DraftKings Championship Series 2020
Official statement from DraftKings as of March 13 re. the Sports Betting Spring Championship:
“Unfortunately, due to escalating health concerns related to COVID-19 and guidance from government agencies, among others, DraftKings has decided to cancel the Sports Betting Spring Championship and suspend the Fantasy Basketball World Championship. While DraftKings wants to hold the FBWC at a later date if and when NBA play resumes, DraftKings cannot provide any further details until we learn more about the NBA’s decision.”
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DraftKings is bringing its Sports Betting National Championship and Fantasy Sports World Championship events together for Season 1 of the DraftKings Championship Series in 2020.
The series includes $100 million in prize money guaranteed over more than 40 events — including nine live championships — where DraftKings will crown the kings of daily fantasy sports and sports betting in the US.
Season 1 of the DraftKings Championship Series culminates in two main fantasy sports and sports betting competitions:
- Sports Betting National Championship
- Fantasy Tournament of Champions
Qualify for the 2020 DraftKings SBC
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DraftKings Sports Betting Championship Series
The DraftKings Sports Betting Championship Series is split into three live events over the course of the year:
- Sports Betting Spring Championship (New Jersey, March 19-22) (Note: Now cancelled)
- Sports Betting Fall Championship (New Jersey, TBD)
- Sports Betting National Championship (New Jersey, TBD)
The winners of the first two events will qualify for the SBNC live final which will feature a $1 million top prize. However, direct buy-ins will also be accepted at the DraftKings SBNC final. In 2019 the buy-in was $10,000.
The first-ever DraftKings SBNC was held in New Jersey in 2019. New Jersey poker dealer Randy Lee won the SBNC title and more than $1.15 million in total prize money. He topped a field of 260 players.
Where can I play/enter the DraftKings Sports Betting Championship?
You can take part in all three DraftKings Sports Betting Championship Series events by buying in directly.
It costs $5,000 to enter the 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship in New Jersey on March 19-22. You must then travel to New Jersey and be inside state lines between March 19 and 22 to take part.
You can also win your $5,000 tournament entry, plus a four-night hotel stay and $1,000 for travel expenses, through various daily fantasy sports qualifiers DraftKings holds online.
DraftKings fantasy sports contest are open in over 40 states including Pennsylvania; claim $20 free and open a new account via the link below. If you want to buy in directly for $5,000, create a sports betting account and get all of the details by emailing [email protected]
- Claim $20 free and qualify via DFS contests on DraftKings
- Claim $25 in free bets an open a sports betting account on DraftKings
The 2020 Sports Betting Fall Championship should follow a similar format with the same buy-in. The date and complete format have yet to be determined.
The DK Sports Betting National Championship event should follow a similar format with a higher $10,000 buy-in. DraftKings is already promising a $1 million top prize.
The date and complete format have yet to be determined but will likely surround a full schedule of games and the 2020 Fantasy Football World Championship.
DraftKings Sports Betting Spring Championship in NJ (Note: Now cancelled)
The 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship will be held in New Jersey from March 19-22. DraftKings is guaranteeing $1.5 million in prizes to the top finishers, including $500,000 to the winner.
The $5,000 buy-in gets you a DK Sports Betting Spring Championship tournament entry and a $2,000 sports betting bankroll to play with.
Once you’ve entered the contest, you can place bets from anywhere in the state of New Jersey. However, you are invited to hang out and watch the games with DraftKings at the VIP Sportsbook Venue in Weehawken, New Jersey.
Players with the biggest bankrolls at the end of the tournament will share the leaderboard prizes and everyone gets to take home whatever they have left in their bankroll.
Provided there are 536 or fewer entries, the top 25 will earn prizes of at least $10,008. The winner will also earn entry into the DraftKings SBNC.
2020 DK SBSC Payouts
- 1st — $500,000
- 2nd — $250,200
- 3rd — $150,120
- 4th — $100,080
- 5th — $75,060
- 6th-7th — $50,040
- 8th-10th — $35,028
- 11th-15th — $20,016
- 16th-20th — $14,011.20
- 21st-25th — $10,008
Rules of the DraftKings Sports Betting Spring Championship
Here’s a look at DraftKings’ published rules for the 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship:
- Only pro and college hoops bets are allowed.
