Draftkings Sports Betting National Championship

 

A national sports betting handicapping contest with a $2.5 million prize pool ended in controversy Sunday in New Jersey, after the Day 3 leader was prevented from making his final wager before the NFC divisional-round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints kicked off.

DraftKings Sportsbook is pleased to announce an exciting new promotion, the 2019 DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship (hereinafter, the 'SBNC Promotion' or “SBNC”), exclusively for DraftKings Sportsbook Players (“Contestants”).

Randy Lee, a New Jersey poker dealer who played under the username rleejr86, ended up winning the first DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship instead, grabbing the $1 million first prize with a final bet of $47,500 on the Eagles +8.5.

The Saints won 20-14, but the Eagles covered the spread, boosting Lee's bankroll to a contest-winning $101,474.

More than 200 bettors from different parts of the country entered the $10,000 buy-in contest and combined to wager nearly $5 million during the three-day event that was headquartered in Jersey City.

However, it was the bets that couldn't be placed by the leader before the final game in the contest kicked off that were the source of dispute.

DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship 2020. The biggest of the live sports betting events will occur late in the year or, possibly, in 2021. The exact dates for the DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship aren’t finalized yet. What is clear is that the SBNC will award a $1 million first prize to its eventual winner. Matt specializes in NFL, College Football, College Basketball, XFL, and MMA. With GPP victories across the major sports, Matt also qualified for the DraftKings 2020 Sports Betting Championship and won a seat to the College Basketball Tourney Mania final. DraftKings is the target of a lawsuit after the sportsbook operator suffered technical glitches during its recent Sports Betting National Championship tournament.

Professional sports bettor Rufus Peabody, competing under the username Opti5624, was leading the contest heading into the Eagles-Saints game, with a nearly $82,000 bankroll that he compiled after winning an all-in wager on the New England Patriots -3.5 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday's AFC divisional-round game. The Patriots won 41-28.

The high-scoring AFC affair ended at 4:37 p.m. ET, just four minutes before the Saints game began. Peabody told ESPN he repeatedly refreshed his browser during those four minutes, waiting for his winnings from the Patriots bet to be credited so he could make what he says would have been one last all-in bet on either the Saints at various point spreads or under 52 points.

The only problem? His winnings weren't credited to his account until after the NFC game kicked off. He was locked out of making his final bet.

'I had spent the last 2.5 hours running over all the numbers,' said Peabody, the co-founder of football analytics site Massey-Peabody and a former ESPN employee. 'And, as it goes at the end, I was going back and forth: 'Which one am I going to do? Am I going to pull the trigger?' It was going to be a Saints bet of some kind or the under. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance.'

According to data posted on the DraftKings' website, some players were credited their winnings from the Patriots game before Peabody, allowing them to get their final bets in before the NFC game started. Several other contestants also didn't get their bets from the AFC game credited in time to make a final play on Eagles-Saints. On Sunday, the final day of the contest, bettors were allowed to wager only on the two NFL divisional-round playoff games. No more bets were allowed after the NFC game began.

Peabody posted a screenshot to social media of his DraftKings contest account with a $0.01 balance and the time on the computer showing 4:41 p.m., right as Eagles-Saints kicked off.

'We recognize that in the rules the scheduled end of betting [kickoff of the NFC divisional-round game] coincided very closely to the finish of the of Patriots-Chargers game,' James Chisholm, a spokesman from DraftKings, said in a statement. 'While we must follow our contest rules, we sincerely apologize for the experience several customers had where their bets were not graded in time to allow wagering on the Saints-Eagles game. We will learn from this experience and improve upon the rules and experience for future events.'

DraftKings did not immediately respond to a follow-up question regarding why some accounts were credited their winnings from the Chargers-Patriots game before others.

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement said Monday that it was reviewing the incident.

The DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship was the first of its kind since states outside of Nevada began authorizing legal sports betting after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May. It was held in a nondescript building in Jersey City. In the rented venue, tables, couches and chairs were spread out in front of dozens of TVs. There were also strobe lights, two open bars and plenty of cheering and groaning.

Peabody said overall he enjoyed the format and understood that it was a tough situation for everyone involved. He ended up in third place and will be taking home more than $330,000.

'It doesn't feel like it,' he added. 'I felt like was in position for a 50-50 shot at the million [dollars].'

Asked whether he had contacted legal representation, Peabody declined comment.

Despite the upheaval of the Spring and the uncertainly of the global pandemic, the NBA, MLB, NFL and PGA all returned to action in 2020—much to the delight of sports fans across the country.

It also meant that Season 1 of the DraftKings Championship Series returned as well, albeit in a modified form. At least five major online contests have played out/will play out in 2020 including:

  • 4 Online Fantasy Championships (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Golf)
  • $2 Million Pro Football Pick’em National Championship ($1M top prize)

See below for details!

