Sportsbook Outage Survival Guide: Never Miss a Bet Again

It's 4th quarter, Chiefs-Eagles, and your sportsbook crashes. The app won't load. The website times out. You've got a live bet lined up that's about to become a goldmine, and you're locked out. By the time you get back in, the line's moved three points and your edge is gone.

This scenario plays out thousands of times every NFL Sunday, during March Madness, and on major fight nights. Sportsbook outages are inevitable—but being unprepared for them is a choice. This guide will show you how to stay operational when everyone else is staring at error messages.

Why Sportsbooks Go Down

Understanding why outages happen helps you predict when they're most likely and prepare accordingly.

Peak Event Traffic Overload

The #1 cause of sportsbook outages is simple: too many users hitting the servers at once. Super Bowl Sunday, NFL playoffs, March Madness—these events bring millions of users online simultaneously, all trying to place bets within narrow windows before kickoff or during halftime.

Real-world example: During Super Bowl LVII, multiple major sportsbooks (including DraftKings and FanDuel) experienced slowdowns and brief outages in the hour before kickoff. When 10 million users try to place last-minute bets within 30 minutes, even robust infrastructure struggles.

Scheduled Maintenance Windows

Sportsbooks need to update software, patch bugs, and upgrade servers. Most schedule maintenance during low-traffic windows (Tuesday-Thursday mornings), but sometimes urgent updates happen during peak hours.

Pro tip: Follow your sportsbook's official Twitter/X account. They usually announce maintenance windows 24-48 hours in advance. If you know DraftKings is going down Tuesday at 3 AM, you won't panic when it happens.

DDoS Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are relatively rare but do happen. Bad actors flood a sportsbook's servers with fake traffic, overwhelming the infrastructure and blocking legitimate users.

Real-world example: In 2023, several European sportsbooks experienced coordinated DDoS attacks during Champions League matches. While US books have better protections, it's a known vulnerability.

Payment Processor Issues

Sometimes the sportsbook is working fine, but the payment processor (PayPal, Visa, etc.) experiences issues. You can view odds and place bets, but deposits and withdrawals fail.

When this happens: You can still bet if you already have funds in your account, but you can't add money or cash out winnings until the processor is back online.

Geographic/ISP Issues

Occasionally, the sportsbook is fully operational, but your specific internet provider or geographic region is experiencing connectivity issues. This feels like an outage but is actually a local problem.

How to check: Use a mobile data connection (turn off WiFi) and try accessing the sportsbook. If it works on 5G but not WiFi, the issue is your home internet, not the sportsbook.

Pre-Game Strategy: Register at 3+ Sportsbooks Before You Need Them

The absolute worst time to set up a new sportsbook account is when your primary book is down and you're trying to beat a closing line. Here's the smart bettor's playbook:

The 3-Book Minimum Rule

Every serious bettor should have accounts at at least 3 sportsbooks, funded and verified, before any major betting event.

Recommended Setup:

• Primary: DraftKings or FanDuel (your main betting platform)
• Co-Primary: The other one (FanDuel or DraftKings)
• Backup: BetMGM, Caesars, or bet365

Why 3? If your primary is down, you have option 2. If both are down (rare but possible during massive events), you have option 3.

Complete Identity Verification NOW

Every legal sportsbook requires you to verify your identity before you can place bets or withdraw money. This involves uploading:

• Driver's license or state ID
• Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement)
• Sometimes a selfie for facial recognition

The problem: Verification can take anywhere from 2 minutes to 24 hours, depending on the book and time of day.

The solution: Complete verification at all your backup books today, while you're not under pressure. When DraftKings crashes during Sunday Night Football, you'll be able to switch to FanDuel instantly instead of waiting for documents to process.

Fund Each Account with $50-100

Don't wait until an outage to deposit money. Keep a small bankroll in each of your 3+ accounts:

• Primary book: 60% of your total bankroll
• Co-primary: 30% of your bankroll
• Backup book: 10% of your bankroll

Why? Deposits can take minutes to hours to clear (even with instant banking). If DraftKings goes down and you need to switch to BetMGM, but you have $0 in your BetMGM account, you're dead in the water while your deposit processes.

With $100 already loaded in each backup account, you can place bets immediately while you transfer more funds in the background.

Download All Apps and Set Up Biometric Login

Put DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars on your phone's home screen. Enable Face ID or fingerprint login for all of them.

Why? When you're switching books during a live game, every second matters. Searching for apps in a folder, typing passwords, and waiting for 2FA codes burns precious time while lines move against you.

How to Move Money Quickly Between Books

When a sportsbook goes down, you might need to rapidly move funds from your locked account to an operational alternative. Here's how to do it fast:

Fastest Withdrawal Methods (Legal Books)

Method	Speed	Notes
PayPal	1-24 hours	Fastest option for most books
Venmo	1-24 hours	Available on select books (FanDuel, BetMGM)
Play+ Prepaid Card	Instant-24h	Some books offer instant withdrawals to Play+
Online Banking	1-3 days	Slower but universally accepted
Check	7-14 days	Avoid unless necessary

Pro tip: Link PayPal to all your sportsbooks. When you need to move money from DraftKings to FanDuel, withdraw to PayPal from DraftKings (24 hours), then deposit from PayPal to FanDuel (instant).

