Underdog entered the DFS scene in 2020 and immediately turned heads. After spending serious time on the platform myself, I felt it was the right moment to publish this in-depth Underdog review so fellow DFS players can see exactly what it offers.
Here is the quick overview: Underdog delivers a strong lineup of features that have positioned it as a major force in daily fantasy sports. You will find a wide range of tournaments, an appealing welcome bonus, recurring promotions, and a smooth, user-friendly mobile experience. Of course, the most important consideration is security. Keep reading, because I break down everything you need to know before signing up.
A generous welcome promo is one of the first things I look forward to when I join a DFS site. Underdog did not disappoint. It made me feel right at home by providing a 50% match-up offer capped at $1,000. This means that a deposit of $2,000 gets you the full bonus, but you only need to deposit at least $10 to qualify for the offer. To top it off, the platform included a special Gimme pick for my first DFS entry.
I did not bother looking for an Underdog promo code because I did not need one to get the matched deposit bonus. However, the offer is available only to players who are at least 18 years old and reside in North Dakota, Wisconsin, or South Carolina.
Soon after, I discovered that there was a new welcome promo: Play $5, Get $75 in Bonus Funds. In this case, you get a $75 bonus when you make your first play of at least $5. But there are a few terms that apply. You have to meet the age requirement, which is 18 years of age or above (19 years of age or above in AL, NE; 19 years of age or above in CO for some games; 21 years of age or above in AZ, MA, and VA) and be present in a state where Underdog fantasy operates. This offer is not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Terms and conditions apply.
Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or visit http://www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
David Hess has been a professional handicapper for decades, with picks spanning across multiple sports. His speciality is in over/under or totals picks.
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Underdog's welcome bonus of play $5, get $75 is one of the better offers I've seen and really made me warm to the app. Of course, it helps that the app itself is slick and runs smoothly, so I don't lose any time to lag.
The contest types on offer are what draws me to Underdog the most, alongside the "flex" option that works well as a entry insurance. Payouts don't take too long either, although 2-3 days is a little on the slower side, it's within the normal range and there are a few banking options to choose from.
Underdog built its reputation on making DFS exciting without the headache of traditional salary cap formats. So, instead of crunching numbers to fit players under a cap, you're making picks based on projections or drafting teams in a straightforward snake format. For comprehensive DFS platform reviews, visit our main daily fantasy sports page.
I found a long list of contest types, but soon realized they fell into four major categories. These are Best Ball Contests, Pick'em Contests, Battle Royale & Daily Drafts, and Champions & Special Formats. I personally do not have a favorite, because each one presented something unique. Let me give you the gist of how they work:
The DFS operator calls these contests "the reason we started Underdog," and it's easy to see why. For these contests, you draft teams at the beginning of the season, then stick to that lineup. Underdog does the rest of the job; it will automatically count your highest scorers each week.
Under Best Ball Contests, you will find options like:
Of the four contest types, I find this to be the most straightforward option. Why? Well, you're focused on simply picking between two and eight players, then predicting if their performances will be lower or exceed the projected statistics.
Under this contest type, you have "Rivals." This is the perfect approach for newbies because it lets you focus on an individual player. In this case, two players face off in a head-to-head matchup. All you need to do is pick the one you think will have the higher total points in a specific category. The payout for these Pick'em contests varies, but can climb up to 500 times your entry amount.
Here is where things get even more interesting. These are draft-based contests where you can participate in snake drafts (usually six rounds) against your group and other teams in the contest. Your goal is to score enough points to finish at the top of the leaderboard. I usually enter these when I am feeling competitive and want more action besides what I get from other contest types.
These fall under Pick'em contests, but they are quite different. Unlike the traditional setup, where you play against the house, Champions contests pit you against other players. You still stick to the format of building your lineup of 2 to 8 players and choosing whether each player will have higher or lower statistics than projected.
Underdog will measure your score in "Champions Points" and offer you payouts based on how well each player in your lineup performs. The Rival feature can also come into play here. Basically, you can combine this Rival option with regular picks in a single entry.
Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog fantasy operates. Terms apply. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
I was particularly impressed by the sports coverage. They are quite diverse, especially when you place them side by side with what I found during my DraftKings Fantasy review. To be more specific, here are some of the leagues that Underdog covers:
However, keep in mind that the contest availability for each varies depending on the contest type you choose. I noticed that sports coverage in the Pick'em section is better than in Drafts. For sport-specific betting insights beyond DFS, explore our predictions for NBA, MLB, and NHL.
Two main things shaped my experience at Underdog. One is the low entry barrier for most contests, like Puppy Drafts or Pick'ems. In fact, there are many buy-ins between $1 and $5, a range that welcomes players with different budgets. It makes it easy for you to still have fun and enjoy its offerings even when you don't have a substantial bankroll.
The other is the "Flex" option. You know those entry insurance bonuses that allow you to get a payout even when one or two of your selections are not correct? That's how the Flex option works. Once you turn it on, you can win even if one or two of your picks are misses. Of course, the potential payout is quite lower compared to when you decide to stick to the standard selection and not "Flex" it.
