Florida legislators are taking another crack at prohibiting sweepstakes gaming in the Sunshine State.

Rep. Berny Jacques (R-59) introduced HB 591, a bill to prohibit all non-Seminole Tribe forms of gaming in the state, including online sports betting, iGaming, and slot machine parlors. The bill also prohibits any betting on events with insider information and sets penalties for doing so.

Several similar bills were introduced this year, but none were approved. Jacques’ bill will be considered in the state’s 2026 legislative session.

Carve Out for Seminoles

Jacques’ bill specifically notes that the proposed legislation does not apply for Florida tribes with approved gaming compacts. The Seminole Tribe’s casino offerings, online sports betting, and any future approved iGaming efforts would not be affected.

If approved, the bill would likely prohibit all dual-currency sweepstakes games in Florida. Jeff Duncan, executive director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, said the organization “strongly disagrees” with the categorization of sweepstakes games having anything to do with illegal, unregulated offshore gaming.

“We strongly disagree with the categorization that Social Plus games that utilize sweepstakes promotions have anything in common with illegal offshore gambling operations. HB 591 laudably seeks to stop illegal gambling from taking place in the state of Florida but fails to account for how lawful promotional sweepstakes operate in Florida. SGLA partner companies operate fully within Florida’s sweepstakes, consumer protection, banking and financial transactions laws, and are committed to further regulations to ensure that Social Plus games remain a safe outlet for the millions of Florida adults age 21 and over seeking casual entertainment,” he said.

This is not the first time Florida sweepstakes games have been threatened by lawmakers. Earlier this year, Sen. Corey Simon (R-3) introduced SB 1404, a piece of legislation that included a prohibition on sweepstakes gaming in the state. It moved through two Senate committees before it died on the final day of the 2025 session.

Setting Punishments for Event Manipulation

Also included in the legislation is a prohibition on sports event manipulation and sports betting with insider knowledge. The legislation sets a penalty of a felony in the third degree if found to be engaging in such actions.

“A person who stakes, bets, or wagers any money or other thing of value upon the result of any professional or amateur game, contest, match, race, or sport with knowledge that the results of such professional or amateur game, contest, match, race, or sport are prearranged or predetermined as described in subsection (1) or subsection (2) commits a felony of the third degree,” according to the bill.

This includes anyone engaging in event manipulation, such as athletes or referees, or those who solicit such information for profit.

DFS Legislation Also On Tap

Florida lawmakers will also consider a bill in 2026 to legalize daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests in the Sunshine State. DFS operates in the “gray market” in Florida, as they are available in the state but are not considered legal or taxed.

Rep. Dana Trabulsy’s (R-81) bill, HB 189, is seeking to legalize daily fantasy sports contests. Florida lawmakers have explored the idea of regulating daily fantasy sports contests by bringing them out of the unregulated and untaxed gray market for the last several years.

If approved, Trabulsy’s bill will also set criminal penalties for engaging in match fixing and housing illegal slot machines.

Trabulsy’s bill was unanimously adopted without objection by a 13-0 vote in the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee. The bill will have to be adopted by one more committee before potentially being discussed on the House floor.

The piece of legislation officially seeks to define daily fantasy sports contests as “a contest in which a participant pays an entry fee and manages a fantasy or simulation sports team composed of athletes from a professional sports organization with the opportunity to win a cash prize. The term includes a simulation sports game.”

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ESPN BET successfully completed its rebrand to theScore Bet on Monday, Dec. 1, with few problems throughout the 20 states where PENN Entertainment holds a sports betting license.

Customers who had their accounts transferred to PENN Entertainment’s online sports betting platform will still have access to all available college football markets moving forward. theScore Bet will feature the same betting markets as ESPN BET made available for the last several years.

The rebrand also came on the same day Missouri online sports betting launched, becoming the 39th state to feature legalized sports betting.

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Successful Rebrand for theScore Bet

PENN Entertainment and ESPN announced on Nov. 6 mutual agreement for an early termination of their 10-year, $2 billion deal for an exclusive U.S. online sports betting partnership the two inked in August 2023. Within the agreement, the companies announced ESPN BET would shut down on Monday, Dec. 1, triggering a complete rebrand of PENN’s online sports betting platforms throughout the U.S. to theScore Bet on the same day.

While PENN Entertainment’s online sports betting platform has a different look, it will still feature the same sports betting catalogue users enjoyed throughout the last several years with ESPN BET.

ESPN BET users automatically had their account information, funds, and pending sports bets automatically transferred to the rebranded platform. An update of the app may be required, but no download of a new sports betting platform is necessary.

PENN Entertainment holds online sports betting licenses in 20 states, and Washington, D.C., throughout the U.S. theScore Bet is now available in the following:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Washington, D.C.
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

PENN retained the database of 2.9 million digital users acquired during the ESPN partnership, including nearly 300,000 acquired this football season.

theScore Bet Now Live in Missouri

The rebrand came on the same day Missouri launched its sports betting market, becoming the 39th state to offer legalized sports betting. The Show-Me State has opened its online sports betting market with eight licensed operators.

DraftKings Missouri, Circa Missouri, FanDuel Missouri, Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri, Caesars Sportsbook Missouri, theScore Bet Missouri (formerly ESPN BET Missouri), bet365 Missouri, and BetMGM Missouri are now open for business.

Interested customers can now register accounts for theScore Bet in the Show-Me State and download the online sports betting platform in the app store. Any customers who pre-registered accounts with ESPN BET will have all of their information and funds automatically transferred to theScore Bet platform.

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Missouri officially launched sports betting today, the 39th state to offer legal sports betting in the United States.

Missouri online sports betting launched today at midnight with eight licensed online sports betting platforms. Several in-person sportsbooks also opened, ushering in the state’s sports betting landscape to take advantage of the final remaining months of NFL and college football.

DraftKings Missouri, FanDuel Missouri, bet365 Missouri, BetMGM Missouri, Caesars Missouri, Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri, Circa Sports, and theScore Bet (formerly ESPN BET Missouri) are now open in the Show-Me State.

Two Big Missouri Sports Betting Changes

The Missouri sports betting landscape is set with eight sports betting operators, but one previously licensed company has since pulled out of the state and another has rebranded its platform moving forward.

Underdog recently pulled its temporary online sports betting license from the state and will instead focus its efforts into the predictions market. Underdog Predictions is currently available in Missouri.

Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jan M. Zimmerman confirmed the license withdrawal to Saturday Down South. A separate member of the Missouri Gaming Commission provided this comment:

“Underdog withdrew their application for a sports wagering license, but they maintain their fantasy sports contest operator license in good standing.”

Additionally, PENN Entertainment will no longer offer ESPN BET in the state. PENN Entertainment and ESPN BET Missouri ceased their 10-year sports betting partnership in early November, with PENN officially rebranding its sports betting platform to theScore Bet and ESPN BET shuttering its doors on Dec. 1.

Customers can now register accounts for theScore Bet in the state. Registered ESPN BET accounts in the state will automatically be rebranded to theScore Bet, according to a PENN spokesperson, with all funds and promos automatically transferring to the new platform.

Long Time Coming

Missouri voters approved both online and in-person sports betting in November 2024, approving a constitutional amendment by an incredibly narrow margin Missouri voters approved Amendment 2 in November 2024’s general election, with the Secretary of State’s Office reporting a margin of victory of just 7,486 votes to legalize retail and online sports betting in the state.