Upcoming Events:

$12.5M Fantasy Football World Championship

DraftKings’ signature Fantasy Football World Championship is a go for Dec. 20, 2020, with a staggering $12.5M prize pool. The winner collects an equally staggering $2.5M.

You can qualify via weekly fantasy football contests on DraftKings up to 9 times. Contests run every week from Week 1 through Week 14. Two hundred qualifiers in total will make it to the big finale during Week 15 of the NFL season.

Details:

  • Date: Dec. 20, 2020 (Week 15 of NFL Season)
  • Total Prize Pool: $12.5 Million
  • Winner gets: $2,500,000
  • Total qualifiers: 200

$2M Pro Football Pick’em National Championship

For the more ambitious football prognosticator, the $1,500 buy-in Pro Football Pick’em Championship is a season-long affair with a $1M carrot on the stick for the champ. The contest covers every week of the NFL season (1-16) with 5 picks required each week. A $2 million total prize pool is available with cash bonuses for picking all 5 games correct in a week.

  • Contest Length: Weeks 1-16
  • Total Prize Pool: $2 Million
  • Winner: $1 Million
  • Buy-in: $1,500
  • Weekly Picks: 5
  • Max. Entries: 3

Create a DraftKings DFS account here and qualify to play.

Already Completed Events

$4M Online Fantasy Basketball Championship

Postponed from March, the Fantasy Basketball World Championship has been running qualifiers since bubble play began in Orlando. A total of 100 players will earn a seat in the $4M finals set for the first two days of the NBA Playoffs.

Spots are still available through daily NBA fantasy contests on DraftKings. More details for the FBWC:

  • Dates: August 17 & 18, 2020
  • Total Prize Pool: $4 Million
  • Winner gets: $500,000
  • Total qualifiers: 100
  • Live Streams: Twitch and YouTube

$1.5M Online Fantasy Baseball World Championship

Despite some early hiccups the MLB season has continued on with great storylines emerging in both the AL and NL.

Fantasy contests run daily on DraftKings with 50 spots up for grabs in the one-day Fantasy MLB Championship.

  • Date: Sept. 18, 2020
  • Total Prize Pool: $1.5 Million
  • First Place: $500,000
  • Total qualifiers: 50

$1.5M Online Fantasy Golf World Championship

Similar to MLB, the return of the PGA Tour brought some early hurdles but after a dazzling PGA Championship and US Open, the tour finished the year strong with the Masters in November. Fantasy Golf Championship qualifiers play ed alongside for $1.5M in shared prizes. Qualifying was weekly via PGA contests on DraftKings.

  • Dates: Nov 12-15, 2020
  • Total Prizes: $1.5 Million
  • First Place: $500,000
  • Total qualifiers: 200

Additional details:

  • Playdown Round 1 (Oct. 22-25): 200 players compete to make Round 2
  • Playdown Round 2 (Oct. 29-Nov. 1): 100 remaining players compete to make Online Final
  • Online Final (Nov. 12-15): Top 40 players compete for $500,000 top prize!

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DraftKings has been awarding big prizes via daily fantasy sports contests for years. Now, it’s crowning a champion of both DFS and sports betting through its DraftKings Championship Series for 2020.

Big DFS events are, of course, nothing new. DraftKings has been running “live” DFS championships since nearly its inception.

Fantasy players would qualify for competitions that awarded millions of dollars at live events occurring in Las Vegas, Miami and elsewhere. These tournaments have paid out more than $100 million in prizes.

This year, DraftKings is offering a yearlong competition, which includes a trio of championships for sports bettors, and just in time for March Madness.

Read on to learn more about the 2020 DraftKings Championship Series.

The 2020 DraftKings Championship Series

The DraftKings series includes more than 40 events across DFS and gambling. Here’s how it breaks down.

DraftKings sports betting championships

DraftKings Sportsbook has been one of the early leaders in the US market. Whether DFS is your thing or not, there are multiple sports betting tournaments this year:

  • DraftKings Sports Betting Spring Championship
  • DraftKings Sports Betting Fall Championship
  • DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship
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The winners of the first two events will qualify for the national championship; however, there will be several ways to get in on the big finale.

In 2019, the inaugural national championship ended with some controversy. We anticipate that DraftKings has likely learned from the shortcomings of that event.

DraftKings’ fantasy tournament of champions

In all, DraftKings is planning 41 major DFS events this year, many of which will likely offer a top prize of $1 million or more. Events include:

  • Thirty “millionaire” DFS contests
  • Five online fantasy championships
  • Five live fantasy championships

These events will serve as feeders to the final live event held during the 2021 Super Bowl.

Qualifiers via those 40 events will travel to the big game in Tampa, FL, for a shot to win $1 million in a single-game fantasy event.

National

How do I play in the DraftKings championships for sports betting?

Currently, we only know the details for the DraftKings Sports Betting Spring Championship (DSBSC). Information on the fall and national championships are yet to be announced.

