Underdog Fantasy Review | Can Underdog Be Trusted?

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Underdog is a fantasy sports site that offers Pick’em contests, season-long Best Ball contests, and Battle Royale events across 15 popular sports. To get you started, Underdog rolls out a first deposit bonus worth up to $1,000, plus a special Pick’em entry. Just be sure to use the Underdog promo code TSNBET when you open a new account.

Underdog Fantasy operates in 40 US states and Washington DC, though another nine states disallow its Pick’em contests. In recent news, Underdog’s sportsbook product has applied for a North Carolina sports betting license. Once North Carolina launches legal sports betting, Underdog could become one of the first sportsbooks licensed. The question is whether Underdog is trustworthy for sports gaming—whether we’re talking about DFS or online sports betting.

We’ll answer that question and more in this review of the Underdog app, its betting markets, and its customer experience.

How To Get the Underdog Mobile App

Both iPhone and iPad users should visit the App Store and download the app titled "Underdog Fantasy Sports." Once there, click the "Get" button. Follow the instructions to download and install the app.

Android users should visit the Google Play Store and download the app titled "Underdog Fantasy Sports." Click the "Install" button. Once again, follow the instructions to download and install the app.

To create an account, enter a username, password, valid email address, and date of birth. If prompted, validate your account with the final four digits of your Social Security number. Make a first deposit using credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover work for deposits.

Underdog App Review - 4.4/5

Underdog Fantasy Sports has a 4.8 rating with 73,000+ ratings on the iOS App Store. The fantasy sports download is the 10th-highest-rated app in the sports category on the app store. It's free to download, though players must fund their account to play in paid fantasy contests.

Underdog Fantasy has a 4.0 rating with over 5,000 reviews on the Google Play Store. That's a higher Play Store rating than for most of Underdog’s rival apps. On Android devices, switching between apps causes picks to reset—a bug that partially explains the app’s lower rating.

Adding money is easy whether you use a credit card or PayPal. Withdrawing money is more challenging because it limits the options to PayPal and an electronic check. PayPal is the only convenient payout option.

The Underdog app is easy to use. Due to its use of player squares, it is one of the easier sports apps to navigate for desktop or mobile devices. Adding new players to a Pick’em contest is easy. Drafting in the snake drafts is simple. Anyone who’s engaged in a fantasy sports draft should have no problem.

Underdog Sportsbook Betting Markets - 4.6/5

On the sportsbook side, Underdog applied for a North Carolina sports betting license. Online sportsbooks in the Tar Heel State are targeting a March 2024 debut, though there’s no ironclad date at this time.

Underdog’s sportsbook product remains a bit of a mystery. The operator currently holds sports betting licenses in Colorado and Ohio, and its DFS product is fully legal in North Carolina. So what this new version might be—and what betting markets will be present—we’ll have to see.

As for the fantasy product, you can enjoy the major North American sports leagues in the draft format. This means NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and the PGA. If you look at the Pick’em contests, the menu expands to 15 options, including MMA and esports.

The final thing we should note about the North Carolina launch is that Underdog has not revealed its in-state partner. This could be a pro sports franchise, venue, or organization, but the partnership is a requirement for Underdog to launch. All the other future NC sportsbook operators have made their partners publicly known as of mid-January 2024.

Now, let’s break down a few bet types and explain how (or whether) they exist on the Underdog Fantasy platform.

Straight Bets

Underdog Fantasy has no equivalent of a straight bet. All contests require users to choose at least two players per contest. Underdog Sportsbook will likely have straight bets since it’s a basic sports bet. Expect point spreads, moneyline bets, and total bets like at DraftKings and FanDuel.

For what it’s worth, Underdog offers better payouts for its Pick’em contests than competitors, so the odds on its straight bets should be competitive.

Parlays

The Pick’em contests at Underdog use game rules much like those for parlays. Hence, Underdog Sportsbook might employ progressive parlays. These contests still pay bettors who suffer one or more losses. Normally, of course, one loss kills any parlay.

Looking down the list of Underdog Fantasy promotions, same-game parlays are highly likely to be featured on Underdog Sportsbook.

Futures

One of Underdog Fantasy’s specialties is its season-long Best Ball contests. The odds on the Best Ball contests are fair and weighted, which gives us hope that futures betting on the sportsbook product would have fair odds.

