DraftKings has secured the top position in Eilers & Krejcik Gaming’s (EKG) latest evaluation of US online sportsbook apps, and not for the first time.
In their rankings for the first half of 2025, DraftKings retained its crown as the highest-rated sports betting platform, edging ahead of its biggest rival, FanDuel, for the second straight review.
How EKG’s rankings work is that apps are judged based on key areas like user interface, betting market selection, and overall usability. Testers highlighted DraftKings’ sleek, intuitive design and deep market offerings.
Minor criticisms involved occasional glitches in live streaming and limited availability of the cash-out feature. Nonetheless, the app’s strengths firmly outweighed its shortcomings.
FanDuel, part of Flutter Entertainment, continues holding a solid second place, contributing to the dominance that both brands maintain over the US betting scene.
However, a rising challenger has begun making noise in the market in the form of Fanatics.
Fanatics, a relatively new player, held onto the third spot it first captured in late 2024, closing the gap with the leaders significantly. Having debuted on the rankings only last year, Fanatics has quickly established itself as a genuine threat capable of disrupting the DraftKings-FanDuel duopoly.
Meanwhile, Caesars Sportsbook achieved its highest position yet, moving up to fifth in the recent report.
EKG praised Caesars’ redesigned interface, enhanced betting markets, and improved user experience as key drivers behind this leap into the top five. This achievement arrives alongside positive momentum in Caesars’ online casino offerings, notably its Caesars Palace-branded app, which analysts suggest is attracting strong customer interest.
Caesars Digital’s steady improvement has sparked broader industry discussions, with speculation that its true value might not be fully recognized by investors. Conversations about a potential spin-off of Caesars Digital continue, indicating growing recognition of the unit’s profitability and strategic importance.
At the opposite end, BetMGM unfortunately, still faces persistent hurdles.
Although the app has a robust foundation, testers consistently pointed out frustrations with slow load times and lag, factors significantly impacting user satisfaction. EKG noted improvements in speed and responsiveness are crucial for BetMGM to regain ground and attract more bettors.
What these new rankings show is that there is definitely an increasing emphasis on user experience being a key differentiator so if the likes of BetMGM get to the lofty heights of DraftKings’ UX, we could see a bit of a mix up next time around.