Keep a "Float" in PayPal or Cash App

Instead of keeping 100% of your bankroll inside sportsbooks, keep 10-20% in PayPal or Cash App as a liquid reserve.

Why? If your primary sportsbook goes down and your backup is unfunded, you can instantly deposit from PayPal into any of your backup books without waiting for bank transfers to clear.

Example scenario:

• DraftKings crashes during an NFL game
• You have $0 in your FanDuel account
• But you have $500 sitting in PayPal
• Instant deposit from PayPal to FanDuel = you're betting within 60 seconds

Best Multi-Book Strategy for Line Shopping

Sportsbook outages aside, having multiple accounts open gives you a massive edge: line shopping. This is how professional bettors make money long-term.

What Is Line Shopping?

Different sportsbooks offer different odds on the same game. Line shopping means checking multiple books before placing a bet and choosing the one with the best price.

Example:

• DraftKings: Chiefs -3 (-110)
• FanDuel: Chiefs -2.5 (-108)
• BetMGM: Chiefs -3 (-105)

The best bet is FanDuel. You're getting an extra half-point (3 vs 2.5) and better juice (-108 vs -110). Over a season, this adds up to thousands in profit.

How to Line Shop Efficiently

1. Decide on your bet (e.g., "I want to bet Chiefs to cover")
2. Open DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM simultaneously
3. Compare the lines — which book offers the best spread and juice?
4. Place the bet at the best book within 30-60 seconds

Tools that help: Some bettors use odds comparison websites like OddsChecker or BettingStatus.com to see all lines at once without opening multiple apps.

Betting Opposite Sides for Arbitrage

Sometimes you can find arbitrage opportunities where you bet both sides of a game across different books and guarantee profit regardless of outcome.

Example:

• DraftKings: Chiefs -2.5 (-105)
• FanDuel: Eagles +3 (-105)

You could bet Chiefs -2.5 on DraftKings and Eagles +3 on FanDuel. If the Chiefs win by exactly 3, you win both bets. If they win by 2 or less, the Eagles +3 wins and the Chiefs -2.5 loses (you break even or profit depending on stake). If the Chiefs win by 4+, the Chiefs -2.5 wins and Eagles +3 loses.

These opportunities are rare but appear during line movement. You can't exploit them with just one sportsbook.

Which Books Have the Best Uptime? (BettingStatus.com Data)

Not all sportsbooks are created equal when it comes to reliability. Here's what BettingStatus.com's data shows for 2025-2026:

Tier 1: Most Reliable (99%+ Uptime)

• FanDuel: Industry leader in uptime; rarely crashes even during Super Bowl
• DraftKings: Comparable to FanDuel; solid infrastructure handles peak traffic well
• bet365: Global infrastructure with decades of experience; excellent reliability

Tier 2: Solid Reliability (98-99% Uptime)

• BetMGM: Good uptime, occasional slowdowns during NFL Sunday peak hours
• Caesars: Generally reliable; has had maintenance issues during major events
• ESPN Bet: Newer book but backed by PENN infrastructure; good so far

Tier 3: Occasional Issues (95-98% Uptime)

• Hard Rock Bet: Good uptime but less proven during massive traffic spikes
• BetRivers: Solid regional book; occasional slowdowns in peak states
• PointsBet: Has experienced more frequent outages; improving over time

Takeaway: If you need a rock-solid primary book, FanDuel and DraftKings are your best bets. But even they experience occasional issues, which is why you need backups.

Emergency Alternatives for Different Bet Types

Different sportsbooks excel at different bet types. When your primary book goes down, here's where to go for specific wagers:

Live Betting (In-Game Wagers)

Best alternatives: FanDuel, DraftKings, bet365

FanDuel has the fastest live line updates in the industry. If BetMGM's live betting is down or lagging, FanDuel is your go-to.

Same-Game Parlays

Best alternatives: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM

All three offer robust SGP builders. If one is down, the other two have nearly identical functionality.

Player Props

Best alternatives: DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365

DraftKings typically has the deepest player prop markets. If FanDuel is down and you need obscure NBA props, DK is your best bet.

Futures (Championship Bets, MVP, etc.)

Best alternatives: Caesars, BetMGM, DraftKings

Caesars often has the best odds on long-term futures. If your primary book's futures section is down, check Caesars first.

International Sports (Soccer, Tennis, Cricket)

Best alternatives: bet365, BetMGM

bet365 dominates international sports betting. If you're trying to bet Champions League or Premier League and your book is down, bet365 has you covered.

High-Limit Bets

Best alternatives: DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars

If you're trying to place a large wager ($1,000+) and your book is down, these three typically have the highest max bet limits on major markets.