Voters approved the sports betting amendment by 1,469,866 yes votes to 1,462,380 no votes.

The Missouri Gaming Commission believed it would launch sports betting this past spring, but had to delay until Dec. 1 after Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected proposed emergency sports betting rules and regulations in February.

The Missouri Gaming Commission awarded temporary online sports betting licenses to DraftKings, Circa Sports, FanDuel, Underdog, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, PENN Entertainment, bet365, and BetMGM this past October. As explained, Underdog will no longer offer sports betting in the state and PENN Entertainment will rebrand to its theScore Bet platform.

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DraftKings Missouri is enlisting the help of three Show-Me State hall of famers for the state’s upcoming sports betting launch.

DraftKings today announced a ceremonial first bet event for the Missouri online sports betting launch on Monday, Dec. 1. The event will include Missouri NFL Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez and Isaac Bruce, plus NHL Hall of Famer Brett Hull, placing ceremonial first online sports bets on the DraftKings platform.

Additionally, Missouri House Speaker Jonathan Patterson (R-30) will speak at the ceremony to usher in the Show-Me State’s sports betting market.

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DraftKings Plans Veterans Donation

DraftKings announced it will also donate $50,000 to the Veterans Community Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending Veteran homelessness in Missouri. The donation will support Veterans Community Project’s Tiny Homes initiative, which provides transitional housing, care, and services to help Veterans successfully transition to independent living.

Missouri will be DraftKings’ 29th operational U.S. state, in addition to Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Canada.

“DraftKings is built for passionate sports fans, making Missouri an exciting jurisdiction for us to enter with its rich sports culture, and several professional teams across the state,” said DraftKings’ Chief Revenue Officer Greg Karamitis. “This is an incredible time of year for sports fans with NFL, NBA, NHL, college football, and college basketball all in-season, and we look forward to elevating the experience for Missouri sports fans, responsibly, with our top-rated online sportsbook.”

Partners With St. Louis Blues Prior to Launch

DraftKings’ online sports betting license in the state is untethered, which does not require a partnership to enter the state’s sports betting market. However, DraftKings arranged for a new Missouri partner earlier this month, announcing a new partnership with the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues and DraftKings announced an agreement designating DraftKings as an official sports betting and daily fantasy operator with the NHL franchise.

As part of the agreement, DraftKings will spotlight responsible gaming through a pregame, in-arena feature, encouraging fans to play responsibly in Missouri.

“As we get ready to launch our best-in-class online sportsbook for Missouri sports fans, we’re excited to deliver the fun and entertainment we’re known for in a responsible way, alongside the Blues,” said Stephanie Sherman, Chief Marketing Officer at DraftKings. “The Blues’ strong fan base and forward-thinking mindset make them an ideal collaborator as we look to elevate the fan experience in Missouri.”

The post DraftKings Enlisting Sports Legends for Missouri Sports Betting Launch appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Florida legislators are yet again exploring the idea of bringing daily fantasy sports contests out of the gray and into the light.

Rep. Dana Trabulsy’s (R-81) bill, HB 189, is seeking to legalize daily fantasy sports contests in the Sunshine State. Florida lawmakers have explored the idea of regulating daily fantasy sports contests by bringing them out of the unregulated and untaxed gray market for the last several years.

If approved, Trabulsy’s bill will also set criminal penalties for engaging in match fixing and housing illegal slot machines.

Daily Fantasy Sports Are In Gray Market

Daily fantasy sports contests are currently available in Florida, but operate in what is considered a gray market. The Florida Gaming Control Commission notes on its website that daily fantasy sports are “probably not” legal in the state unless placed through a sportsbook or platform operated by the Seminole Tribe.

Despite the shaky legality of the games, operators still offer them throughout the state.

Trabulsy’s bill was unanimously adopted without objection by a 13-0 vote in the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee. The bill will have to be adopted by one more committee before potentially being discussed on the House floor.

The piece of legislation officially seeks to define daily fantasy sports contests as “a contest in which a participant pays an entry fee and manages a fantasy or simulation sports team composed of athletes from a professional sports organization with the opportunity to win a cash prize. The term includes a simulation sports game.”

To be considered a daily fantasy sports contest, the bill requires contests feature the following:

• Prize and awards for winning participants are established and disclosed prior to entry
• All winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participant
• All winning outcomes are determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of more than one individual

The bill prohibits daily fantasy sports contests based on the score, point spread, or performance of a team or combination of teams. Additionally, contests can not be based on the outcome of a game of poker or other card game, feature participants in collegiate or high school sporting events, showcase casino graphics or titles depicting slot machines, dice, craps, or other casino games.

Against the house contests, such as those featured by PrizePicks, Betr, and Underdog in the state prior to a round of cease-and-desist notices in 2024, will not be allowed. Peer-to-peer contests will be allowed under the legislation.

Match Fixing Penalties Defined

Trabulsy’s bill also sets a criminal penalty for athletes, coaches, and anyone officially employed by a team who is found to be engaging in match fixing or providing non-public information to outsiders for the purpose of sports betting or gambling.

Any athletes, coach, employee, manager, umpire, referee or judge of a professional sports, match, race, or event found to be accepting or providing bribes to sway the outcome of an event will be charged with a third-degree felony.

Any individual placing bets with inside information or knowledge of a sporting event where the outcomes has been prearranged or predetermined could also be charged with a third-degree felony if convicted.

The bill also sets criminal penalties for housing and making available illegal slot machines in the state.

The post Florida Legislators Again Exploring Daily Fantasy Sports Legalization appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Missouri Gaming Commission today officially opened account registration and funding for the Show-Me State’s nine licensed sports betting operators, but one license holder is set for a major change on the same day sports betting launches.

The state’s nine sports betting operators today opened account registration and funding with just two weeks remaining until the Missouri online sports betting launch on Monday, Dec. 1. PENN Entertainment, however, is set for a major change on the same day of launch.

PENN Entertainment’s online sports betting platform, ESPN BET, is set to close on Dec. 1, 2025, and will be rebranded to theScore Bet on the same day.

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Rebrand Coming for ESPN BET

Customers who hope to use theScore Bet on Dec. 1, 2025, when Missouri launches online sports betting can simply sign up for an ESPN BET account today. A representative with theScore Bet confirmed that all user information and account data will automatically be transferred to the new online sports betting platform on Dec. 1.

Customers will not have to re-register an account, download any new apps, or active any new promos if already registered with ESPN BET in the state. Any promotions or bonuses customers receive now from signing up with ESPN BET will be transferred to theScore Bet accounts.

This is all necessary due to PENN Entertainment and ESPN mutually agreeing to dissolve their 10-year sports betting partnership after just two years. PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden revealed during the company’s Q3 earnings report that it will continue to offer online sports betting in states where it holds a license through its theScore Bet brand.

PENN Entertainment will retain its database of 2.9 million digital users acquired during the ESPN relationship. Snowden reported more than 300,000 new users registered with the company since the start of the NFL season.

ESPN, PENN Partnership No More

Under the terms of the original deal, both ESPN and PENN Entertainment had the right to terminate the agreement after its third year if specific market share performance thresholds were not met.

ESPN Bet struggled in the U.S., never reaching its goal of being a top-three platform. ESPN Bet consistently maintained a top-six spot and reported a market share of less than 5% in the U.S.