When its sportsbook launches, Underdog needs 20 to 25 sports to be competitive. Until the Underdog oddsmakers gain experience, the odds on the added sports might be unpredictable.

Underdog Fantasy Contests

Here are the types of contests players will find on Underdog Fantasy.

Pick'em Contests

Pick 2 to 5 players and choose whether they will score higher or lower than the projection in the square. The more correct picks you make, the higher the payout.

Battle Royale Events

Entrants select players using a snake draft. An entrant plays against a group of 6 or 12 contestants but also against all other groups of the same size. When the week's games are complete, the highest scorers win prizes. Different contestants can have the same players, of course.

Best Ball Contests

Season-long contests are much like traditional fantasy leagues. Players select rosters through a snake draft. Once the draft ends, no team can make waiver claims, substitutions, or trades. Each week, Underdog selects each entrant's highest-scoring players as starters. Users do not have to set a lineup each week.

Playoff Best Ball Weekly Contests

Users play against all other contest entries. Underdog determines winners and offers prizes each week of the playoffs.

Pick'em Champions

These contests are offered only in Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Users create a roster of 2 to 5 athletes. Participants choose their statistical metric and must beat opponents based on those projections.

Rivals Contests

This pick'em contest type involves two players. In these contests, the two users pick rival players in a sport (for example, LeBron James versus Kevin Durant.) Players have scores adjusted, so the Pick'em works much like a point spread in certain instances.

Underdog User Experience (4.8/5)

The app is easy to use. Click on a "square" to pick fantasy players. That player's projected stat line is posted on the square. The game is to pick whether the players will be higher or lower than the projected stats. For instance, you might pick whether an NFL quarterback will pass for over or under 265 yards.

One reviewer on the App Store ("TrewPhinsFan") noted that picks that would lose on FanDuel or DraftKings win on Underdog. This suggests the odds are better at Underdog. The same user likes the ability to enter season-long contests with large payouts and snake drafts.

Users won't find as many contests as they would on DraftKings. Underdog has good promotions, though they can’t compare with those at DraftKings. Underdog is a better choice if you prefer better odds to better promotions.

Customer Service at Underdog (4.5/5)

Underdog’s customer service resources receive high ratings. Users should find a deposit method that they use in everyday life. The withdrawal options should be improved, though PayPal and e-checks are adequate for most users.

The site offers three customer support options: email, call center, and live chat. Meanwhile, the Underdog Network newsfeed gives newcomers advice for navigating the site and playing fantasy sports. The site’s responsible gaming tools are substantial and helpful.

Banking Methods

The deposit methods at Underdog Fantasy include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Users can use both credit cards and debit cards when making a deposit.

Underdog supports PayPal and electronic checks as withdrawal methods. E-checks go directly to your bank account. PayPal accounts can be linked to a bank account, so you can move the PayPal withdrawals to your bank account within 24 hours.

Underdog's withdrawals are always free and require a minimum payout of $10. The user has no upward limit on withdrawals. They can withdraw whatever remains in their account.

A user's account balance has two categories: withdrawable and bonus cash. Withdrawable cash includes money you've deposited plus winnings from the bets you've made. Bonus cash is the amount of promotional money you've received. Since it's a sticky bonus, you cannot withdraw the bonus money. It serves only as a stake.

Customer Support

Customer service is friendly and helpful at Underdog. Contests are straightforward, while the app is well-designed and easy to use. The site offers three ways to contact support staff when you need help.

Underdog's support email is [email protected]. For those who prefer to speak to a customer representative over the phone, the number is +1 917-267-2182. The site also has a contact form for questions and concerns. You’ll find the live chat feature in the bottom right corner.

Responsible Gaming

Underdog provides tools and resources to help users enjoy safe and fair fantasy contests with high integrity. Users can set limits on deposit size, number of contest entries, losses, and time spent. The site also offers a transaction history to track gaming habits and check for unauthorized play.

Users should know that certain states set monthly deposit limits on Underdog Fantasy activity. Here are the monthly limits per state.

