Sports betting is now available on Sling TV! Thanks to an exciting deal with DraftKings in 2021 and an expansion of online sports betting in states across the US, sports fans can now watch and bet on sports right through Sling TV. Getting started is easy, and so is making bets through your Sling TV account.
Below, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to make sports bets on Sling TV.
IMPORTANT. Before you proceed, verify that online sports betting is legal in your state. Review our post on which states allow sports betting in 2022.
Step 1: Purchase an Android or AirTV device
To make sports bets on Sling TV, you’ll need to have the right device in your home. While this may change in the future, at present, sports betting on Sling TV is only possible if you have an Android TV or an AirTV device.
Not sure what an Android TV device is? Google has you covered. The company lists the following brands that make devices within the Android TV product family:
- AirTV
- DirecTV Stream
- Epson
- Hisense
- NBL
- Nvidia
- Philips
- Sharp
- Skyworth
- Sony
- TCL
- Mi
The vast majority of these are somewhat pricey smart TV brands. If you’re hoping to save a bit of money on a device purchase for sports betting with Sling TV, we recommend the AirTV Mini. Typically, Sling TV throws in an AirTV Mini for free if you prepay for two months of Sling TV.
Step 2: Create a Sling TV Account
Your next step is to create your Sling TV account. If you’ve never purchased a Sling TV subscription, now is a great time to do so, especially before you plan to start making bets through the Sling TV DraftKings integration. A Sling TV subscription starts at just $35 per month for 30+ channels, including ESPN.
| Sling Orange Great Value $40.00/ month | 30+ channels ESPN New subscriber special 1 simultaneous stream | Try Sling |
| Sling Blue Great Value$40.00/ month | 40+ channels Fox, NBC, CNN, MSNBC New subscriber special 3 simultaneous streams | Try Sling |
| Sling Orange + Blue Best Value $55.00/ month | 45+ channels ESPN New subscriber special 4* simultaneous streams | Try Sling |
Multiple package options are available, as well as channel add-on packages for sports, entertainment, and news.
To create your Sling TV account, simply head over to Sling.com. Then, pick your package (Orange, Blue, or Orange + Blue). If you plan to take advantage of the AirTV deal, now is a great time to do so, as well. Sling TV also has a new 7-day free trial, which they re-introduced early in 2022. That’ll give you time to try out the service and try out sports betting before you fully commit to paying monthly.
Note: If you decide to prepare for two months to get the free AirTV device, you won’t get the 7-day free trial.
Step 3: Create a DraftKings Account
Now that you have your Sling TV account set up (and presumably, your Android TV device is either already installed on the way in the mail), consider setting up your DraftKings account.
Again, please make sure your state allows sports betting before you proceed. Sports betting may not be legal in your state. If that’s the case, you won’t be able to sign up to DraftKings at all.
To create your DraftKings account, do the following:
- Go to DraftKings SportsBook sign-up page
- Enter your basic sign-up information (name, address, email address, etc.)
- Download the DraftKings app onto your mobile device (necessary for making bets with Sling TV)
Now, because online sports betting legality varies by state, DraftKings will require you to verify your location. The website will require you to download a plugin onto your computer (if you’re logging in from a desktop or laptop computer), or will require you to turn on your device’s location to verify that you’re currently located in a state where using DraftKings is legal for you.
It’s possible that even after you do this process, DraftKings will struggle to identify your location. If that happens, try running a location check again, or connecting to a different WiFi signal. You may always want to check your browser settings to ensure that you aren’t blocking location requests or location-identifying cookie data.
Note that verifying your location on web browser is far less important than verifying your location on your mobile device or app. Making sports bets on Sling TV will require you to have a mobile device with the DraftKings app installed. As long as DraftKings can verify your location via a mobile app, you should be fine.
Once your account and location have been verified by DraftKings, you’ll need to load money onto your account to begin making bets. Make sure that you have enough money in your account before you start making bets.
Please remember to gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-877-770-STOP.
Step 4: Log Into Sling TV on your Android TV Device
Now that you have your account created for both Sling TV and DraftKings, it’s time to get betting!
To begin making bets on Sling TV, set up your Android TV device (if you’re setting up a new device), or download and install the Sling TV app. You don’t need to install any additional apps for DraftKings. The DraftKings experience is fully integrated. All you need to do is locate one of the DraftKings sports channels, then load the game or event when it’s airing.
Once a live streaming game is available where bets can be taken, you can begin placing bets by doing the following:
- While watching any sports content where betting is available, press the “Down” button on your TV or device remote to see the playback bar and Sportsbook
- Next, click on the Sportsbook icon. From there, you can see point spreads for all active and upcoming games (displayed on the right-hand side)
- Now, scroll down to locate the game you’re trying to place a bet on
- Click “Place Bet”
- Select “Text Me a Link”
- Enter your phone number
- Enter the verification code
- Once you received from DraftKings to complete the transaction using the DraftKings app on your device
And you’re done! As long as have all of the necessary pieces of the puzzle we’ve identified above, you should be well on your way to making bets on Sling TV and with any luck, winning some money in the process.
Sam Cook is a full-time content strategist by day, a part-time freelance content writer since 2015. In another life, he was a high school English teacher for nearly a decade. Based in sunny New Orleans, he writes long-form educational content on technology, including Insurtech, Fintech, HRtech, and content streaming. He loves whittling down complex ideas within these areas that make decisions easier for buyers. When he’s not reading books with his son Miles and playing video games with the family, you can find him immersed in his growing collection of Euro-style board games.