When the deal was announced in summer 2023, PENN Entertainment agreed to pay $1.5 billion to ESPN over the initial 10-year term and grant ESPN approximately $500 million of warrants to purchase 31.8 million PENN common shares. As part of the deal, PENN Entertainment included potential financial incentives for ESPN dependent on ESPN BET reaching performance

Missouri Account Registration Officially Open

Account registration officially opened today at midnight. The Missouri Gaming Commission opened account registration and funding for its nine online sports betting licensees; DraftKings Missouri, Circa Missouri, FanDuel Missouri, Underdog Missouri, Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri, Caesars Sportsbook Missouri, theScore Bet Missouri, bet365 Missouri, and BetMGM Missouri.

Missouri sports betting is set to launch on Monday, Dec. 1 at midnight.

The post ESPN BET to Transition to theScore Bet in Missouri appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Missouri sports betting operators have officially opened their account registration process to potential customers.

The Missouri Gaming Commission allowed its nine licensed operators to begin accepting account creation and funding, signaling the imminent launch of sports betting in the Show-Me State.

Missouri online sports betting will launch on Monday, Dec. 1 at midnight.

Operators Open For New Accounts

The Missouri Gaming Commission awarded temporary sports betting licenses to nine operators in October. The commission awarded two highly coveted untethered online sports betting licenses to DraftKings Missouri and Circa Missouri. The two operators were selected by the commission for the untethered licenses, meaning they do not require a market access partner, in August.

The remaining seven tethered licensed were awarded to the following operators:

• FanDuel Missouri
• BetMGM Missouri
• Caesars Sportsbook Missouri
• bet365 Missouri
• Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri
• Underdog Missouri
• theScore Bet Missouri

Each of the seven tethered license holders were required to partner with either a Missouri sports franchise or brick-and-mortar casino to gain access into the state’s sports betting market.

BetMGM announced a market access deal with Century Casinos in May, while bet365 announced a sports betting market access agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals this past March.

PENN Entertainment and theScore Bet will enter Missouri through PENN Entertainment’s owned and operated Hollywood Casino and River City Casino state locations.

Caesars Sportsbook Missouri used its Caesars Entertainment owned Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis casinos for its market access as well.

FanDuel applied for a license through its partnership with MLS team St. Louis CITY SC. Fanatics Sportsbook, which partnered with Boyd Gaming for market access, also applied for an online sports betting license and two retail sportsbook licenses at Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles locations.

Underdog has partnered with the Kansas City Royals for its market access.

Missouri Changes Since Licensure

When sports betting launches in the Show-Me State in December, sports betting users will see one big change since the state awarded its first licenses.

PENN Entertainment will no longer use its ESPN BET platform in Missouri, as PENN and ESPN both mutually agreed to dissolve their 10-year sports betting partnership after just two years. ESPN BET will cease operations on Dec. 1, 2025, the same day Missouri is set to launch sports betting.

So with ESPN BET closing on Dec. 1, what can customers do for pre-registration? If users are interested in registering a theScore Bet account, they can register today with ESPN BET and everything will automatically be transferred to the new platform on Dec. 1. There will be no need for any re-registration for theScore Bet users, as everything will automatically be transformed to the new app on Dec. 1.

The post Missouri Sports Betting Operators Open Account Registration appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Missouri today took a huge step towards solidifying its sports betting market.

The Missouri Gaming Commission today awarded its first nine temporary online sports betting licenses. DraftKings, Circa Sports, FanDuel, Underdog, Fanatics Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, ESPN BET, bet365, and BetMGM all received licenses.

Missouri online sports betting is set to launch on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 at midnight.

No Surprises in License Decisions

Each of the operators who submitted applications received temporary online sports betting licenses. The Missouri Gaming Commission previously announced it would award both DraftKings and Circa Sports its two available untethered online sports betting licenses.

Each of the other awarded licenses are tethered online sports betting licenses, requiring each holder to partner with either a professional sports organization or state casino for market access.

BetMGM partnered with Century Casinos in May, while bet365 brokered a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals this past March for market access.

ESPN BET will enter the market through PENN Entertainment’s Hollywood Casino and River City Casino locations in Missouri. Caesars Sportsbook used its Caesars Entertainment owned Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis casinos for its market access.

Underdog partnered with the Kansas City Royals to enter the state, while FanDuel agreed to a partnership with the St. Louis CITY SC, a Missouri MLS team.

Fanatics Sportsbook, which partnered with Boyd Gaming for market access, also applied for an online sports betting license and two retail sportsbook licenses at Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles locations.

Kambi also received a temporary license, yet little is known about their plans. They have not announced a market access partner.

Several Remaining Steps Before Launch

While the Missouri Gaming Commission today took a big step towards its sports betting launch, several requirements are still necessary before sports betting can officially begin.

Licensed sports betting operators will open account registration and funding for users on Monday, Nov. 17, at midnight, provided the accounts are established in compliance with the proposed regulations.

The Missouri Gaming Commission will officially institute its sports betting rules on Nov. 30, 2025, a day before its sports betting launch. Any modifications to the house rules or internal controls prior to this date will be forwarded to the operators.

The post Missouri Awards Temporary Sports Betting Licenses appeared first on Saturday Down South.

We haven’t seen a New York return like this since Willis Reed walked back into Madison Square Garden during game seven of the 1970 NBA finals.

PrizePicks today announced it has been awarded an interactive fantasy sports operating license by the New York State Gaming Commission. The daily fantasy sports company announced it will begin operating peer-to-peer DFS games in the Empire State in the coming weeks.

PrizePicks shut down its paid DFS contests in the state in February 2024.

Back in the New York Groove

Following a legal settlement with the New York State Gaming Commission in 2024, PrizePicks worked with state gaming regulators to ensure its peer-to-peer contests were within New York’s fantasy sports requirements.

“New York is home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country, and we know they will be excited to have PrizePicks back,” said Mike Ybarra, CEO of PrizePicks. “We’re thrilled to offer a great entertainment experience that elevates how they engage on game day and beyond.”

New York is the 16th state to ratify PrizePicks’ contests can be offered as games of skill under its fantasy sports laws.

“We want to thank the New York State Gaming Commission for their collaboration and recognition of our peer-to-peer offering as a fantasy sports contest,” said Jason Barclay, PrizePicks’ Head of Public Policy and Chief Legal Officer. “We worked diligently to design a game that meets the Commission’s rigorous standards, and New York’s decision underscores the idea that innovation in fantasy sports can thrive within a clear regulatory framework.”

In the Works For Nearly Two Years

PrizePicks altered its New York contests in 2024 after the New York State Gaming Commission amended its daily fantasy sports rules to prohibit contests that mimic proposition bets. The criteria for DFS games are clear, as they prohibit any and all games that resemble proposition betting.

“These would include statutory standards as well as a requirement that contests shall not be based on proposition betting and shall not have the effect of mimicking proposition betting. Contests in which a contestant chooses whether an individual athlete or a single team will surpass an identified statistical achievement would be prohibited,” a paragraph of the approved rules reads.

Since the rule changes, PrizePicks only offered its free-to-play contests in the state.

The post PrizePicks to Re-Enter New York After Receiving DFS License appeared first on Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks, one of the largest daily fantasy sports companies in the United State, today unveiled their new first-of-its-kind social feature “The Feed,” which will allow users to see and interact with picks their peers are making in real time.

