Introducing DraftKings Sportsbook Early Exit
Let's face it: Nothing kills a player prop faster than your guy limping off in the first quarter. You handicap the matchup, find the right line, and boom - gone before he’s even broken a sweat. Normally, that’s a straight loss.
DraftKings’ Early Exit changes that game. If your player goes down early enough, DraftKings Sportsbook new injury policy gives you back your stake in cash credits instead of leaving you holding the bag.
Thanks to Early Exit, you can now bet player props without the ever-present fear that you will be punished for something you couldn’t predict.
What is DraftKings Early Exit?
Early Exit is a built-in insurance policy for player props. Much like Fanatics’ Fair Play policy, if your player leaves during a set “early window” for that sport and doesn’t return, DraftKings will issue a cash credit refund to your account.
It’s designed to cover genuine injury bad beats - not already-decided outcomes - and the exact “window” depends on the sport.
The mechanics are simple: early injury + no return inside the sport’s window = a credit back to you.
Players spoke and DK listened! No more bad beats when your players get injured early on in the match!
Available across many of the top leagues and sports in the U.S. - NFL, NBA/WNBA, NHL, MLB, golf, and soccer — DraftKings Early Exit isn’t limited to straight wagers. It also covers parlays, Same Game Parlays, and SGPx combos on pre-game player props and if your selection had already cashed (like an Under that hit before the injury) - your wager still gets paid!
This article breaks down how DraftKings’ Early Exit works, and why it’s such a big hit with bettors. We’ll cover what types of bets qualify, what the rules are for each sport, when refunds hit your account, and more.
Is DraftKings Early Exit really that big a gamechanger?
Honestly: Yeah, it is. Props are where a lot of casual bettors get hooked - and also where they take the most “bad beat” losses. One ankle tweak and your Over 69.5 receiving yards is dead on arrival.
By formalizing a refund policy for early injuries, DraftKings removes one of the ugliest pain points in prop betting. You still need to find value in the numbers (and not rely on this as a crutch), but having that safety net keeps your edge intact. Think of it like a free insurance rider on a bet you were already making.
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What types of bets qualify for DraftKings Early Exit?
DraftKings Early Exit applies to pre-game player prop selections placed in:
- Straight wagers
- Parlays
- Same Game Parlays (SGPs) and SGPx
For straight wagers, you’ll see your stake credited back once DraftKings confirms the injured player did not return within the Early Exit window.
When it comes to parlays or SGPs, only the affected leg is flagged by Early Exit. If the rest of your selections go on to hit, your parlay still pays - just at recalculated odds.
What sports is DraftKings Early Exit available on?
DraftKings Early Exit rules apply to most of the major sports and leagues that DK Sportsbook carries.
Below you can see exactly when Early Exit kicks in for each:
Sport / League | When do Early Exit rules apply? |
|---|---|
 | DraftKings Early Exit NFLRefunds trigger when your player is injured in the 1st Half and doesn’t return |
 | DraftKings Early Exit NBA / WNBARefunds trigger when your player withdraws before: Regular Season: 1st Quarter Playoffs: 1st Half |
 | DraftKings Early Exit MLBRefunds trigger when:
|
 | DraftKings Early Exit NHLRefunds trigger when your player is injured in the 1st Period and doesn’t return |
 | DraftKings Early Exit GolfRefunds trigger when your player withdraws before starting the 2nd round |
 | DraftKings Early Exit SoccerRefunds trigger when a player is subbed off due to injury in the 1st Half (injury time included; halftime subs excluded) |
How does DraftKings Early Exit work?
In the section below, we’ll break down how the DraftKings Early Exit policy works step by step, so you know exactly what to expect if a player you bet on leaves the game due to injury. We’ll use an NFL matchup as an example, but the same process applies across sports.
Create an account with DraftKings Sportsbook and make a deposit it using any of their convenient deposit methods (instant bank transfer, PayPal, card, etc.).
Nothing new here - just make sure you’re loaded up before kickoff.
- If your player never returns and your prop is sunk, DraftKings will issue a cash credit refund to your account within 24 hours of the game.
If your prop had already cashed (like an Under that hit before the injury), it still pays as a normal win.
For parlays/SGPs, the affected leg is recalculated - if your other legs hit, you still get paid out at adjusted odds.
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In the spirit of fair play, Fanatics Sportsbook will pay out/refund your wager if a player you bet on gets injured early on in the game!
A real game-changer, the bet365 Early Payout promotion ensures you'll never be on the wrong end of a comeback.
DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules
Here at MyBettingSites we’re all about squeezing value, and that means knowing the fine print of every betting promo we partake in.
While DraftKings’ Early Exit is more of a advantageous set of rules than a promo, if you’re betting player props, you’ll want to know exactly how DraftKings handles injuries - and whether your bet qualifies for Early Exit protection.
- DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules NFL
- General rules:
Player props are void if the player does not participate at all.
If the player takes part and is injured later in the game, bets settle as per market terms (unless Early Exit applies).
Football Early Exit rules:
Refund applies if the player leaves in the 1st Half (regular season or playoffs) due to injury and does not return.
Only pre-match player props are eligible; live bets excluded.
Already-settled outcomes (e.g., an Under that hit) remain as graded.
- General rules:
- DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules NBA / WNBA
- General rules:
Player props are void if the player never enters the court.
