PrizePicks is a Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) site that is legal in many states.
It has existed in its present format since 2015 as a viable alternative to the two leading DFS sites, DraftKings and FanDuel, for those who prefer a simpler, more straightforward type of play.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Legal in many states, including some where sports betting is not legal | Not legal in some states where sports betting is legal |
| Generous 100% deposit match welcome bonus | Maximum welcome bonus of $100 |
| Simple and straightforward; a great choice for beginners | Limited banking options |
| Covers all major sports and allows combining different sports on the same ticket | Wagers are limited to designated player prop parlays |
| Unlike at the leading DFS sites, customers don’t have to compete against each other | Limited money-making opportunities compared to the top DFS sites for seasoned bettors and high rollers |
| Choice of Power Play (pays more but the ticket must be perfect) or Flex Play (more than one way to win with smaller payouts for the majority of the selections correct) | 6 picks max for Flex Play and 4 picks max for Power Play |
| 24/7 customer support via live chat and email | No customer support by phone |
Our Verdict on PrizePicks
We think PrizePicks is an excellent choice for people who are new to DFS and would like to test the waters and try to win some money without serious risk to their bankroll. However, all of the betting options PrizePicks offers and many more are available at any legal US online sportsbook. So, if you live in a state where sports betting is legal, why limit your options unnecessarily? It is also worth noting that in 3 of the top 5 states in legal sports betting – New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania – PrizePicks is not a legal option.
PrizePicks was one of the standout start ups in the DFS and social sports betting arena and really stands out as one of the best. Since the operator went live, there have been a lot of challenges to its throne and there are now some very good apps like PrizePicks, including SportsMillions and Sportzino. Fliff is one of the closest competitors to PrizePicks, but we do feel Fliff has a slight edge in some aspects of the platform. You can see how the two square up in our Fliff vs PrizePicks showdown.
Welcome Bonus
New users receive a 100% deposit match bonus on their first deposit up to $100. However, before being permitted to withdraw any winnings, there is a playthrough requirement of 1x the bonus.
Getting Started
PrizePicks is open to US residents of eligible states, age 19 and older (age 21 and older in Arizona and Massachusetts).
Registration/KYC
Before you can start playing, you will need to do the following:
- Download the PrizePicks mobile app or visit the website
- Click on the “Sign Up” button and provide the requested information:
- Email address
- Full name
- Date of Birth
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Username and password
- Agree to the terms of use
Once PrizePicks verifies your identity, geolocation, and eligibility to play, you will be invited to make an initial deposit and claim your welcome bonus
Legal States
PrizePicks is currently legal in the following states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Banking
PrizePicks offers the following banking options with $10 minimums:
Deposits
- Instant Bank Transfer (ACH)
- Visa and Discover credit and debit cards
- MasterCard credit and debit cards (select states only)
- Apple Pay
- PayPal
Withdrawals
- Instant Bank Transfer (ACH)
- Visa and Discover credit and debit cards
- PayPal
Apps
The highly regarded iOS app has an average rating of 4.8 on the App Store. However, the average rating for the Android app on Google Play is only 2.9. You can also find the PrizePicks apps and download them from the official DFS site. As far as sportsbook apps go, PrizePicks is definitely up there with the best. Its easy to use, has a super clean interface and getting your bets down is very easy to do.
In terms of the app performance, we found it very simple to use. Navigating through all of the different menus was simple, and we created a lineup and submitted our entry very quickly. There was never a glitch from our experiences of using the PrizePicks app, the stats are updated in real-time so you can monitor your picks performance throughout the day.
Top PrizePicks Features
- Generous 100% deposit match welcome bonus
- User-friendly app and website, ideal for beginners
- Special offers for existing customers, including unlimited Refer-A-Friend bonuses ($25 for each referral who signs up)
- Offers diverse player props in a wide range of betting markets
- Choice of Power Play or Flex Play
Flex Plays and Power Plays
One of our favorite features on the PrizePicks site is flex plays and power plays. Flex Plays provide a fallback option, where one or two picks can lose but the bet remains active until the end. Power Plays are for those who are feeling more bold and confident in their picks, as each pick must win for the entry to win. However, like parlays, the more risk you take the higher the payouts, so your confidence could be handsomely rewarded.
It is features such as this one why we rate PrizePicks so highly. They have taken a fresh approach to DFS play, with different styles of gameplay to suit a variety of different preferences. The risk/reward levels through the Flex and Power Play options also mean it is suitable for both novice and experienced players.
PrizePicks Comparison
Whereas DraftKings and FanDuel customers compete against one another with the objective being to build the best teams, PrizePicks customers only need to compete against the house. You don’t have to worry about meeting salary cap requirements or competing against other entrants who may have more DFS knowledge and experience than you. This makes PrizePicks an ideal site for beginners. If you want to see how the operator compares to the DFS giants, you can read our in depth guide on PrizePicks vs. DraftKings.
However, the only plays you can make are game-specific over/under picks on select stats for individual players. Here are a few hypothetical examples.
- NFL: Patrick Mahomes passing yards: + or – 250 yards
- NBA: James Harden 3-point goals: + or – 2.5
- NHL: Connor McDavid: Goals:+ or – 1
- MLB: Bryce Harper: Hits: + or – 1
While these types of wagers are also available at traditional online sportsbooks, so are many other betting options besides player props that PrizePicks does not offer, including team totals and moneyline and point spread bets. In addition, you cannot make a separate wager on a single outcome. Every ticket must be in the form of a parlay. However, PrizePicks still gives you plenty of flexibility. Besides letting you choose from a wide range of popular sports, the same ticket can combine players from multiple sports.
What is PrizePicks Taco Tuesday?
Taco Tuesday is an ongoing promotion for new and existing players where you can get discounts on player projections. There is no deposit required and no referral code needed.
In this context, the ‘Tacos’ are what PrizePicks calls the discounts on player projections, with players receiving a discounted rate between 15 % to 25%. One of our favorite aspects of this promotion is that PrizePicks allows its users to determine which athletes become a Taco. PrizePicks puts out polls on its social channels like X and Discord, giving voters different athletes to choose from. Whoever receives the most votes is the focus of that week’s Taco Tuesday.
Other Promotions PrizePicks Offers
As well as the Taco Tuesday promo, PrizePicks currently offers the following promotions:
Free entry: Who doesn’t love a freebie! These entries won’t take any money from your PrizePicks account.
Discounted entry: Like Taco Tuesday, PrizePicks will provide a discount for a user’s player projection for a limited time, it typically ends a few hours before the game starts. However, these can happen on any day during the week.
Protected play: PrizePick will give you a refund on any losses for your first qualifying entry.
Payout boost: PrizePicks will increase the payout for a certain entry for a player for a limited time period. These boosts only apply to full games; quarters, seasons, halfs, etc don’t qualify.
Conclusion
While PrizePicks does not offer anywhere near the variety of betting options of a traditional sportsbook, it deserves high marks for its multiple great features and availability in many states. If you are new or fairly new to DFS but would like to give it a try and can play in a state where PrizePicks is offered, I highly recommend it.