The new social feature will allow users to create PrizePicks profiles and easily follow friends, peers, and other daily fantasy sports (DFS) players on the PrizePicks app. The feature will allow users to easily play the same lineup as their favorite DFS customers and share their own lineups with the PrizePicks community.

We’re advancing the daily fantasy sports world forward into its next phase, blending how fans socialize online with how they root for their favorite players on gameday,” Dylan Cooper, PrizePicks SVP of Product, said. “These social features create an interactive experience that allows players to build lineups, ride with their favorite celebrities and flex their knowledge with their friends, all within the PrizePicks app.”

Focusing on PrizePicks Community

PrizePicks also recently debuted new player profile features that allows users to create their own unique usernames and see their lifetime DFS stats on the PrizePicks app. “The Feed” will allow other users to search for and follow profiles of users throughout the PrizePicks community.

Additionally, players can now easily copy a lineup and tail their friends, celebrities, or anyone with a profile on the app. Submitted lineups will appear on their feed in real time and users will be able to play identical lineups at the push of a single button. Lineups can also be shared with other users directly or through their own social media feeds

PrizePicks users will have the ability to switch their profiles from public to private if they no longer want their lineups to be featured on the main feed.

Allwyn Acquires Majority Stake

The debut of “The Feed” comes several weeks after Allwyn, a lottery-led gaming entertainment company, announced it was set to acquire a majority stake of PrizePicks. Allwyn will acquire a 62.3% stake of PrizePicks for an expected initial price of $1.6 billion, according to a PrizePicks release. Based on the $1.6 billion price tag for the majority stake in the company, PrizePicks has an implied upfront enterprise value of $2.5 billion.

The implied valuation could rise to $4.15 billion over the next three years if PrizePicks meets certain performance metrics.

The post PrizePicks Debuts New Social Feature ‘The Feed’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It’s been quite a week so far for PrizePicks, one of the largest daily fantasy sports companies in the U.S. On the same day the company announced a new majority stakeholder, it also received approval as a futures commission merchant and can now potentially enter the predictions market.

PrizePicks subsidiary Performance Prediction II LLC received National Futures Association (NFA) approval late Monday, and is now registered as a Futures Commission Merchant. PrizePicks is the first to receive NFA approval out of a group of gaming company applicants that includes Underdog, DraftKings, and Fanatics Betting and Gaming.

“The honor of being the first sports entertainment platform to receive a FCM registration from the NFA is a testament to our industry-leading compliance and consumer protection programs that both the NFA and CFTC demand,” said Mike Ybarra, CEO of PrizePicks. “Acting Chairman Caroline Pham’s vision for the CFTC promotes innovation while reinforcing the importance of strong regulatory standards. Her leadership has set a thoughtful tone for the agency and our industry.”

Next step predictions market

The designation allows PrizePicks to accept orders from it members to buy and sell futures contracts offered by designated contract markets that are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

PrizePicks will continue its collaboration with the CFTC and NFA to providing secure predictions experiences for its customers. The company can now work with a company such as Robinhood or Kalshi to offer prediction markets to users.

“As the nation’s leader in predictions, this is a defining moment for us. We are grateful to the NFA for its thoughtful process and diligent work on our application,” Jason Barclay, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Public Policy for PrizePicks, said.

Ybarra, and several other PrizePicks C-suite executives including Chief Financial Officer Marcus Edward Sanford, submitted a Performance Predictions II LLC application for NFA member approval this past May.

Big week for PrizePicks

The NFA approval came on the same day Allwyn announced it will acquire a 62.3% stake of PrizePicks for an expected initial price of $1.6 billion. Based on the $1.6 billion price tag for the majority stake in the company, PrizePicks has an implied upfront enterprise value of $2.5 billion.

The implied valuation could rise to $4.15 billion over the next three years if PrizePicks meets certain performance metrics.

“Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for PrizePicks and our growing community of players. There has never been a more electrifying time to shape the future of fan-first entertainment. By joining forces with Allwyn, a like-minded and disruptive company that shares our passion for bold product innovation, we will accelerate our mission to make our games more interactive, engaging and rewarding for fans everywhere,” Ybarra said.

The post PrizePicks now NFA approved, entry into predictions market next appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Allwyn, a lottery-led gaming entertainment company, is set to acquire a majority share of one of the largest daily fantasy sports companies in North America.

Allwyn is set to acquire a 62.3% stake of PrizePicks for an expected initial price of $1.6 billion, according to a PrizePicks release. Based on the $1.6 billion price tag for the majority stake in the company, PrizePicks has an implied upfront enterprise value of $2.5 billion.

The implied valuation could rise to $4.15 billion over the next three years if PrizePicks meets certain performance metrics.

Massive investment in PrizePicks

According to the company, PrizePicks will now have the support to expand and innovate faster, reaching more users as it continues to operate as a standalone brand.

“Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for PrizePicks and our growing community of players. There has never been a more electrifying time to shape the future of fan-first entertainment. By joining forces with Allwyn, a like-minded and disruptive company that shares our passion for bold product innovation, we will accelerate our mission to make our games more interactive, engaging and rewarding for fans everywhere,” PrizePicks CEO Mike Ybarra said.

Allwyn now stands to enter the U.S. sports and entertainment industry through the acquisition, expanding its U.S. business beyond its existing operation of the Illinois Lottery. In 2024, the company completed the acquisition of a 70% stake in e-instants supplier Instant Win Gaming and announced an intention to acquire a controlling interest in Novibet, the online sports betting and gaming operator.

Allwyn also announced global partnerships with Formula 1 and McLaren in early 2025.

“This is a significant European investment, and Allwyn’s biggest in the United States to date. PrizePicks is an entrepreneurial company that is empowering a new generation of fans who want to engage with their favourite sports and athletes, not just spectate. PrizePicks has created an intuitive platform that simplifies the process of making skilled predictions. I look forward to partnering with Mike and the PrizePicks team to support the growth of the business,” Allwyn CEO Robert Chvatal said.

Further performance-based payments

The expected cash consideration of $1.6 billion for the majority stake of PrizePicks could grow by another $1 billion in 2029 if the company can reach further performance-contingent milestones. If reached, this would increase PrizePicks implied enterprise value to a max $4.15 billion.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

According to the report, PrizePicks generated adjusted EBITDA of $339 million in the 12 months to June 2025, achieving revenue growth of over 60% year-on-year.

“The acquisition of PrizePicks underscores our ability to execute on our ambitious investment strategy. The United States gaming and entertainment market has always been a compelling opportunity, and our focus has been on finding the right entry points. We took the first step in 2023 with the acquisition of the operator of the Illinois lottery and were pleased to subsequently acquire a majority stake in IWG, which has a strong footprint in the United States, in 2024. Today, we announce the next major milestone on our journey. PrizePicks fits perfectly into our vision of shaping the future of mass market casual digital entertainment and is poised for further strong growth,” Stepan Dlouhy, Allwyn chief investment officer, said.

The post Allwyn acquires majority share of PrizePicks appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Seven operators have submitted Missouri online sports betting license applications as the Show-Me State marches towards its launch.

The Missouri Gaming Commission reported receiving 1,113 sports betting-related license applications, all of which it will have to process prior to the state’s Dec. 1, 2025 sports betting launch.

