What is Injury Protection in Sports Betting?
Injuries are one of the most frustrating parts of sports betting. You can make the right call, read the matchup perfectly, and still lose because your player leaves early with a hamstring pull. That’s why some of the biggest sportsbooks in the U.S. have introduced injury protection programs. These are policies designed to protect bettors when a player exits early due to injury.
While the details vary from app to app, the goal is the same: to make sure an unlucky injury doesn’t ruin your bet completely. Whether it’s DraftKings’ Early Exit, FanDuel’s Bet Protect, Bet365’s Prop Protect, or Fanatics’ Fair Play, each program offers a unique spin on refunding or voiding impacted bets.
In this article, we’ll break down how these injury protection programs work, highlight the key differences between them, and help you decide which betting app gives you the most fair and reliable coverage when injuries strike.
Which Betting Apps Have Injury Protection Programs?
Several of the biggest names in sports betting now offer built-in protection when players get hurt. These features have quickly become a staple among the top betting apps, giving bettors more peace of mind during unpredictable games. Leading sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365, and Fanatics Sportsbook each have their own version of injury protection, and even ESPN BET is exploring similar ways to safeguard player prop wagers.
Below, you’ll find a quick look at each sportsbook’s program and what makes them stand out.
| Betting App | Bonus | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 |
Bet $50, Get $250 in FanCash |
T&C Apply
Bet $50 & Get $250 in FanCash 21+. New customers in AZ/CO/CT/DC/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MA/ MD/MI/NC/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY. Different offer available in NY. Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $50+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer within 7 days of account opening to receive $250 in FanCash. Terms, including FanCash terms apply. See full Promo Terms and FanCash terms in the Fanatics Sportsbook app. | |||
#2 |
Bet $5, Win $200 in Bonus Bets |
T&C Apply
"Bet $5+ & Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins! GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Fees may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 10/19/25. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Ends 10/12/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. See full T&C at DraftKings." | |||
#3 |
Bet $5, Get $200 or $1,000 First Bet Safety Net |
T&C Apply
Choose your offer: Get $200 in Bonus Bets After Your First Real Money $5 Wager or Get up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Wager Loses 21+. New customers only. Limit one bonus per user. Offer available in AZ/CO/IA/IN/KY/LA/NJ/NC/OH/VA. Different offer(s) available in IL/PA/TN. First online real money wager for both offers. $10 first deposit required within 30 days. Minimum wager of $5 required to claim the $200 Bonus Bets. Must contain at least one selection at odds of -500 or greater. Loss refunded as bonus bets up to $1,000 with Safety Net Offer. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager is excluded from returns. New customers only, time limits and T&Cs apply. See full T&C at Bet365. #ad | |||
#4 |
Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins |
T&C Apply
Place a $5 Wager and Get $300 in Bonus Bets If That Bet Wins 21+. New customers only. Offer(s) available in AZ/CO/CT/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/MA /MI/NC/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VT/VA/WV/WY/DC. Minimum $5 first deposit required. Promotion bonus will be credited to your account within 72 hours of settlement of Qualifying Wager. First online real money wager only (minimum $5). Bonuses issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. See full T&C at FanDuel. | |||
#5 |
Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets |
T&C Apply
Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose 21+. New customers in AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA/MD/MA/MI/NJ/NY/NC/OH/PA/TN/VT/VA/WV/DC only. Players who place Eligible Wagers on the Eligible Games will receive $100 in Bonus Bets after their Eligible Wager(s) settle as a ‘win’ or ‘loss’. The Bonus Bet reward will be split into five (5) Bonus Bets valued at $20 each. Bonus Bets will be applied to the player's Account within 72 hours and must be used within seven (7) days of receipt. Limit one (1) Promotion Offer per Account. See full T&C at ESPN BET. | |||
Fanatics Fair Play
Fanatics’ Fair Play program was the first of its kind, the one that started the trend of protecting bettors from injuries. It set the standard that other sportsbooks now try to match, offering broad multi-sport coverage, generous protection windows, and automatic refunds when a player exits early and doesn’t return.
Unlike most imitators, Fanatics built Fair Play to feel fair from the start. It doesn’t just cover football; it extends to basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, and more. The rules vary by sport, but generally, if your player leaves during the early portion of a game, the bet is voided or refunded automatically. That simple approach has made Fair Play one of the most trusted player protections in sports betting.
What stands out
First sportsbook to introduce injury protection
Applies across multiple sports and bet types
Generous timing windows, especially in the NFL
Automatic refunds or voided legs
What to keep in mind
Coverage rules differ by sport
Only injuries (not benchings or rest days) qualify
Bet $50 & Get $250 in FanCash
21+. New customers in AZ/CO/CT/DC/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MA/ MD/MI/NC/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY. Different offer available in NY.
