DraftKings Crowns King of the Dogs for Round Two

Lowest-seeded teams advance, earning bettors a share of $2 million in bonus bets

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:21pm

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DraftKings' popular King of the Dogs promotion is back for the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Bettors who opt in and place a moneyline wager on the lowest-seeded team to advance will earn a share of $2 million in bonus bets. On Thursday, High Point University was the King of the Dogs, with 11,832 bettors earning $170 each. On Friday, Iowa and Utah State tied as the King of the Dogs, with 5,989 bettors earning $340 each. The King of the Dogs for Saturday and Sunday's games is still to be determined.

Why it matters

King of the Dogs is a unique promotion that rewards bettors for backing the biggest underdogs in the tournament. It adds an extra layer of excitement and engagement to the NCAA Tournament, which is one of the most popular sporting events for sports bettors. The promotion also helps drive traffic and interest to the DraftKings Sportsbook platform.

The details

To participate in King of the Dogs, bettors must opt in on the DraftKings Sportsbook app and place a moneyline wager of at least $5 on the lowest-seeded team playing that day. If that team ends up advancing to the next round, the bettor will earn a share of the $2 million bonus bet pool. On Thursday, High Point University was the King of the Dogs, with 11,832 bettors earning $170 each. On Friday, Iowa and Utah State tied as the King of the Dogs, with 5,989 bettors earning $340 each.

  • The King of the Dogs promotion runs during the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, from Thursday, March 21 through Sunday, March 24, 2026.
  • On Thursday, March 21, High Point University was crowned the King of the Dogs.
  • On Friday, March 22, Iowa and Utah State tied as the King of the Dogs.

The players

DraftKings

An American digital sports entertainment and gaming company that provides daily fantasy sports, sports betting, and iGaming opportunities.

High Point University

A private liberal arts university located in High Point, North Carolina.

Iowa State University

A public research university located in Ames, Iowa.

Utah State University

A public research university located in Logan, Utah.

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What’s next

The King of the Dogs winner for Saturday and Sunday's games will be announced after the conclusion of the second round matchups.

The takeaway

DraftKings' King of the Dogs promotion adds an exciting element to the NCAA Tournament by rewarding bettors who back the biggest underdogs. The promotion has already seen some major upsets, with High Point, Iowa, and Utah State earning the King of the Dogs title in the first two days of the second round.