DraftKings and Circa Sports are still the only two operators to receive Missouri sports betting licenses, while the rest of the operators will have to wait until next week to see if they are awarded tethered online licenses.

Missouri Sports Betting Market Shaping Up

The deadline for sports betting license applications was Friday, Sept. 12. However, a Missouri Gaming Commission spokesperson said the window for applications will be left open and operators who submit an application with a September 12 postdate will still be accepted.

Seven sports betting operators have submitted tethered online sports betting applications. These operators are:

• BetMGM
• bet365
• FanDuel
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• ESPN BET
• Underdog

The operators will meet with the gaming commission during next week’s scheduled meeting to make their cases for a license in the Show-Me State. The Missouri Gaming Commission will meet twice — Tuesday, Sept. 23, and Thursday, Sept. 24 — and will announce the licenses after the meetings.

Each operator has partnered with either a state casino or professional sports franchise to enter the sports betting market. BetMGM announced a partnership with Century Casinos in May while bet365 announced a sports betting market access agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals this past March.

ESPN BET will enter the market through PENN Entertainment’s owned and operated Hollywood Casino and River City Casino locations in Missouri. Caesars Sportsbook used its Caesars Entertainment owned Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis casinos for its market access as well.

FanDuel applied for a license through its partnership with MLS team St. Louis CITY SC. Fanatics Sportsbook, which partnered with Boyd Gaming for market access, also applied for an online sports betting license and two retail sportsbook licenses at Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles locations.

Underdog has not revealed its market access partner.

Thousands of Other Applications Roll In

The commission has received 14 sports betting supplier license applications so far. The following companies have submitted sports betting supplier license applications:

• BMM Test Labs
• Catalist
• GDC America, Inc.
• GLI
• GeoComply
• Integrity Compliance 360 Inc.
• International Betting Integrity Association
• Kambi
• OpticOdds
• SBTech
• SIS Content Services
• SportsContentCo
• Sportradar
• theScore

Additionally, a commission spokesperson said the state has received 1,113 sports betting-related applications.

Here are the application numbers:

• Business applications: 39
• Key Individuals/Level I employees: 82
• BetMGM L2 employees: 300
• GLI L2 employees: 7
• Underdog Sports L2 employees: 181
• Circa Sports L2 employees: 39
• Penn Sports Interactive L2 employees: 227
• Fanatics L2 employees: 27
• Kambi L2 employees: 4
• Caesars Sportsbook L2 employees: 16
• bet365 L2 employees: 166
• Entain Mobitech L2 employees: 10
• Stadium Technology Group L2 employees: 6
• Level I Combo Affidavits: 9

The post Seven operators apply for Missouri online sports betting licenses appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Underdog has successfully relaunched its Champions pick’em daily fantasy sports product in Mississippi.

Underdog pulled the entirety of its pick’em products from Mississippi in February 2024, including its traditional and Champions pick’em games. Today, it relaunched the peer-to-peer pick’em DFS product in the Magnolia State.

“Mississippi fans are going to love our Pick’Em Champions games, and we were able to launch in time for football season,” Stacie Stern, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Partnerships at Underdog, told Saturday Down South. “The gaming commission applied a professional, thorough, and thoughtful process to ensure our product measured up to the state’s standards, and we look forward to continuing to work with the commission as a licensed operator in Mississippi.”

Underdog Brings Champions Back

Currently, Underdog is the only licensed operator in Mississippi to offer real-money pick’em DFS games. PrizePicks offers a free version of its pick’em product in the state, while FanDuel and DraftKings only offer traditional draft fantasy games.

Underdog pulled all of its pick’em contests from Mississippi in February 2024. Prior to prohibiting the contests, Underdog Fantasy offered its classic pick’em games and its peer-to-peer pick’em games in Mississippi after acquiring a DFS license in the state in 2021.

A company spokesperson in February 2024 offered no comment on why the decision was made to pull the products from the state. However, at the time multiple states were cracking down on fantasy operators and products that focused on player vs. the house contests.

Underdog Fantasy, PrizePicks, and Betr received cease-and-desist letters from the Florida Gaming Control Commission in January 2024, ordering the operators to stop “offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers from [Florida] residents” and “conducting any illegal lotteries.”

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration also sent cease-and-desist letters to PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy, alleging the companies were participating as unlicensed sports betting operators in violation of Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution.

California Still DFS Gray Area

Underdog’s largest market, California, is however still very much in flux for the company. Underdog still offers its peer-to-peer pick’em games in the state despite California Attorney General Rob Bonta releasing a legal opinion in July in which he declared daily fantasy sports contests to be illegal.

Bonta wrote it is a crime if a person “[l]ays, makes, offers or accepts any bet or bets, or wager or wagers, upon the result, or purported result, of any trial, or purported trial, or contest, or purported contest, of skill, speed or power of endurance of person or animal, or between persons, animals, or mechanical apparatus.”

He even went so far as to note there is no difference in his opinion for a pick’em or draft style DFS games, declaring both have no place in the state.

Despite the published opinion, Underdog, PrizePicks, FanDuel, and DraftKings have all continued to offer DFS contests in California.

The post Underdog Relaunches Champions Pick’Em DFS Games in Mississippi appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Underdog, one of the largest daily fantasy sports operators in the country, is gearing up to expand its services as it awaits a ruling from the Missouri Gaming Commission for a sports betting license in the Show-Me State.

Underdog is one of five companies to apply for a partnered Missouri online sports betting license, joining Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, and Caesars Sportsbook to operate in the state. DraftKings and Circa Sports have already been awarded two untethered Missouri online sports betting licenses.

If awarded a license, Underdog will operate sports betting in two states. Underdog Fantasy, the company’s daily fantasy sports (DFS) division, has offered DFS in the Show-Me State for the last several years and offers games in 40 states.

Underdog Expanding Sports Betting Operations

While Underdog currently offers daily fantasy sports games in 40 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Ontario, it has started to expand more into the U.S. sports betting market.

Underdog applied for a North Carolina interactive sports betting operator license in early 2024 after agreeing to a partnership with McConnell Golf, which owns and operates Sedgefield Country Club, a private golf club, located in Greensboro and hosts the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.

Underdog was awarded a license in February 2024 by the North Carolina Lottery Commission, its second sports betting license overall. It currently has a license to offer sports betting in Ohio, but has yet to launch in the Buckeye State.

Missouri will offer Underdog a chance to expand its sports betting market after holding a Missouri DFS license for the last several years. Underdog Fantasy has a large customer base in the state, which the company hopes will translate to the sports betting market.

Underdog is only planning to offer online sports betting in the Show-Me State, with no current plans for a retail sportsbook presence. It will launch sports betting in the middle of the lucrative NFL season, along with all other licensed operators, on Dec. 1, 2025.

Four Other Sports Betting Applicants

Missouri currently has a total of five sports betting applicants for partnered licenses, both retail and online.

FanDuel announced its Missouri market access partnership with MLS team St. Louis CITY SC. FanDuel arranged the partnership with St. Louis CITY SC after failing to secure one of two available untethered online sports betting licenses. FanDuel applied for an online sports betting license with the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Caesars Sportsbook applied for an online sports betting license and two retail sports betting licenses in the Show-Me State. Caesars Sportsbook used its Caesars Entertainment owned Harrah’s Kansas City and Horseshoe St. Louis casinos for its market access to enter Missouri.

