How to Develop an App Like DraftKings?

When you decide to develop an app like Draftkings, learning the process comes second.

In this competitive world of fantasy sports, it's important to know your brand’s niche to reach the target audiences and to win the market.

Likewise, DraftKings is one of the popular fantasy sports apps that helps to tailor unique betting app experiences. It's the one-stop destination for fantasy sports fans. 

Want to create a fantasy sports app like DraftKings? 

Well, we are here to provide you with complete details from the concepts, features, reasons, steps, to cost, timeline, and monetization strategies. 

Let’s begin the journey together. 

About DraftKings App and Related Stats

Are you aware of the DraftKings App?

Here’s a brief for those who aren’t aware of the same. 

DraftKings is an American Sportsbook & Casino app, where users can play with their favourite sports leaders and people. Under this platform, the games consist of NFL football, NBA basketball, MLB baseball, NHL hockey, EPL soccer, PGA golf, UFC, boxing, motorsports, and college sports. 

The app is all about providing users with an extraordinary experience to play matches in real-time. 

The DraftKings sports app is legal in Florida, Arizona, NewYork, West Virginia, connecticut, Tennessee, Indiana, Vermont, Maine, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Michigan, North Carolina, Iowa, Virginia, New Jersey, Wyoming, and Louisiana. 

Are you the one who wants to enter the industry and create an app like DraftKings?

Let’s dig deep into the same with learning about the latest fantasy sports statistics. 

• • The global fantasy sports market size is valued at USD 32.21 billion in the year 2024  and is expected to grow from USD 36.75 billion in the year 2025 to reach USD 105.58 billion by the year 2033, which is growing at a CAGR of 14.1% from 2025 to 2033.
  • Additionally, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from the year 2022 to the year 2032. 
  • In May 2024, the market size of the fantasy sports service sector in the United States was estimated as 10.3 billion U.S dollars. 
  • There are around 63 million active users on fantasy sports platforms in the US and Canada.

These are some of the important market stats you can evaluate when creating an app like DraftKings. 

Still confused about “why create an app like DraftKings?”

Check out the following sections. 

Why Develop an App Like DraftKings?

Before you answer the process to build a fantasy sports app like DraftKings, let’s analyze “why”.

What are the reasons to consider creating an app like DraftKings?

Here are the points to evaluate. 

1. Growing Market Size

DraftKings generated $4.7 billion in revenue in the year 2024, which is a 30% increase compared to the previous year. 

Additionally, the app had 4.8 million active users in the year 2024, more than doubling its user base in three years. This growing market size is the reason to consider creating an app like DraftKings. 

2. Gain User Attention

The UI/UX of the DraftKings app is attractive and engaging, which is the main reason why many users of fantasy sports use DraftKings as an important app. 

In the year 2023, DraftKings had 9.8 million downloads, which are primarily from its Sportsbook & Casino app. 

3. Community Building

Another important reason to consider while creating an app like DraftKings is Community building. 

The platform has a 34% market share of the US online sports betting industry, with 3.5 million monthly users. 

4. Source of Revenue Generation

One of the important reasons to create an app like DraftKings is revenue generation.

You can include diversified options to earn money, such as in-app purchases, in-app advertising, subscription models, and many others. 

5. Ensures Trust

More than a website, an app like DraftKings is trusted more by users. When it comes to an app, it builds trust among the users through diversified means. 

Through strengthening mobile app security, among the apps, the DraftKings app is popular for building the user’s safety through securing their data. 

These were some of the major reasons to consider when you start with an online fantasy sports business. 

Now, as you are aware of the reasons to build an app, let’s learn how it works.

How Does an App Like DraftKings Work?

Before learning about the process to create an app like DraftKings, you should analyse the working process of the DraftKings app. 

Let’s learn about the steps here. 

1] Download and Installation

The foremost step that you can consider is the download and installation of an app. It is all about searching for an app like DraftKings on iOS or Android, then downloading and installing the app on the selected platform. 

2] Profile Creation

Now, it's time to create a profile, where users can input their data such as name, address, and other related details to build their profile. This step is all about creating a personal dashboard. 

3] Create Virtual Teams

Users can create virtual teams on the platform. This is an important scenario where the players have to select their side, whether they want to be the manager or commissioner in the game. Additionally, here the users can create their favorite teams and select the players. 

4] Competing in Contests

Well, here the users should compete in the contests. Over the apps like DraftKings, the platform provides a platform for users to challenge their friends and compete against other fans nationally. 

5] Real-Time Match Tracking

One of the significant scenarios that should be adopted is real-time match tracking. Here, the users can track the current challenges in the game and may make decisions accordingly. It is one of the important steps that engages the users on the platform. 

