In a move aimed at adding fairness and consistency to injury-impacted wagers, DraftKings has officially unveiled its Early Exit Program, a new policy that offers customers financial relief when their bets are compromised by player injuries. The sportsbook operator announced the feature on Friday, giving bettors a structured way to recoup losses when athletes exit games prematurely.

While injury-based refunds have been issued in the past, they were often handled inconsistently or at the discretion of the sportsbook. Now, DraftKings is implementing a clear and consistent policy that automatically determines eligibility based on sport-specific injury windows and wager types.

How the Early Exit Program Works

The Early Exit Program is available exclusively for bets placed on the DraftKings Sportsbook app or website. Eligible bets include pre-game, full-game player prop wagers, whether they are single bets or part of parlays or same-game parlays (SGP/SGPx).

If a single wager qualifies under the program, customers will receive cash credits equal to their original stake. For parlays and SGPs, the affected leg is removed, and the remaining selections are recalculated to reflect new odds. For instance, a three-leg parlay originally valued at +700 could be adjusted to +300 if one leg is voided due to a player injury.

However, DraftKings notes that qualifying bets will still show up as “Lost” in the “My Bets” tab, even though cash credits are issued. Refunds for eligible single bets are typically processed within 24 hours of the game’s end, and within the same timeframe after the final leg resolves for parlays.

Sport-by-Sport Eligibility Windows Defined

To qualify for a refund, the injury must occur during a specific time period early in the game, with sport-specific windows dictating eligibility:

  • NFL (Regular/Postseason): Player exits during the 1st quarter
  • MLB: Pitcher leaves before recording three outs; Batter exits before second plate appearance
  • NBA/WNBA (Regular Season): Injury occurs in the 1st quarter
  • NBA (Postseason): Injury must occur within the 1st half
  • NHL: Player exits during the 1st period
  • Golf: Withdrawal before the start of Round 2
  • Soccer (excluding friendlies): Subbed off in the 1st half (injury time included, halftime substitutions excluded)

Crucially, the player must start the game for the wager to be eligible under this policy.

Which Bets Don’t Qualify for Early Exit

DraftKings outlines several bet types that fall outside the scope of the Early Exit Program:

  • Live/in-play player props
  • Props already settled before the injury (e.g., if a player already hit an over bet)
  • “Under” prop bets that win due to early exit
  • Injuries occurring outside the defined timeframe

Additionally, DraftKings reserves full discretion over the interpretation and potential modification of the program, emphasizing that “all decisions rest with DraftKings.”

Real-World Application and Customer Reception

Even before the program’s formal announcement, DraftKings demonstrated its application in real-time. During the MLB Speedway Classic, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns was pulled following three outs due to a weather delay. DraftKings informed bettors via its X (formerly Twitter) account that “since it was a unique situation, we’re making your Chase Burns wagers eligible for Early Exit credits.”

The move received overwhelmingly positive feedback from users, many of whom had long requested standardized protection for injury-impacted bets. Previously, such refunds were inconsistent and often depended on customer service discretion.

DraftKings’ implementation of the Early Exit Program comes in the wake of similar initiatives by competitors. Fanatics Sportsbook, for example, introduced its Fair Play program in 2024. The platform claims it has already returned over $8 million to customers, including significant refunds during the NBA playoffs – with over $500,000 reimbursed to bettors who lost wagers due to an injury to Steph Curry.

With the football season fast approaching, DraftKings’ move positions the operator to remain competitive in a market where consumer protection is becoming a significant differentiator. “As one of the leaders in the sports betting industry, we believe in delivering a fan-first experience,” said Corey Gottlieb, Chief Product Officer at DraftKings. “That means a product that responds to every part of every game, including when a player exits early due to an unforeseen injury.”