Must toggle on this promotion in your bet slip and wager $50+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer within 7 days of account opening to receive $250 in FanCash. Terms, including FanCash terms apply.
See full Promo Terms and FanCash terms in the Fanatics Sportsbook app.
DraftKings Sportsbook Early Exit
DraftKings’ Early Exit was the second one to come along, and is the closest to Fanatics Fair Play in terms of what it covers. Instead of limiting coverage to one league or refunding in bonus bets, DraftKings gives players cash back when an athlete leaves early and doesn’t return. It’s built to protect prop and parlay bettors from bad breaks without adding extra steps. The feature applies automatically whenever the rules are met.
The program covers multiple sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, with each having its own injury window. For NFL and NBA bets, the player must exit during the first half. While the timing rules can be a bit tighter than Fanatics, the overall coverage is more flexible and rewarding than most.
What stands out
Refunds paid in cash, not bonus credits
Automatic protection on eligible bets
Works across multiple sports and bet types
- Doesn't cover tennis like Fair Play does
"Bet $5+ & Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).
21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply.
On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Fees may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $200 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 10/19/25. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Ends 10/12/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
See full T&C at DraftKings."
Bet365 Prop Protect
Bet365’s Prop Protect gives NFL bettors a simple, automatic layer of insurance when injuries strike. It’s not as wide-ranging as Fanatics or DraftKings, but it delivers exactly what it promises: protection for player prop bets if your pick leaves early and doesn’t return. It's also the first on this list that has the downside of payment coming back in the form of bonus bets instead of cash.
If a player exits before halftime due to injury, Bet365 refunds single wagers as Bonus Bets and adjusts parlays by voiding the injured leg. It’s a focused feature meant for NFL props only, but for bettors who regularly target player markets, it adds a helpful cushion without requiring any opt-in.
What stands out
Automatic coverage on NFL player props
Applies to straight bets and parlays
Keeps remaining legs alive in parlays
What to keep in mind
Limited to NFL only
Refunds issued as Bonus Bets
Player must leave before halftime and not return
Choose your offer: Get $200 in Bonus Bets After Your First Real Money $5 Wager or Get up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Wager Loses
21+. New customers only. Limit one bonus per user.
Offer available in AZ/CO/IA/IN/KY/LA/NJ/NC/OH/VA. Different offer(s) available in IL/PA/TN.
First online real money wager for both offers. $10 first deposit required within 30 days.
Minimum wager of $5 required to claim the $200 Bonus Bets. Must contain at least one selection at odds of -500 or greater.
Loss refunded as bonus bets up to $1,000 with Safety Net Offer.
Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days.
Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager is excluded from returns. New customers only, time limits and T&Cs apply.
See full T&C at Bet365. #ad
FanDuel Bet Protect
FanDuel’s Bet Protect offers a more limited but still valuable form of injury coverage. It’s focused on NFL player prop bets, giving bettors a safety net when a player leaves early and doesn’t return. While it doesn’t extend to other sports, it provides a straightforward layer of protection where it matters most, the NFL.
Bet Protect has one clear disadvantage compared to the others. Only if your player exits during the first quarter due to injury, FanDuel steps in. Single bets are refunded as Bonus Bets, and if it’s part of a Same Game Parlay, that leg is removed and the odds are recalculated. It’s a smaller-scale program than what the others offer, but for NFL bettors, it’s a welcome bit of insurance.
What stands out
Automatic coverage on NFL player props
Applies to straight bets and Same Game Parlays
Helps reduce risk of injury-related losses
What to keep in mind
Limited to NFL bets only
Refunds issued as Bonus Bets
Injury must occur in the first quarter
Place a $5 Wager and Get $300 in Bonus Bets If That Bet Wins
21+. New customers only. Offer(s) available in AZ/CO/CT/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/MA /MI/NC/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VT/VA/WV/WY/DC.
Minimum $5 first deposit required. Promotion bonus will be credited to your account within 72 hours of settlement of Qualifying Wager. First online real money wager only (minimum $5). Bonuses issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days.
See full T&C at FanDuel.
ESPN Bet Injury Insurance
ESPN BET’s Injury Insurance offers a simple safety net for NFL prop bettors. If a player exits early and is ruled out for the remainder of the game, the app steps in to protect your stake. Straight bets are returned as Bonus Bets, while parlays have the injured leg removed and the remaining odds recalculated.
It’s a more targeted program than some competitors, focusing exclusively on NFL props, but it gives bettors a clear, automatic way to avoid losing due to early-game injuries.