6] Play, Earn, and Review

The users can play and earn points after playing the game. These points can increase their rankings on the dashboards. 

Additionally, the users can add reviews based on their experience with their gameplay. 

Well, let’s explore some of the essential features to include in an app like DraftKings in the given section. 

Features to Include in an App Like DraftKings

When you begin to create a fantasy sports app like DrafKings, features are the blood of an app. 

Fantasy sports app features, are essential elements that engage and attract potential users. Well, can you think of an app without features? 

Then, let’s learn about features to build a fantasy sports app like DraftKings. 

1. User Registration

This is the basic feature that you can calculate when it comes to an app like DraftKings. 

It's all about providing the users with a space where they can securely add names, addresses, and other details to enjoy playing fantasy sports. 

2. Authorization and Verification

Now, it's time to perform authorization and verification using the feature of authorization and verification. You can include the authorization through mail and OTP. 

This feature ensures that the app can be trusted to include their personalized details. 

3. Push Notifications

Push notifications are a feature that provides real-time updates based on the game in the field. 

Here, the users can send timely communications advising users towards the match updates, adding promotional offers, and upcoming events. This helps the users to make wise decisions. 

4. Real-Time Scoring and Live Updates

With the real-time scoring and live updates, the users can get data about the players in the field, their live scores, and real-time scenarios. 

It allows the users to access data in near-instantaneous updates. 

5. Secure Payment Gateways

This is an important API and feature that you can integrate into the fantasy sports app to allow the users to proceed with the payments. 

Through integration with payment gateways for transactions, you can proceed and connect with the scalable backend systems. 

6. Social Media Integration

With the help of social media sharing, the users can proceed with the secure sharing of their winnings. 

The users can share their information via different platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and many others. 

7. Gamification

Gamification is an updated feature that you can include in an app like DraftKings. 

It is an engaging feature to consider and comprises elements like badges, points, leaderboards, and more interactive features. 

8. AR and VR Integration

The integration of AR and VR in the apps is all about providing the users with an experience of real-time playing in the apps. 

The integration of AR and VR is all about providing advanced possibilities for seamless and real-time gaming experiences. 

9. AI Implementation

The use of AI in fantasy sports apps helps provide users with personalized recommendations helpful to enhance their gaming experiences. 

It enhances the functionality of the apps through advanced AI algorithms and provides engaging results. 

10. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology as a feature in the fantasy sports apps helps secure the data of the users and provides them with an updated network to play games. 

This feature helps change the way transactions occur in the fantasy sports apps. 

These are all the features that you should consider when creating your dream app. 

Well, in the next section, let’s proceed with the process of building an app like DraftKings.

How to Create an App Like DraftKings?

Want to build a fantasy sports app?

The DraftKings app is among the most popular apps targeted at reaching a wide number of users. To build a DraftKings app, you should be aware of the right series of steps. 

Let’s learn the steps to build an app like DraftKings below. 

Step 1: Idea Generation

Idealization is the prime step that begins with identifying the needs of the users. It is all about creating new ideas, concepts, and possibilities to resolve problems and explore opportunities. 

It is one of the essential processes used to form a new idea. 

Idea generation is all about the process of creating, developing, and communicating abstract, concrete, and visual ideas. 

Step 2: Market Research and Analysis

You should conduct in-depth market research related to fantasy sports. It's all about evaluating the needs and preferences of the users in this competitive environment. 

Here, it's important to gather and analyze data on consumers and competitors. This step includes creating strategies related to building an app like DraftKings. Along with hiring an iOS app development company or an Android App Development Company. 

These analysts study the consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess the potential requirements and demands of the fantasy sports apps. 

Step 3: Create an MVP

You should successfully evaluate the minimum viable product (MVP), which is a stripped-down version of an app that comprises only essential features required to test the core functionality of an app. 

MVP is a powerful way to validate the product idea and to create the game app. It is a version of an app where the developers include limited features and then test it in the market. 

The early adopters use this version and then provide feedback to the businesses. This helps the businesses to improve the app’s functionalities.

Step 4: Design the App

This is an important step that includes UI/UX app design comprising developing the front-end of the app. 

Here, it is important to create the wireframe and prototype of an app like DraftKings. The step is all about developing the infrastructure of the app. 

It comprises understanding the user's needs, defining the app's goals, and iterating designs based on the user feedback. The fantasy sports app design is all about focusing on the user-friendly design and creating an engaging interface for the users to draft teams. 

Step 5: Build the Core Functionalities

Building the backend for the fantasy sports app comprises key components, including user management, league creation, game scoring, management, and data integration. 

It is essential to create the core functionalities of the app by identifying the programming languages, databases, and various integration channels to build an app like DraftKings. 