Fanatics Sportsbook, which partnered with Boyd Gaming for market access, also applied for an online sports betting license and two retail sportsbook licenses at Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles locations.

The Show-Me State only has a few more deadlines to reach before launching later this year. Here is the remaining Missouri sports betting schedule:

Sept. 12: All other partnered retail and online sports betting license applications must be completed

Dec. 1: Deadline for the launch of Missouri sports betting

The post Underdog Gearing Up For Missouri Online Sports Betting appeared first on Saturday Down South.

FanDuel today announced its peer-to-peer daily fantasy sports product, FanDuel Picks, will expand to more states across the country. .

FanDuel today expanded FanDuel Picks to customers across 17 states. FanDuel initially launched the peer-to-peer DFS product this past April in just five states.

“Just in time for NFL season, we are excited to bring fans a social way to engage with the sports and athletes they love with the launch of FanDuel Picks,” said Rob Cullen, FanDuel Picks General Manager. “The ‘more’ or ‘less’ selection model offers a streamlined fantasy sports experience, and we look forward to offering our customers another way to interact with games this season.”

FanDuel Picks Goes Country Wide

The peer-to-peer DFS game allows customers to compete against other customers by picking between three and six players and predicting “more” or “less” on a set total of their projected stat lines. Customers earn points for every correct prediction and the highest point total wins the contest entry amount.

Perfect lineups receive larger winnings, according to the official rules.

When launched in April, the FanDuel pick’em option was only available in Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

FanDuel Picks is now available in 17 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

Shift to Peer-to-Peer

Daily fantasy sports operators have generally shifted to offering peer-to-peer products over the last several years after states began to crack down on player vs. the house options.

State gaming regulators began to focus on player vs. the house pick’em games back in 2023, ordering operators to cease the games or even outright fining them for their offerings. The Maine Gambling Control Unit issued a $391,850 fine to Underdog Fantasy in 2023 for offering the games in their state.

New York approved an alteration of its DFS rules in 2023 to prohibit traditional pick’em games. The New York State Gaming Commission finalized DFS rules that include a ban on Pick Em’ style games. The new DFS rules declared that “contests shall not be based on proposition betting and shall not have the effect of mimicking proposition betting.”

Colorado, Arizona, and Michigan all took steps to alter or outright ban pick’em games as well.

The post FanDuel Expands Peer-to-Peer DFS Product to 17 States appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Fanatics Sportsbook has found its Missouri sports betting market access partner.

Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri today announced a multi-year partnership with Boyd Gaming, which operates two brick-and-mortar casinos in the Show-Me State. Fanatics Betting and Gaming recently submitted applications to the Missouri Gaming Commission for a retail and online sports betting license.

If approved, the companies plan to open two Fanatics-branded retail sportsbook at Boyd’s two Missouri casinos.

Missouri Finds Way into Missouri Market

Missouri online sports betting apps are set to launch on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

Fanatics Betting and Gaming applied for an online and retail tethered sports betting license. Tethered sports betting license holders are required to partner with either a Missouri professional sports franchise or casino to potentially enter the market.

Fanatics Sportsbook applied for partnered retail and online sports betting licenses with the Missouri Gaming Commission earlier this month. If awarded a sports betting license, Missouri will be the 23rd state where Fanatics Sportsbook can do business. It also has a sports betting license in Washington, D.C.

If awarded a retail sports betting license, Fanatics-branded retail sportsbooks will be open for business at Boyd’s two Missouri brick-and-mortar casinos locations. Boyd’s Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles will feature the new retail sportsbooks.

Boyd Gaming operates 28 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states, including two in Missouri, and is a manager of a tribal casino in northern California. It is also the owner and operator of Boyd Interactive, a B2B and B2C online casino gaming business.

In total, the commission will be allowed to issue up to 19 retail sports betting licenses and up to 14 online sports betting licenses under the approved framework.

Gaming Commission Awards Licenses

The Missouri Gaming Commission will continue to evaluate partnered sports betting license applications until Friday, Sept. 12. Fanatics Sportsbook and Underdog are the only two sportsbook companies that have submitted applications so far.

Underdog has yet to reveal its market access partner.

However, FanDuel recently revealed a market-access partnership with St. Louis CITY SC. FanDuel did not receive one of the two available untethered sports betting licenses, which were awarded to DraftKings and Circa Sports.

FanDuel representatives confirmed the company will submit for a partnered license. Missouri will be FanDuel’s 25th state or territory of operation after launch.

The Show-Me State only has a few more deadlines to reach before launching later this year. Here is the remaining Missouri sports betting schedule:

Sept. 12: All other partnered retail and online sports betting license applications must be completed

Dec. 1: Deadline for the launch of Missouri sports betting

The post Fanatics Sportsbook Announces Missouri Partnership With Boyd Gaming appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Missouri Gaming Commission will award the Show-Me State’s first two online sports betting licenses by the end of this week.

Gaming regulators will award two untethered Missouri online sports betting licenses on Friday, Aug. 15. Three applicants – DraftKings, FanDuel, and Circa Sports – will present their cases to the Missouri Gaming Commission on Wednesday, Aug. 13, for the two valuable untethered licenses.

Untethered license holders do not have to partner with a Missouri casino or professional sports franchise for market access.

Representatives Heading To Commission

Alan Ellingson, CFO for DraftKings, Rich Cooper, Vice President, Regulatory, for FanDuel, and Derek Stevens, CEO/COO for Circa Sports, are scheduled to present their applications to the Missouri Gaming Commission tomorrow at 9 a.m. CST.

DraftKings, FanDuel, and Circa Sports have applied for two available Missouri untethered online sports betting licenses. Untethered license holders do not have to partner with any other entity in the state to do business, and therefore do not have to share revenues with their market access partners.

Missouri sports betting will launch on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. If awarded a license, DraftKings Missouri promo bets will be a hot commodity as the Show-Me State gets closer to launch.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has also received sports betting applications from Underdog Sportsbook Missouri and Fanatics Sportsbook Missouri, but neither have announced their market access partners as of yet.

Here is the remaining Missouri sports betting timeline:

• Aug. 13: Applicants for direct online sports betting licenses may appear before Missouri Gaming Commission
• Aug. 15: Missouri Gaming Commission announces two selected direct online sports betting license applicants
• Sept. 12: All other partnered retail and online sports betting license applications must be completed
• Dec. 1: Deadline for the launch of Missouri sports betting

In total, the commission will be allowed to issue up to 19 retail sports betting licenses and up to 14 online sports betting licenses under the approved sports betting framework.

Sports Betting Supplier Applications Coming In

In addition to operator license applications, the Missouri Gaming Commission has reported receiving several sports betting supplier license applications as well.

The commission has received five applications so far. The following companies submitted sports betting supplier license applications:

• Catalist
• GLI
• GeoComply
• OpticOdds
• Sportradar

The post Missouri Gaming Commission to Award First Sports Betting Licenses appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The potential Missouri sports betting landscape is starting to round into shape.

The Missouri Gaming Commission confirmed it received a fifth application for a sports betting license in the Show-Me State, as Fanatics Sportsbook has officially applied for both an online and retail sports betting license.

In total, the Missouri Gaming Commission can issue up to 19 retail sports betting licenses and up to 14 online sports betting licenses.

