FanDuel has introduced sports betting’s first-ever full-game injury protection capability, Bet Protect+, offering users the choice to pay a 3% surcharge on the total wager amount for refunds in the event of a player departing early.
“The challenge is that even with the most well-planned bet, the most comprehensive research, the best hunch – it can all get squashed by an unexpected injury. We want to allow our customers to regain that loss of control,” FanDuel VP of Sportsbook Product Jon Sadow said.
“Many competitors fund their offers by reducing generosity elsewhere – fewer tokens, less boosts, worse odds. FanDuel believed there was a way to offer full-game protection while still being the most rewarding sportsbook.”
FanDuel users have the choice to opt-in to Bet Protect+ prior to any wagers being placed, with the product having been launched before the NBA Playoffs officially began on April 18. The operator confirmed plans to roll out the full-time injury protection product for additional sports in the near future.
At the time of writing, Bet Protect+ was not made available in Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, although each market still has access to free first-quarter injury coverage.
Sadow continued: “When we discussed the in-app design, we wanted it to be seamless and familiar. Transparency was key. Customers can see the option, the fee and decide instantly if they want to enable it for a given bet.
“We wanted a solution that made sure customers had peace of mind and the control to manage injury risk – no matter the moment in the game. We want customers to know they’re not stuck when an injury happens in the third quarter. Because previously, they had no say. With Bet Protect+, they do.”
For straight bets, the wager will be refunded in cash rather than bonus bets, while FanDuel will remove affected parlay legs and recalculate payouts. In the event a FanDuel user opts-in to Bet Protect+ and wagers $10, they would then be charged $0.30 for the full-time injury protection.
FanDuel stated it conducted surveys of how Bet Protect+ would perform with its consumers prior to launch, finding the majority would prefer to pay for full-time injury protection rather than receive free partial coverage.
In Illinois, FanDuel chose to waive the $0.50 per wager surcharge it currently enforces upon residents through June 19, originally brought forth to counteract the state’s own $0.50 per bet surcharge for operators which accept over 20 million bets per year.
The move comes after Senator Daniel Didech introduced new legislation which would repeal the per wager tax enforced against mobile betting operators since September 2025.
FanDuel chose to shut down the operations of its peer-to-peer fantasy sports product FanDuel Picks on March 27, with account access and the ability to withdraw funds officially concluding on May 29
