DraftKings has launched a new Early Exit program to protect prop bets placed via its online sportsbooks. The initiative officially rolled out on August 4, 2025, offering refunds when a player leaves due to injury during early game windows. It covers NBA picks, WNBA picks, NFL picks, NHL picks, and MLB bets.
The program applies only to pre-match, full-game player prop bets on DraftKings’ Sportsbook platform. If a single bet qualifies, the customer receives a cash credit equal to the original stake. For parlays or same-game parlays, DraftKings voids the impacted leg and recalculates odds based on the remaining legs.
What is the Early Exit for Major Sports?
Eligibility varies by sport. Below is a sport-by-sport breakdown:
MLB picks: if a starting pitcher exits before recording three outs, or a starting batter exits before their second plate appearance, the wager qualifies. The player must have started the game.
NFL picks: qualifies if the player exits due to injury during the first quarter, including postseason games.
NBA picks: for regular season games injuries must occur during the first quarter. For postseason NBA, the window extends to the first half.
WNBA picks: eligible if the injury occurs in the first quarter of a game.
NHL picks: applies when a player exits due to injury in the first period, in both regular and postseason games.
Soccer picks: applies when a player is subbed off during the first half, including injury time, excluding halftime substitutions. It excludes friendlies.
Golf: bettors receive credits if a player withdraws before the start of the second round.
Other Betting Proponents
Importantly, the program does not cover live or in-play player props. Likewise, bets settled before the injury, under props, and injuries outside the designated window are ineligible. Moreover, DraftKings reserves full discretion to interpret or adjust the program at any time.
Credits for qualifying single bets are issued within 24 hours after game completion. For qualifying parlays or same-game parlays, credits arrive within 24 hours after the final bet leg resolves. Nonetheless, these bets remain marked as “Lost” in the bettor’s account history.
DraftKings previously tested the Early Exit policy in one instance involving a weather delay that ended a Cincinnati Reds pitcher’s appearance after three outs. The platform issued refunds proactively via its X (formerly Twitter) account, signaling the program’s real-world application even before the formal launch. The policy adds clarity where injury‑related bets once relied solely on ad hoc determinations.
As consumer protection becomes a focal point in the rising realm of online sportsbooks, this initiative positions DraftKings as a leader in standardizing refunds across prop bets.