Underdog's website immediately catches your eye with its slick color scheme. My favorite feature is the toggle icon that lets you switch between dark and light schemes. The brand's signature yellow pops against dark or light backgrounds, making the overall website feel welcoming. I appreciate that they didn't go overboard with flashy animations or a cluttered menu, so you do not have a hard time trying to locate the essential tabs.
Speaking of tabs, the layout prioritizes getting you into the action quickly. When you land on the homepage, you're greeted with featured contests, current promos, and quick links to Pick'em and Draft lobbies. The sports menu sits prominently at the top, letting you toggle between various leagues with a single click. Its loading speed also deserves a shout-out, as pages transition smoothly without lag.
The Underdog app has a 4.6/5 rating on Google Play and 4.8 on the Apple Store, very similar to what I found in the app section during my Fanduel Fantasy review. I quickly understood why the app had such a high rating after I downloaded it on both my iPhone and Android devices.
Both apps mirror the desktop version, though the layouts are more streamlined to allow for easier navigation on smaller screens. Plus, everything available in the desktop version is also available in the mobile app. These include the opportunity to join various contests, claim bonuses, make deposits, withdraw, and contact customer service. If you do not want to download anything, you can launch the website directly on your mobile browser.
Banking on Underdog is straightforward, mostly because it supports some of the most popular payment methods that players use for DFS. For deposits, there's PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Trustly, and Apple Pay for iOS users. The minimum deposit sits at $10, which is great for casual and high-stakes players alike.
I'm a PayPal guy myself; it takes three taps, and my account is funded in seconds. Credit card deposits work just as smoothly, though you'll want to make sure the name on your card matches your Underdog account exactly. I learned that the hard way when my first deposit failed because of a name mismatch.
The DFS platform processes deposits instantly. Withdrawals are slower, taking between 48 and 72 hours, but still a little better than what I experienced during my ParlayPlay review.
There's a handy message bubble pinned to the bottom right of the screen when you're logged into Underdog. Clicking on this opens a comprehensive support center where you can choose to check out the help section for answers to common questions.
Or, you can send a message. At first, you'll be connected to an AI bot, but you can request a transfer to a human agent. The DFS platform states its usual response time is under 3 hours, but I received a response within an hour of sending the first message.
I then tried out the email option by sending a message to the support team. As you might have already guessed, it took several hours to get a response. I'm not complaining though, as the live chat was more than enough for me.
| Customer Service | Underdog |
|---|---|
| Available Languages: | English |
| Email: | support@underdogfantasy.com |
I wouldn't have gotten this far in my Underdog reviews if I weren't sure the brand was available across a lot of US states. So, if you're wondering if Underdog is legit, the answer is yes. It has the necessary permits to function in all the states where it is currently available.
As I expect of every reputable DFS platform, the brand uses SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial details. I also carefully read the terms and found them to be transparent and easy to understand.
I was quite disappointed when I did not find a loyalty scheme on the DFS platform. It would have been an excellent addition, as it offers more to look forward to besides making selections on the site or app. On the bright side, Underdog has other generous rewards for its users.
There's the profit boost bonus that can dramatically increase your potential payouts on specific picks or contests. Another is the $10 referral bonus that you get for every new player you invite to the platform. The player has to register using your link and also make a deposit for you to get the bonus. For additional DFS options, explore our reviews of PrizePicks and OwnersBox.
Underdog has really made a name for itself in the DFS space. It hosts four contest types — Best Ball, Pick'em, Battle Royale/Daily Drafts, and Champions. This will appeal to casual and experienced players alike, and new players can take advantage of the very accessible welcome promo. The site is modern, and the app and desktop browser are pretty much identical - both feature fast load times and easy to navigate menus that makes placing picks and entering contests so simple.
The payment options accepted are plentiful too, with PayPal, debit/credit cards, and Apple Pay widely accepted. It's worth noting that withdrawals can take around 48–72 hours though. Customer support generally responds quickly, and although a loyalty reward program would be a nice addition, Underdog remains a popular and well-rounded DFS site.
After spending hours on this platform and making countless entries, I can recommend Underdog to any player looking for a fresh take on daily fantasy sports. The Pick'em format is simple, the Best Ball tournaments provide season-long action without the maintenance, and the mobile app makes it easy to build entries from anywhere.
Yes, there are downsides, such as the lack of a loyalty program and limited sports coverage in the Drafts section. But the platform more than makes up for this by providing other promotions and ensuring extensive coverage for Pick'em contests.
Underdog opens its virtual doors to players in more than 40 US states. If you're up to the age limit (18+ or older, depending on your location) and reside in a state where it operates, you can sign up and get started in minutes. For additional player prop insights to inform your DFS picks, check out our props section.
Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog fantasy operates. Terms apply. Offer not valid in MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-MY-RESET or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
Standard Pick'em entries require you to hit all your picks to win. Meanwhile, Flexed entries give you flexibility by withdrawing even if you miss one or two selections. The payouts of Flexed entries are lower to account for the safety net.
No, Underdog does not charge any fees on its end for deposits or withdrawals. However, you might incur fees from your payment provider, so check to be sure.
To register at Underdog, click the link provided on this page. This takes you to the official website, where you fill out the form with essential details such as your preferred username, password, and date of birth.
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(IL) If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and
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