Day-of Outage: Step-by-Step Action Plan

Your sportsbook just crashed mid-game. Here's exactly what to do:

Step 1: Confirm the Outage (30 seconds)

• Check BettingStatus.com — See if it's a confirmed widespread outage
• Try mobile data — Turn off WiFi and try loading the app on 5G. If it works, the issue is your internet, not the book
• Check Twitter/X — Search "[Sportsbook Name] down" to see if others are reporting issues

Step 2: Switch to Your Backup Book (60 seconds)

• Open your co-primary (if DraftKings is down, open FanDuel)
• Find the same game/market you were trying to bet
• Check the line — it may have moved slightly; decide if it's still worth betting

Step 3: Place Your Bet (30 seconds)

• Don't overthink it — if the line is still good, execute the bet
• Don't wait for your primary book to come back — lines move fast; the opportunity might be gone in 5 minutes

Step 4: Document the Outage (Optional)

If you missed a bet due to an outage and lost money because of it, document it:

• Take screenshots of error messages
• Note the time and what bet you were trying to place
• Some bettors file complaints with customer service for account credits (results vary)

Long-Term Strategy: Building a Book Rotation

Here's how professional bettors manage multiple sportsbooks:

Primary Book (60% of Bankroll)

Your main betting platform. The one you use most often.

• Best choice: DraftKings or FanDuel (personal preference)

Co-Primary (30% of Bankroll)

Your daily line-shopping companion.

• Best choice: The one you didn't pick as primary (FanDuel or DraftKings)

Backup/Specialist Book (10% of Bankroll)

The one you use for specific situations or as an emergency backup.

• Best choice: BetMGM (great parlays), bet365 (international sports), or Caesars (futures)

Bonus Hunting Books

Books you use specifically to claim welcome bonuses, then use occasionally for line shopping.

• Examples: ESPN Bet, Hard Rock Bet, BetRivers

Pro tip: Rotate which book is your "primary" every few months to avoid pattern detection and account limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a sportsbook outage is my internet or the actual site?

Try these steps:

1. Turn off WiFi and use mobile data (5G/LTE)
2. Try accessing the sportsbook from a different device
3. Check BettingStatus.com or Twitter/X for reports from other users
4. Try accessing a different website (Google, ESPN, etc.) to confirm your internet works

If the sportsbook loads on mobile data but not WiFi, the issue is your home internet. If it doesn't load anywhere and others are reporting issues, it's a legitimate outage.

Can I get compensated if I miss a bet due to a sportsbook outage?

It depends. Some sportsbooks offer account credits or bonus bets as goodwill gestures after major outages, but it's not guaranteed. You can contact customer service and explain what happened—worst case, they say no. Best case, they credit your account $50-100 in bonus bets.

Should I keep all my money in one sportsbook or spread it across multiple books?

Spread it. Keeping 100% of your bankroll in one book leaves you vulnerable when that book crashes, limits your account, or experiences withdrawal delays. A smart distribution is:

• 60% in your primary book
• 30% in your co-primary
• 10% in backups

This way, you're never completely locked out of betting.

What's the fastest way to deposit money into a sportsbook during an emergency?

PayPal or Venmo (if the book supports it). Both process instantly. Keep a "float" of $200-500 in PayPal so you can instantly fund any backup sportsbook when your primary goes down.

Are there any sportsbooks that NEVER go down?

No. Every sportsbook experiences outages occasionally. FanDuel and DraftKings have the best uptime records (99%+ operational), but even they've had brief outages during Super Bowl and March Madness. The solution isn't finding a perfect book—it's having backups ready.

Can I have the same bet placed at multiple sportsbooks for insurance?

Technically yes, but it's inefficient. You'd be paying juice twice. Instead, use multiple books for line shopping (finding the best price) or for betting when one is down—not for placing duplicate bets.

How often should I check if my backup sportsbooks are still funded?

Once a month. It's easy to forget you have $100 sitting in BetMGM when you've been using DraftKings exclusively for weeks. Set a monthly reminder to log into all your accounts and verify balances.

---

Final Thoughts: The Outage Will Happen—Be Ready

Sportsbook outages aren't a matter of if, they're a matter of when. Every bettor will eventually experience their primary book crashing during a critical moment. The difference between winning bettors and everyone else isn't avoiding outages—it's being prepared when they happen.

Your action plan, starting today:

1. Register at DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM (minimum)
2. Complete identity verification at all three
3. Fund each account with $50-100
4. Download all apps and enable biometric login
5. Keep 10-20% of your bankroll in PayPal as a liquid reserve

When your sportsbook crashes during the 4th quarter of a playoff game, you'll be placing bets while everyone else is refreshing their app and missing opportunities.

Smart bettors don't hope their book stays online. They plan for when it doesn't.

Track real-time sportsbook uptime at BettingStatus.com—we monitor DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and all major sportsbooks 24/7 so you know what's operational before you even open the app.