What stands out
Automatic coverage on NFL player props
Applies to straight bets and parlays
Adjusts remaining legs in parlays instead of voiding the whole ticket
What to keep in mind
Limited to NFL only
Refunds issued as Bonus Bets
Bonus bets expire quickly
Bet $10, Get $100 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
21+. New customers in AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA/MD/MA/MI/NJ/NY/NC/OH/PA/TN/VT/VA/WV/DC only.
Players who place Eligible Wagers on the Eligible Games will receive $100 in Bonus Bets after their Eligible Wager(s) settle as a ‘win’ or ‘loss’. The Bonus Bet reward will be split into five (5) Bonus Bets valued at $20 each. Bonus Bets will be applied to the player's Account within 72 hours and must be used within seven (7) days of receipt. Limit one (1) Promotion Offer per Account.
See full T&C at ESPN BET.
Comparing Injury Protection Across Betting Apps
Not all injury protection programs are created equal. Some, like Fanatics’ Fair Play and DraftKings’ Early Exit, offer broad multi-sport coverage and cash refunds, while others, like FanDuel’s Bet Protect, Bet365’s Prop Protect, and ESPN BET’s Injury Insurance, focus primarily on NFL player props and refund via Bonus Bets. Timing windows, refund types, and eligible bet types all vary, so choosing the right sportsbook can make a big difference if a key player leaves early.
| Betting App | Program Name | Coverage Scope | Eligible Bets | Refund Type | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Fair Play | Multi-sport (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, etc.) | Player props, parlays, same-game parlays | Cash | Original program, generous timing windows, automatic |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Early Exit | Multi-sport | Player props, parlays, same-game parlays | Cash | Broad coverage, automatic application, strict NFL timing (1Q) |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Bet Protect | NFL only | Player props, same-game parlays | Bonus Bets | First-quarter window, automatic, limited to NFL |
| Bet365 | Prop Protect | NFL only | Player props, parlays | Bonus Bets | Covers props only, before halftime, automatic |
| ESPN BET | Injury Insurance | NFL only | Player props, parlays | Bonus Bets | First-half timing, automatic, refunds as bonus bets |
Which Program Is Right for Me?
Choosing the best injury protection program depends on your betting habits. If you wager across multiple sports and want cash refunds, Fanatics’ Fair Play or DraftKings’ Early Exit are the most flexible and rewarding options.
If you mostly bet on NFL player props and are okay with receiving Bonus Bets instead of cash, FanDuel’s Bet Protect, Bet365’s Prop Protect, or ESPN BET’s Injury Insurance provide a reliable safety net.
Ultimately, the right program comes down to the sports you bet on, the type of bets you place, and whether you prefer cash or bonus credits for your refunds.
Final Thoughts on Injury Protection Programs
Injury protection programs represent a major shift in sports betting. For years, a single early-game injury could wipe out a perfectly researched bet, leaving bettors frustrated. These programs change that by giving players a built-in safety net, making betting feel fairer and less risky.
This trend also shows how betting apps are responding to customer demands for more player-friendly features. By automatically refunding or adjusting bets when a player exits early, apps are helping bettors feel more confident and engaged. Injury protection may not eliminate all the uncertainty in sports, but it softens the blow when bad luck strikes and signals a more thoughtful, customer-focused approach in the industry.
Injury Protection FAQs
An injury protection program is a feature offered by some sportsbooks that refunds or adjusts your bet if a player exits a game early due to injury. It is designed to reduce the risk of losing a wager because of bad luck.
The 5 Major U.S. sportsbooks with injury protection include Fanatics Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, Bet365, and ESPN BET. Each app has its own rules for coverage, timing, and refund types.
Coverage varies by sportsbook. Some programs, like Fanatics Fair Play and DraftKings Early Exit, cover multiple sports, while others, such as FanDuel Bet Protect, Bet365 Prop Protect, and ESPN BET Injury Insurance, focus mainly on NFL player props.
It depends on the program. Fanatics and DraftKings typically issue cash refunds, while FanDuel, Bet365, and ESPN BET usually provide refunds as Bonus Bets. Terms for bonus credits, such as expiration or wagering requirements, may apply.
Bets qualify if they are placed on eligible player props or bets and if the player exits within the sportsbook’s specified timing window. For some apps, it's the first half of NFL games, while for others it's the first quarter. Programs usually apply without the need to opt in, but always check each sportsbook’s rules before placing your bet.
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Sports have always been a major part of my life. I played football and basketball, and I'm an avid golfer. My love for sports naturally led to a passion for sports betting, which I've been doing for 8 years. Initially, I relied on offshore bookies in Oregon, but since the approval of legitimate sites in 2022, I understand the importance of using reliable betting apps. As a strong advocate for smart sports betting, I aim to guide bettors in the right direction.
I hold a Writing degree from Oregon State and a journalism certificate from Palomar College. My goal has always been sports journalism, and writing in the sports betting industry allows me to combine my skills and interests.
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