The app tech stack should be selected after evaluating the types of platforms to launch the app. 

Step 6: Test the App

Now, it's time to combine all the steps, create an app like DraftKings, and then test the overall app by running the test against the app consistently and rigorously. 

The testing is all about validating the appearance, performance, and functionality of the apps across diversified devices and platforms. 

The mobile app testing is all about identifying the errors and then addressing them through effective tools before they impact the user experience. 

Step 7: Deployment, Launch, and Maintenance

Now, it's time to proceed with the app deployment over the selected platforms and then launch the app. 

Then it comes to mobile app maintenance, where you should adopt the updated tools and techniques for sustaining the app in a competitive environment. 

Maintenance is all about addressing bugs, performance issues, and security vulnerabilities in the app.

These were some of the crucial steps to proceed with “how to create an app like DraftKings?”

After identifying the steps to create an app like DraftKings, let’s examine the overall cost to create an app like DraftKings in the following section. 

Cost to Build an App Like DraftKings

What is the total cost to create an app like DraftKings?

The cost to build a fantasy sports app can vary from $15,000 to $150,000, which depends on the factors, including the complexity of the app, design, skills of the developers, maintenance, security of the app, and technology stack. 

The mobile app development cost should be evaluated after assessing the diversified factors and their value for evaluating the complete cost. 

You cannot build an app like DraftKings without evaluating resources such as cost and time. The given table provides you with factors impacting the cost. 

Let’s evaluate the timeline to develop an app like DraftKings in the given section. 

How Long Does it Take to Develop an App Like DraftKings?

To evaluate the timeline to develop a fantasy sports app like DraftKings, you should know the factors influencing the same. 

Well, in the given table, let’s evaluate “how long does it take to create a mobile app?”

The approximate timeline to create an app like DraftKings can vary from 11 to 19 months. This timeline can even reduce or may increase depending on factors such as the complexity of an app, the skills of the developers, and project objectives. 

Till now, we have discussed the concept, features, reasons, and steps to build an app like DraftKings, the costs, and timelines.

Now, let’s evaluate the sources of earning money from the section stated below. 

Key Monetization Strategies to Build an App Like DraftKings

What are the top monetization strategies to include while building an app like DraftKings?

The following points include the key fantasy sports app monetization models.

► League Entrance Fees

You can earn money from an app like DraftKings by mentioning the entrance fees for playing any league. This can add a permanent source of revenue for your customized app. 

The fees are used to cover the overall cost that is linked to running the league, such as venue rentals, equipment, and prize tools. 

► Advertising Model

Another important method is the advertising model, where you can connect with diversified third-party apps and businesses that want to promote their products and are interested in posting ads on your platform. 

It is a monetizing model where the revenue comes from impressions and displaying the ads to the targeted users. This can become a permanent source of revenue once your app has a large user base. 

► Subscription Plans

For the fantasy sports apps, you can add the subscription plans as a monetizaton strategy. Here, the price can vary depending on the user’s interests, so that they can buy game plans as per their preferences. 

It is a continuous mode of earning revenue and making money when it comes to creating an app like DraftKings. The strategy is all about offering exclusive content to their audience. 

► Sponsorships and Partnerships

It is a monetization model where the business partners with different entities, such as creators and organizations, to gain brand exposure, reach new audiences, and potentially drive sales. 

This is a permanent source of monetization, providing support in exchange for promotional benefits. It can become a permanent source of earning money. 

► Fantasy Sports Merchandising

The fantasy sports merchandising model is all about selling fantasy sports along with other products, such as signed t-shirts of the players, to fans in exchange for money. 

You can proceed with branded merchandising to earn money. This can become an additional income source for your app. 

These were some of the monetization strategies that you can consider while creating an app like DraftKings. 

Connect With JPLoft and Build Your Dream App

Searching for a leading app development company?

JPLoft is here to help. Our team is ready to help you with the research, identifying the effective features that will help you to lead the competitive industry. 

We are the leading Fantasy Sports App Development Company focused on delivering quality to our clients by converting their dream apps into reality. 

You can discuss all your issues with our team, and we are ready to deliver all the related accommodations from planning, developing, to launch, and maintenance. 

Conclusion

Overall, developing an app like DraftKings presents a lucrative opportunity in the burgeoning fantasy sports market, evidenced by its impressive revenue and user growth. 

Key factors for success include a user-friendly interface, engaging features like real-time scoring and social integration, robust security, and strategic monetization through league fees and advertising. 

The development process involves thorough market research, MVP creation, meticulous design, robust backend and frontend development, rigorous testing, and ongoing maintenance. 

While the timeline and cost can be substantial, the potential for user engagement and revenue generation in this expanding market makes creating a DraftKings-like app a compelling venture.