If the player participates and later leaves injured, wagers settle as written unless Early Exit applies.
Basketball Early Exit rules:
Regular season: refund if the player exits in the 1st Quarter and does not return.
Playoffs: refund if the player exits in the 1st Half and does not return (NBA only)
Only pre-game player props; live bets excluded.
Wagers that have already been won before injury stand as winners.
- General rules:
- DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules MLB
- General rules:
Player props are void if the listed player does not start (pitcher or batter).
If they start and leave later in the game (due to injury or otherwise), wagers settle per market rules - unless Early Exit applies.
Baseball Early Exit rules:
Pitcher: refund if he exits before recording 3 outs.
Batter: refund if he exits before his 2nd plate appearance.
Player must have started the game for coverage to apply.
Only pre-match player props; live bets excluded.
- General rules:
- DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules NHL
- General rules:
Player props are void if the player never takes the ice.
If they participate and are later injured, bets settle per market rules unless Early Exit applies.
Hockey Early Exit rules:
Refund applies if the player exits in the 1st Period and does not return (regular season + playoffs).
Only pre-match player props; live bets excluded.
Props with settled outcomes at the time of injury stand.
- General rules:
- DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules Soccer
- General Injury rules:
Player-specific markets require the named player to take the field. If the player doesn’t play at all, related props are void.
If the player participates, bets settle as written, regardless of substitution (unless Early Exit criteria apply).
Team and match markets settle per normal soccer rules (90 minutes + stoppage unless otherwise specified).
Early Exit rules:
Applies if a player is subbed off due to injury in the 1st Half (injury time included; halftime subs excluded).
Eligible competitions include MLS, Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A, Ligue 1, La Liga, and Bundesliga.
Only pre-match player props are eligible; live bets excluded.
If the selection had already cashed (e.g., a Shots on Target Over already hit), the bet still pays.
- General Injury rules:
- DraftKings Sportsbook Injury Rules Golf
- General rules:
If a golfer withdraws or is disqualified before starting a round, all bets on that round are void.
Once a golfer has teed off, markets for that round or tournament settle according to posted rules (including cut rules, dead-heat rules, and specific market terms like 3-ball or head-to-head).
Early Exit rules:
If a player withdraws before the start of Round 2, DraftKings issues a cash credit refund under the Early Exit policy.
Applies only to pre-game player props.
Live bets and bets that were already settled are excluded.
- General rules:
Recent examples of DraftKings Early Exit
While DraftKings’ Early Exit might not grab headlines like sign-up bonuses or odds boosts, the truth is it can make a real difference over time - especially if you’re the kind of bettor who lives in the player prop markets.
DraftKings Sportsbook’s injury rules have already kept plenty of tickets alive, and the company isn’t shy about highlighting the payouts when Early Exit gets triggered.
To show just how much of a game-changer this feature can be, we compiled recent matches from multiple sports where Early Exit came into play. In those same spots, betting at most other sportsbooks would have meant eating a straight loss.
NFL DraftKings Early Exit Examples
Sept 28, 2025 - NFL Week 4
Malik Nabers (New York Giants WR) was ruled out in the 2nd Quarter & was eligible for Early Exit.
Sept 21, 2025 - NFL Week 3
Cowboys’ star WR CeeDee Lamb went to the ground early in the first quarter vs Chicago and did not return.
Sept 12, 2025 - NFL Week 2
Jayden Reed (Green Bay WR) bettors received Early Exit credits following his injury in the 1st quarter.
DraftKings Early Exit FAQ
DraftKings’ Early Exit is a built-in protection policy that issues cash credit refunds on player prop bets when the player you backed leaves the game early and doesn’t return.
While most other US sportsbooks will simply grade that bet as a straight loss, DraftKings takes a fairer approach for their players - giving you back your stake in credits. And if it’s a parlay or SGP/SGPx, only that injured-player leg gets covered, while the rest of your bet continues.
Yes, if the player you bet on exits during the Early Exit window for their sport and does not return, DraftKings will refund your stake in cash credits.
If your player already achieved the result before leaving - for example, an Under that cashed or a TD scorer that hit - your wager is graded as a normal win, making it all the more attractive for prop bettors.
DraftKings will void your player props whenever a player you bet on leaves a game inside the defined window for that sport and does not return. To see the exact timeframe that applies for each sport, check out our Injury rules by sport section above.
If the Early Exit rules apply to your wager, you will receive a cash credit back to your account within 24 hours.
As soon as DraftKings confirms your player is not returning within the Early Exit window, your bet becomes eligible. Refunds are usually credited within 24 hours after the game ends (or once the last leg of a parlay settles).
DraftKings will always wait until the match is over before refunding your cash, to be absolutely sure the player doesn’t come back late. Therefore, don't expect the funds back in time to place another bet on that game.
Getting his start in the sports betting world at the ripe old age of 18, Lewis has been working in the betting industry in different capacities for almost 20 years. What started off as a job to pay for college quickly became a lifelong passion that would take Lewis to work in Costa Rica, Vegas, Malta, Sweden, and now back to the US.
While his career as a professional gambler has yet to take off, Lewis is known around the office for his deep knowledge of just about everything betting related, and has a knack for finding and exploiting the best betting promos and reward programs online.
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