Missouri Sports Betting to Launch Dec. 1

The Missouri Gaming Commission is currently accepting sports betting license applications from operators who are partnering with state casinos or professional sports franchises. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 12.

It is on track to launch sports betting on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

Fanatics Sportsbook is applying for both partnered online and retail sports betting licenses. However, the company has yet to reveal its market access partner.

The sports betting operator is currently live in 22 states, plus Washington, D.C.

So far, the Missouri Gaming Commission has received three applications for its two available untethered online sports betting licenses. Circa Sports, DraftKings, and FanDuel are angling for untethered licenses.

Untethered license holders do not have to partner with any other entity in the state to do business, therefore do not have to share revenues with their market access partner. The commission will award the licenses on Aug. 15. The three applicants can also appear before the commission on Aug. 13 to present their case as to why they should be awarded an untethered license.

Underdog has also submitted an application for an online sports betting license. It has yet to announce its market access partner.

Here is the remaining Missouri sports betting schedule:

• Aug. 13: Applicants for direct online sports betting licenses may appear before Missouri Gaming Commission
• Aug. 15: Missouri Gaming Commission announces two selected direct online sports betting license applicants
• Sept. 12: All other partnered retail and online sports betting license applications must be completed
• Dec. 1: Deadline for the launch of Missouri sports betting

The commission has also received five applications for sports betting supplier licenses. Catalist, GLI, GeoComply, OpticOdds, and Sportradar have submitted applications for these licenses.

Necessary Regulatory Steps Being Taken

The Missouri Gaming Commission recently held a public hearing on its proposed sports betting rules and regulations.  Dozens of rules were brought up for discussion, but nobody from the public commented.

While comments were submitted online, a Missouri Gaming Commission spokesperson said they will eventually be shared in the state’s final sports betting orders.

The necessary step was required after Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the commission’s proposed emergency sports betting rules and regulations earlier this year.

The Missouri Gaming Commission delivered the proposed sports betting rules to the Missouri governor’s office in February. However, Hoskins determined after a review of the rules they did not meet the specific criteria for Missouri’s emergency rulemaking process and rejected the proposal.

Historically, lawmakers have typically approved emergency rules for sports betting to allow a state to stay on track for a desired launch date.

The post More Missouri Sports Betting License Applications Rolling In appeared first on Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks, one of the largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators in the U.S., today announced it has received gaming licenses in both Maine and Puerto Rico.

PrizePicks Arena, which are peer-to-peer DFS contests, are now available in the Pine Tree State.

Fantasy competitions will soon be available in Puerto Rico in the coming months.

First to Licensure in Puerto Rico

PrizePicks is the first DFS operator to receive a Puerto Rico gaming license.

“We’re grateful to the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and the Maine Gambling Control Unit for their partnership and support throughout the licensure process,” Adam Packer, Senior Vice President of Legal & Compliance at PrizePicks, said in a release. “We’ve seen tremendous engagement with Arena across the country, and we’re confident that momentum will carry into these new jurisdictions.”

PrizePicks is also now available in 47 jurisdictions across the United States.

According to the company, as it continues to expand into new jurisdictions, investment in responsible gaming will be a priority. In 2025, PrizePicks was awarded iCAP accreditation by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) for its Responsible Gaming practices and efforts, becoming the only fantasy sports operator to earn the certification.

Still Live in California

As PrizePicks continues to expand, the company is still live in California despite a recent legal opinion from the state’s attorney general.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently declared it is his legal opinion that daily fantasy sports contests are prohibited under California law.

Bonta’s opinion on the legality of DFS in the state is just that, an opinion, not an actual law. The opinion is in response to a 2023 request from Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21), who left the state legislature in 2024. The Attorney General did not issue an opinion in response to his request prior to him leaving the legislature.

“Yes, California law prohibits the operation of daily fantasy sports games with players physically located within California, regardless of where the operators and associated technology are located. Such games constitute wagering on sports in violation of Penal Code section 337a,” he noted.

Bonta’s opinion is quite clear that offering DFS contests in California is against state law.

Despite the published opinion, Underdog, PrizePicks, FanDuel, and DraftKings have all continued to offer DFS contests in California.

However, both Underdog and PrizePicks have shifted entirely to peer-to-peer contests in the Golden State, no longer offering any player vs. the house contests.

The post PrizePicks Now Live in Maine, Licensed in Puerto Rico appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Underdog has made a substantial change in California’s shaky daily fantasy sports market.

Nearly two weeks after California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a legal opinion in which he declared daily fantasy sports contests to be illegal in the Golden State, Underdog announced a shift to its champions product, moving away from its pick’em style, against the house branded contests

The shift to champions games took place on Wednesday afternoon.

Shifting Styles in California

Underdog made the transition late Wednesday, a company spokesperson reported. According to the company’s official rules, its champions games works as such:

“Champions is a peer-to-peer fantasy sports contest in which participants create a roster of 2-8 athletes. For each athlete in the roster, participants exercise their knowledge and skill to predict whether the athlete will perform higher or lower than a benchmark statistic. Upon submission, participants are entered into a tournament with other participants. Correct selections earn the participant champions Points. The entry with the most champions Points wins. The final amount participants win depends on how they perform relative to other participants in the tournament.”

The major difference between its champions product and its pick’em contests is users compete against each other in the champions game, while pick’em contests require users to play against the house.

“We brought the peer to peer pick’em game type to the industry, and how now launched our champions game in 20 states. We expect California fans will love playing, which is what we have seen in every other state,” an Underdog spokesperson told Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks also made a similar change in the state on July 2, launching its Arena peer-to-peer games in the state head of Bonta’s released opinion.

Is California DFS Illegal?

The transitions from two of the largest DFS companies in the country was likely stoked from Bonta’s released legal opinion, in which the attorney general made it quite clear that he believed DFS contests were illegal under California law.

Bonta wrote it is a crime if a person “[l]ays, makes, offers or accepts any bet or bets, or wager or wagers, upon the result, or purported result, of any trial, or purported trial, or contest, or purported contest, of skill, speed or power of endurance of person or animal, or between persons, animals, or mechanical apparatus.”

He even went so far as to note there is no difference in his opinion for a pick’em or draft style DFS games, declaring both have no place in the state.

Despite the published opinion, Underdog, PrizePicks, FanDuel, and DraftKings have all continued to offer DFS contests in California.

The post Underdog Shifts to Peer-to-Peer in California appeared first on Saturday Down South.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has declared it is his legal opinion that daily fantasy sports contests are prohibited under California law.

Bonta released his long-awaited opinion on the legality of daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests this afternoon, putting the California’s DFS market into question as operators now have to determine if it is worth continuing to do business in the state.

“We conclude that daily fantasy sports games, including both pick’em and draft style games, are prohibited by section 337a because they involve betting on sporting events,” Bonta wrote in the opinion.

Opinion, Not Law

Bonta’s opinion on the legality of DFS in the state is just that, an opinion, not an actual law. The opinion is in response to a 2023 request from Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21), who left the state legislature in 2024. The Attorney General did not issue an opinion in response to his request prior to him leaving the legislature.

“Yes, California law prohibits the operation of daily fantasy sports games with players physically located within California, regardless of where the operators and associated technology are located. Such games constitute wagering on sports in violation of Penal Code section 337a,” he noted.

Bonta’s opinion is quite clear that offering DFS contests in California is against state law.