Even if sports betting isn’t yet legal in your state, you will be able to get in on the action.

We know a lot about the spring championship, which takes place during the opening week of March Madness, aka the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament.

  • Date: March 19-22
  • Where: Weehawken, NJ. DraftKings offers online sports betting in New Jersey.
  • Prize: It features $1.5 million in guaranteed prizes, though it could be even bigger, depending on the number of entries. The top prize is $500,000; three other contestants will win at least six figures.
  • How to Enter: You can enter via direct buy-in ($5,000) or by a DFS qualifier.

Do you need more information? Create a DraftKings DFS account and email [email protected] to get your entry.

DraftKings Sports Betting Spring Championship

If you don’t want to plunk down $5K to enter, you’re in luck. You have a chance to join the championship without buying in.

DraftKings is offering regular qualifiers via its DFS platform, sometimes for less than $100. The most likely ways to get in are NBA contests, which have a maximum of 100 entries and an $88 entry fee.

The winners get to go to New Jersey to play for a lot of money.

The qualifiers will receive a $5,000 buy-in, plus a hotel room for four nights and $1,000 in travel expenses.

How DraftKings Sports Betting Spring Championship works

There will be some rules to follow if you enter the championship. At its core, the contest is simple:

  • Contestants start with a $2,000 bankroll. You must bet at least $1,000 over the four days of the event. Of the $5,000 entry, $3,000 is reserved for the contest itself.
  • You can only wager on NBA and college basketball games, which includes March Madness betting.
  • If you have one of the highest final bankrolls, you’ll go home with an additional prize of $500,000 or more. No matter what happens, you get to keep your final bankroll.

While you can place bets anywhere in the state of New Jersey, DraftKings will host a “VIP Sportsbook Venue” in Weehawken, where the basketball games will be televised.

Here are the top prizes:

  • Winner: $500,000
  • Second place: $250,200
  • Third place: $150,120
  • Fourth place: $100,080
  • Fifth place: $75,060
  • 6th-7th places: $50,040
  • 8th-10th places: $35,028
  • 11th-15th places: $20,016
  • 16th-20th places: $14,011.20
  • 21st-25th places: $10,008

DraftKings Sports Betting Fall Championship

Draftkings Sports Betting National Championship

We presume its fall sports betting championship will be similar in format and also likely held in New Jersey. But those details are still being ironed out.

The DraftKings fall championship will likely occur during an NFL and college football weekend, and it might have an even bigger prize pool. You should also be able to buy into the event directly for $5,000.

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Draftkings Sports Betting National Championship

Furthermore, DraftKings will have more time to market the event and allow people to qualify.

DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship

We’re not sure what DraftKings has in store for the big finale. But seeing as this event is called the “national championship,” it should be even more substantial than its seasonal variants.

It seems likely that the event would be during a football weekend, but it’s not clear if that would be during the NFL regular season or in January when the college and NFL playoffs are going on.

BettingDraftkings Sports Betting National Championship

We’ll also guess that the winner will receive more than $1 million.

Can I take part in the sports betting championships if sports betting isn’t legal where I live?

Yes, you can. It’s open to those 21 years or older in the US.

Nh Sports Betting Draftkings

Though, you must be within New Jersey’s state borders to wager and to take part in the DraftKings championship. Sports betting is legal in New Jersey. Also, you will need a DraftKings Sportsbook accountto be a part of the action. You can bet via the DraftKings app from your iPhone or Android device, or via a browser.

The sign-up process is relatively easy, but DraftKings will need some personal information to verify that you are who you say you are and of legal age.

The DFS championship series at DraftKings

The DFS part of the championship series is available to much of the country; DraftKings serves more than 40 states. Here’s a look at where DFS is legal.

There will be more than 40 events, but the details are still being hashed out for many of them.

So far, we have information on these events:

  • The 2020 Fantasy Hockey World Championship live event (already complete)
  • The millionaire contest for the Players Championship (March 12, $2.25 million guaranteed)
  • The 2020 Fantasy Basketball World Championship live event (March 21, Weehawken, NJ, $4 million guaranteed)

There will also be baseball and football world championships that take place as live events.

The winners of those events will punch their ticket to the Super Bowl event for a chance at another big prize pool.

The DraftKings Super Bowl fantasy championship

Details on the finale of the fantasy tournament of champions at DraftKings are not yet released.

We do know a little bit about it and can make a few guesses:

  • The event will likely be structured as one of DraftKings’ “showdown” contests. That means contestants will pick players that will play in the Super Bowl to compete on a DFS roster.
  • The top prize is $1 million. There should be some huge prizes for the other top finishers as well.
  • DraftKings is the official daily fantasy sports partner of the NFL. That should mean that the participants are in store for quite an experience at the Super Bowl.

Draftkings Betting Odds

We’ll have more details as DraftKings releases them.

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Draftkings Online Betting

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