• Maryland: Residents and visitors have a $5,000 deposit limit per 31 days.
• Massachusetts: Residents have a $1,000 deposit limit per 31 days. Out-of-state users have no limits.
• Tennessee: Residents and visitors have a $2,500 deposit limit per 31 days.

Promotions at Underdog Fantasy (4.5/5)

The promotions at Underdog Fantasy follow the industry standards. The first deposit bonus is smaller than those of several top competitors, though it is within the same range of bonus money. Underdog offers several daily promotions that offer users value.

Underdog offers up to $1,000 in bonus cash to new customers. It’s a traditional deposit match bonus. The offer has a playthrough requirement of 1x, which Underdog describes as the "turnover."

Underdog also has a refer-a-friend bonus, multiplier boosts, Pick'em specials, money-back guarantees, and sweepstakes promotions. Multiplier boosts and Pick'em specials give you bigger payouts but with lower odds of hitting. Money-back guarantees are like no-sweat bets.

Final Verdict on Underdog Fantasy (4.8/5)

Underdog gives users an alternative way to enjoy fantasy sports with its Pick’em contests. The Underdog app is highly rated and easy to use. Underdog designs the whole mobile experience for ease. New users should have a few issues when creating an account and depositing.

Those who don’t enjoy Pick’em contests will find other gaming options. Best Ball leagues are a fun way to enjoy a season-long fantasy experience. Battle Royale contests give users the thrill of drafting, which most players describe as their favorite part of the game. Rivals contests let contestants pit specific players against each other.

Given Underdog Fantasy’s history, a prospective Underdog Sportsbook should offer a first-class sports betting experience. The odds should be better than average, while the promotions might be a bit less enticing than those at DraftKings, Bet365, or FanDuel.

Pros:

• Easy controls for entering contests
• Many options when choosing daily promotions
• Deposits using all major US credit and debit cards
• Legal in dozens of US states

Cons:

• Contests include only 15 sports
• More withdrawal methods would be nice

Is Underdog trustworthy?

Underdog is trustworthy. Dozens of states have licensed Underdog for fantasy sports, including Utah, Texas, and Alabama—states that refuse to license sportsbooks.

Given its existing relationship with many state governments, Underdog Sportsbook should gain licensing in US states that allow sports betting. Underdog has applied for an online sports betting license in North Carolina.

Here are the states where Underdog Fantasy can legally operate.

• Wyoming
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Virginia
• Vermont
• Utah
• Texas
• South Dakota
• South Carolina
• Rhode Island
• Pennsylvania
• Oregon
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• North Dakota
• North Carolina
• New York
• New Mexico
• New Jersey
• New Hampshire
• Nebraska
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Minnesota
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Maine
• Kentucky
• Kansas
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Georgia
• Florida
• Colorado
• California
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• Alaska
• Alabama
• Washington D.C.

Note that Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia do not allow Pick’em contests. Only traditional DFS drafts are allowed in these nine states.

Underdog Sportsbook FAQ

If the information above does not answer every question, here are the answers to popular questions that people have about Underdog Fantasy.

Is Underdog Sportsbook legit?

Yes. Underdog is legal in 40 US states and the District of Columbia (31 of those states allow the Pick’em format). Underdog is 100% legal and has a great reputation for fairness, safety, and fun. The site includes regular events, DFS tournaments, and the Best Ball Mania Tournament. It has fewer sports than other DFS sites, but that's the main drawback.

How can I withdraw from Underdog Sportsbook?

Withdraw using PayPal or electronic check. When you request a payout, you must request at least $10 in winnings. The payout limit is the same whether you use an e-check or PayPal.

Does Underdog charge a fee to withdraw?

No. Every withdrawal is free at Underdog. PayPal withdrawals have no fee, while e-checks also incur no fees.

Is Underdog better than Bet365?

Bet365 has a bigger welcome bonus than Underdog. It also has traditional odds where Underdog Fantasy offers Pick’em contests.

Underdog’s payouts are better than those of most rivals. It offers a 6x payout for a 3-player Pick’em. Most competitors offer a 5x payout for 3-player contests.

Can I cash out my bet at Underdog?

Yes. Underdog should have more cash-out options, but users can withdraw using PayPal or electronic checks. Player accounts have two tallies. One is bonus cash, and the other is withdrawable cash. Every cent in the second tally can be withdrawn.