Draftstars. The sports betting site doesn't provide any kind of loyalty or VIP program, for that matter. As you can imagine, this should have slightly dipped our Draftstars rating. However, the ongoing promotions and low buy-in tournaments with massive prizes more than redeem this bookie.
DraftStars Sports Betting
Betting markets – 15+ sports
Draftstars has made a name for itself as a leading daily fantasy sportsbook. Players can enter exciting tournaments and compete with fellow bettors for cash prizes. Bettors get to move from the sidelines and join in on the action by assembling dream teams for more than 15 sports like cricket and rugby. Armed with your winning teams, you can join exciting markets like the NBA, NFL, and English Premier League. Players shouldn’t have a hard time sifting through the different betting markets. You’re also at liberty to place pre-match and in-play wagers, depending on what rocks your boat.
Odds – real-world outcome based
As a fantasy betting site, Draftstars uses a different method than regular bookies to determine odds. For one, you can't use any fixed odds to wager on the outcome of different events. Rather, players come up with their own fantasy teams, and their outcomes pretty much ride on the success of real teams' performance. Players can enter all sorts of tournaments, some that require an entry fee while others are free. And cash prizes of up to $100,000 are up for grabs.
Live betting & streaming – live scoreboard
Bettors have the opportunity to place in-play bets while matches are underway. However, streaming the events in real time isn't part of the experience at Draftstars. The closest players have to live streaming the games is tracking the live scoreboard, which is updated regularly.
Limits – wager as little as $0.50
At Draftstars, players can expect to wager for as little as nothing if they join the free-to-enter tournaments as many times as they want. Even if you decide to join the paid tournaments, as little as $0.50 gets you in the thick of things. You have several low-stake tournaments to enter that allow a maximum of $1 bets. High rollers can stake up to $1,000 if their pockets allow. It all depends on what type of bettor you are.
Product summary & conclusion – engaging approach
Draftstars has proven to be a strong contender in the fantasy sports betting market and impresses with exciting tournaments and guaranteed prize pools. Allowing players unlimited entries into competitions makes things even more interesting. Despite the absence of a welcome offer, Draftstars' fantasy sports betting offering will give players a refreshing and engaging approach to betting since they have a say on who plays.
Overall conclusion – fulfilling sports betting experience
Draftstars is an entertaining bookmaker offering a unique approach to sports betting with its daily online sports fantasy offering. It may not offer betting in the traditional sense, but accommodates new and seasoned players comfortably on the intuitive website and mobile app.
The sportsbook has a couple of drawbacks and could boost its Draftstars rating by adding a welcome offer, a loyalty program, and more payment methods. But you certainly can’t deny that Draftstars is a progressive and innovative bookie that's well ahead of its time in mobile gaming. Why not sign up with Draftstars today if you want to take a break from conventional betting sites?