- You must bet at least $1,000 across the four days to be eligible to win leaderboard prizes.
- Players with the highest bankrolls at the end of the tournament share the leaderboard prizes.
- All players take home their final bankroll.
- Only one entry per player.
- Bets can be placed from anywhere in the state of New Jersey or at the VIP Sportsbook Venue in Weehawken.
How to qualify for the DraftKings SBSC
- Direct buy-in — Guaranteed entry for $5,000; email [email protected] to get more info.
- DFS qualifiers — Win your $5,000 tournament entry plus a four-night hotel stay and $1,000 for travel expenses.
DraftKings Sports Betting Fall Championship 2020
The 2020 Sports Betting Fall Championship will likely follow the same format as the Sports Betting Spring Championship with the same $5,000 buy-in.
You should also be able to qualify via online DFS contests when available.
DraftKings National Sports Betting Championship 2020
The 2020 SBNC finale should follow a similar format to the 2019 DK SBNC with its $10,000 buy-in and $5,000 bankroll. DraftKings is already promising there will be a $1 million top prize.
The dates are not yet set, but the event will likely involve pro football betting, as it did in 2019, and surround the 2020 Fantasy Football World Championship, which in 2019 took place in mid-December.
Yes, you can qualify for sports betting via DFS
You don’t have to bet on sports to qualify for all three DraftKings Sports Betting Championship Series events.
In fact, you can win tournament entry, accommodations in New Jersey and $1,000 for travel expenses through various DFS qualifiers on DraftKings online.
That means the top finishers win entry into the events. The number of entries up for grabs depends on the number of buy-ins for each DFS qualifier and the buy-in level. However, DraftKings will often guarantee a number of entries in these qualifiers.
DraftKings Fantasy Tournament of Champions
The Fantasy Tournament of Champions involves 40 qualifying fantasy sports events where winners can earn a chance to compete in the live final held during the Big Game in Tampa, Florida, in February 2021.
The Fantasy Tournament of Champions live event final features a $1 million top prize. The qualifying events include 30 Fantasy Millionaire contests, five online fantasy championships, and five live fantasy championships held throughout the year.
This will be the first time winners of these competitions will come together for a Fantasy Tournament of Champions live event final.
$2M Win in 2019 Fantasy Football Championship
Of course, DraftKings has held live fantasy championship events for various sports over the past five years. The largest is traditionally the Fantasy Football World Championship.
DraftKings awarded a total of 180 entries through qualifiers run between Week 1 and Week 14 this past football season. The live final was held on Dec. 15 in Miami during Week 15.
Poker pro Jesse “180DegreesMiami” Martin qualified for the championship event starting with $597. He ultimately won a 12-person $5,375 qualifier to make the championship. He then went on to win the $2 million top prize with just a single lineup entry in the final.
Fantasy Basketball World Championship
Official statement from DraftKings as of March 13, 2020:
“Unfortunately, due to escalating health concerns related to COVID-19 and guidance from government agencies, among others, DraftKings has decided to … suspend the Fantasy Basketball World Championship. While DraftKings wants to hold the FBWC at a later date if and when NBA play resumes, DraftKings cannot provide any further details until we learn more about the NBA’s decision.”
The next fantasy championship event is the $4 million guaranteed 2020 Fantasy Basketball Championship set for New Jersey on March 21. DraftKings will award a total of 100 entries through various qualifiers running ahead of the event. All 100 finalists will earn at least $15,000 and the top prize is $500,000.
DraftKings DFS live fantasy championships
It involves at least 40 qualifying fantasy sports events where winners can earn a chance to compete in the live Fantasy Tournament of Champions final held during the Big Game in Tampa, Florida, in February 2021.
