DraftKings
DraftKings is an online gambling brand offering sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and casino games. It's operated by DK Crown Holdings Inc, whose UKGC licence has been surrendered, meaning the operator no longer holds an active UK gambling licence. The brand received a financial penalty from the Gambling Commission in 2024 for a self-exclusion failure.
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About
DraftKings is a gambling brand operating at draftkings.com. According to their website, they offer sports betting, daily fantasy sports, online casino games, slots, and live casino. Their site states it's licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and provides responsible gaming tools, but that claim deserves scrutiny given the operator's current regulatory status.
The brand is operated by DK Crown Holdings Inc, which held a UKGC licence from 14 August 2015 before surrendering it. A surrendered licence means the operator voluntarily gave up its authorisation to offer gambling services in the UK, and no active licences are currently recorded against this operator. Consumers should take care when assessing whether this operator is currently authorised to accept UK customers.
The domain draftkings.com was registered on 13 March 2011 and is paid up until 2033, suggesting the business has long-term infrastructure in place. The site scores well on technical measures, but a strong domain score doesn't offset the concerns raised by the operator's regulatory position.
Features & Offerings
Key Offerings
- Sportsbook
- Daily fantasy sports
- Online casino
- Slots
- Live casino
Main Features
- Licensed by UK Gambling Commission
- Offers sports and casino betting
- Responsible gaming tools available
Can You Trust DraftKings?
Positive Signals
- Domain registered since 2011, showing over 14 years of operational history
- SSL grade A with TLS 1.3 support and HSTS enabled
- IBAS registered for alternative dispute resolution
- Self-reported the breach that led to the 2024 enforcement action
Concerns
- Operator licence surrendered: DK Crown Holdings Inc no longer holds an active UKGC licence
- £28,750 fine in September 2024 for a self-exclusion failure
- Trustpilot score of 1.20 from 795 reviews, one of the lowest possible ratings
- No active licences recorded against the operator
What Users Say
DraftKings has a Trustpilot score of 1.20 out of 5 from 795 reviews, placing it among the worst-rated gambling brands on the platform. A score this low typically reflects widespread dissatisfaction across multiple service areas rather than isolated incidents.
Common Themes
No topic-level breakdowns are currently available for this brand's reviews. The overall score of 1.20 from 795 users suggests persistent problems across the customer experience.
Regulatory Context
The operator's 2024 enforcement action for a self-exclusion failure aligns with the type of responsible gambling concerns that tend to generate negative user feedback. Customers who found themselves able to gamble after requesting self-exclusion would have grounds for serious complaints, and the Trustpilot score suggests wider service problems beyond that single recorded incident.
Source: Trustpilot
UKGC Licence Status
No active licences are currently recorded for DK Crown Holdings Inc. The operator's UKGC licence status is listed as Surrendered, meaning all previously held Remote Betting, Remote Casino, or other gambling authorisations have been given up. Without an active licence, the operator is not authorised to provide gambling services to UK customers under the Gambling Act 2005.
DraftKings is registered with IBAS (Independent Betting Adjudication Service) for alternative dispute resolution, verified as of 18 February 2026. ADR registration means consumers who can't resolve a complaint directly with the operator have access to a free, independent service to adjudicate disputes. That said, ADR registration is only useful while the operator is actively licensed to serve UK customers.
Regulatory Actions
On 12 September 2024, DK Crown Holdings Inc received a financial penalty of £28,750 from the UK Gambling Commission. The breach related to Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.3(1), which governs self-exclusion procedures. Specifically, a self-excluded customer was able to continue gambling when they shouldn't have been. The Commission noted the operator identified and proactively reported the breach, took immediate remedial action, and cooperated with the investigation. The lapse was described as an exceptional issue rather than a systemic failure in the operator's self-exclusion system.
Site Assessment
Licensed Operator
DK Crown Holdings Inc is the UKGC-licensed operator behind DraftKings. The operator first received a UK gambling licence on 14 August 2015 and held it for approximately 10.5 years before surrendering it. No Companies House registration details are recorded in UKGC data, and the operator doesn't appear to have a registered UK address on file, which limits the publicly verifiable corporate information available about this entity.
The operator's trust score sits at 33 out of 100, graded F. That reflects the surrendered licence status and the 2024 financial penalty. The enforcement score of 5 indicates the penalty, while not large in financial terms, is a recorded mark against the operator's regulatory history.