The final will feature a $1 million top prize. Qualifying events announced so far include:
- 30 Fantasy Millionaire contests
- 5 online fantasy championships
- 5 live fantasy championships
Featured Series — Live Events
The five live fantasy championships are:
2020 Fantasy Hockey World Championship
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Feb. 29
- $500,000 GTD
- 40 qualifiers
2020 Fantasy Basketball World Championship (Now postponed)
- Weehawken, New Jersey
- March 21
- $4M GTD
- 100 qualifiers
2020 Fantasy Golf World Championship
- Location TBD
- Aug. 13-16
- Guarantee TBD
- Qualifiers TBD
2020 Fantasy Baseball World Championship
- Location TBD
- Dates TBD
- Guarantee TBD
- Qualifiers TBD
2020 Fantasy Football World Championship
- Location TBD
- Dates TBD
- Guarantee TBD
- Qualifiers TBD
Online fantasy championships
The five online fantasy championship events also act as qualifiers for the DK Fantasy Tournament of Champions and are:
- Fantasy Hockey Online Championship (March 24, 2020)
- Fantasy Basketball Online Championship (March 25, 2020)
- Fantasy Baseball Online Championship (TBD)
- Fantasy Golf Online Championship (TBD)
- Fantasy Football Online Championship (TBD)
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Eligibility Restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com for details. Sportsbook: 21+. NJ/WV/PA Only.
FAQ
How does a sports betting championship work?
A certain percentage of your buy-in for any Sports Betting Championship Series event goes to your starting bankroll for that event. In the case of the $5,000 buy-in for the 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship, $2,000 is set aside as your bankroll.
You can use this and any winnings accrued to bet with throughout the entire event. However much you have left in the bankroll at the end of the contest is yours to keep in addition to any prize money earned.
Can you add more money in to keep making SBNC bets?
You are limited to whatever is in your starting bankroll plus any winnings accrued when it comes to Sports Betting Championship Series event betting. That means you can’t add any money to your bankroll, and if you lose it all you’re out.
How many games can you bet on in SBNC?
The 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship will be held in New Jersey from March 19-22, which also happens to include the first and second rounds of the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship only allows for betting on NBA and NCAA basketball, and there will be plenty of it.
The 2020 DK SBNC final will be moved to December and a late NFL regular season week to avoid issues surrounding the limited number of games available to bet on in the 2019 event.
Do I get to keep the money I win?
You can use all the money in your bankroll and any winnings accrued to bet with throughout the entire Sports Betting Championship Series event you are entered in. Whatever you have left in the bankroll at the end of the contest is yours to keep, whether you win any additional prize money or not.
How many entries will there be in the Sports Betting National Championship?
The 2019 DraftKings SBNC drew 260 entries. The 2020 DraftKings SBCS is split into three live events: the 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship, 2020 Sports Betting Fall Championship and 2020 Sports Betting National Championship.
Winners of the first two also gain entry into the 2020 DK SBNC final.
The longer lead up to the final, the format change, and the opportunity to run more qualifiers throughout the year should ensure more than 260 entries in 2020.
As of now the listed payouts for the Sports Betting Spring Championship are based around 536 entries.
How much is a direct Sports Betting Championship buy-in?
It costs $5,000 to enter the 2020 Sports Betting Spring Championship in New Jersey on March 19-22. It should be the same $5,000 to enter the 2020 Sports Betting Fall Championship.
The 2020 DraftKings SBNC should come with the same $10,000 buy-in it did in 2019.
Are the DFS and Sports Betting Championships split or combined?
While there is little in the way of overlap in the actual competitions, DraftKings has put its Sports Betting National Championship and various Fantasy Sports World Championship events together for Season 1 of the DraftKings Championship Series in 2020.
Live Fantasy Championship events are also being held the same weekends as SBNC events. Each individual DFS live event is entirely separate from any of the sports betting live events.
Who won the first DraftKings Sports Betting Championship?
New Jersey poker dealer Randy Lee won the first-ever DraftKings SBNC in 2019. He took home more than $1.15 million in total prize money, topping a field of 260 entrants.
Lee led after Day 2, but needed a $47,500 bet to win $90,725 on the Philadelphia Eagles +8.5 against the New Orleans Saints to win the title. The Eagles lost 20-14 and Lee booked the $1 million-plus win.
How are DFS championships different from SB championships?
Sports betting championships involve betting on sports using a set bankroll through a three-day period. There are specific rules set for what games and events you can bet on. You can buy in directly or win your way in.
DFS championships involve qualifying for entry into a single-day single-sport fantasy sports contest. Then, it’s a matter of winning that contest by building the top fantasy points earning team under a set salary cap.