He notes it is a crime if a person “[l]ays, makes, offers or accepts any bet or bets, or wager or wagers, upon the result, or purported result, of any trial, or purported trial, or contest, or purported contest, of skill, speed or power of endurance of person or animal, or between persons, animals, or mechanical apparatus.”

Bonta even went so far as to note there is no difference in his opinion for a pick’em or draft style DFS games, declaring both have no place in the state.

Governor Does Not Agree, Neither Does DFS Coalition

Interestingly, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) seemingly did not agree with Bonta’s opinion, According to Ashley Zavala of KCRA 3 News.

Zavala said Newsom’s office released the following statement to her:

“The AG, in his independent capacity, issued this opinion — not the Governor’s office. While the Governor does not agree with the outcome, he welcomes a constructive path forward in collaboration with all stakeholders.”

JT Foley, Executive Director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, supported Newsom’s opinion and declared Bonta “got it wrong.”

“We agree with Governor Newsom — AG Bonta got it wrong. As the Court said yesterday, this opinion ‘does not effect any change in law’ and does ‘not carry the weight of law.’ The law has not changed, a fact the last two Attorneys General, Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra, recognized as they specifically declined any similar action. We are hopeful the Attorney General heeds the Governor’s call to find a constructive solution that preserves the games that California sports fans love,” he said in a released statement.

DraftKings, FanDuel Have Their Say

Both FanDuel and DraftKings touched on Bonta’s DFS opinion.

“We look forward to meeting with the Attorney General’s office to talk through out next steps,” a FanDuel spokesperson told Saturday Down South.

A DraftKings spokesperson went as far as to say the company still intends to offer the contests in California despite Bonta’s opinion.

“DraftKings respectfully disagrees with the interpretation expressed with respect to peer-to-peer fantasy sports contests in the non-binding advisory opinion issued by the Attorney General of California. We believe peer-to-peer fantasy sports contests, including Salary Cap, Pick 6 and Best Ball, are legal in California, and we intend to continue offering them – as we have done without challenge or issue for over 13 years. Notably, the overwhelming body of law from 24 states and Congress confirms that fantasy sports contests are legal games of skill. In addition, the highest courts in Illinois and New York previously held that peer-to-peer fantasy sports contests are legal games of skill. We intend to work with stakeholders, including the Office of the Attorney General, to try to find an amicable resolution,” the spokesperson said.

Tribes Have Their Say

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) commended Bonta on his opinion. CNIGA noted now is the time for California to enforce Bonta’s legal opinion.

“While the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) commends Attorney General Rob Bonta for standing up for the rule of law in California, it is also very clear that California has long turned a blind eye to illegal gambling—at the direct expense of tribal governments. Untold millions if not billions have been illegally wagered over the past decade. Where is the enforcement? Where is the accountability? It is now imperative that the state back up this legal opinion with strong enforcement and that lawbreakers be held to account,” James Siva, CNIGA Chairman, said in a released statement.

The tribal association decried illegal gaming in California and applauded Bonta for his efforts to keep consumers safe in the Golden State.

“Illegal gaming denies consumers real protections and safeguards against illicit practices such as fraud and underage gambling. Strong enforcement against these illegal practices is the only way to ensure that gaming in California remains well-regulated and thus safe for consumers,” Siva said.

So, What Happens Now?

With Bonta’s opinion finally being released, all eyes are now on DFS operators to see if they will leave California.

As of yesterday, an Underdog spokesperson told Saturday Down South the company looks forward to continuing to offer DFS contests in the state, even after a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge declined the company’s temporary restraining order to keep Bonta from releasing his opinion.

“The court stated that the Attorney General’s forthcoming opinion on fantasy sports ‘does not effect any change in the law’ and does ‘not carry the weight of law.’ As a result, the court explained that the protective relief we sought was not necessary. We thank the court for that clarity and look forward to continuing to offer our fantasy contests in California.”

Will operators such as Underdog, PrizePicks, FanDuel, and DraftKings keep offering contests in the state, despite the opinion from Bonta? Daniel Wallach, a gaming attorney, said this would be an act of “self-sabotage” for any DFS operator.

The post California Attorney General Says DFS Contests Illegal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

A Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento judge has denied a temporary Underdog ex parte application to prohibit California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta from releasing a legal opinion regarding the legality of daily fantasy sports.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Rockwell denied Underdog’s request to prevent Attorney General Bonta from releasing his opinion the legality of daily fantasy sports in California, noting the company has “not established that they will suffer any harm as a result of the issuance” of the pending legal opinion.

Bonta is scheduled to release his legal opinion this week.

Underdog ‘Looks Forward’ To Continuing in California

Rockwell wrote in her decision that the issuance of an opinion from the attorney general “does not effect any change in the law.” She went on and noted the opinions are advisory only and “do not carry the weight of law.”

She also wrote that the opinion had been pending for the last 18 months, which gave Underdog ample opportunity to raise a challenge.

“The fact that Petitioners delayed filing this action does not constitute a basis for ex parte relief,” she wrote.

An Underdog spokesperson told Saturday Down South the company looks forward to continuing to offer DFS contests in the state after a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge declined the company’s temporary restraining order against Bonta’s opinion.

“The court stated that the Attorney General’s forthcoming opinion on fantasy sports ‘does not effect any change in the law’ and does ‘not carry the weight of law.’ As a result, the court explained that the protective relief we sought was not necessary. We thank the court for that clarity and look forward to continuing to offer our fantasy contests in California.”

Bonta is expected this week to release a long-awaited opinion on the legality of California’s DFS contests. He is expected to conclude all DFS contests – peer-to-peer, against the house, draft, etc. – are illegal in the Golden State.

California DFS games have operated in gray market for years, unregulated by the government or paying taxes to the state.

The opinion is in response to a 2023 request from Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21), who left the state legislature in 2024. The Attorney General did not issue an opinion in response to his request prior to him leaving the legislature.

Underdog Cited Irreparable Harm

According to the lawsuit, Underdog has operated in California since 2020 and the state accounts for more than 10% of the company’s annual revenue.

Underdog faces “irreparable harm” if the opinion is released, counsel argues, and since the company only received days’ notice it seeks a timely “ex parte temporary restraining order to preserve the status quo that has persisted in California for decades.”

“Without this Court’s immediate intervention, this unlawful gambit may succeed. Underdog faces imminent irreparable harm – from fleeing customers, risk-averse banks and
payment processors, and the loss of investment and goodwill – if the Attorney General issues the opinion as planned.”

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One of the major daily fantasy sports companies in the U.S. is suing the California Attorney General to block a potential opinion on the legality of daily fantasy sports from being released.

Underdog Sports LLC filed a lawsuit in Superior Court of the State of California to prohibit Attorney General Rob Bonta from releasing his opinion on the legality of daily fantasy sports (DFS) in the Golden State.

“Attorney General Bonta should be enjoined from doing so, not because he is wrong in his views on the legality of fantasy sports – though he certainly is – but because by statute, the Attorney General can only issue opinions on questions of law and can only answer questions that relate to the duties of the official requesting the opinion. Neither is true here,” Underdog Sports LLC. counsel Caleb Lin wrote in the lawsuit.

AG Lacks Authority to Issue Opinion

Bonta is expected this week to release a long-awaited opinion on the legality of California’s DFS contests. He is expected to conclude all DFS contests – peer-to-peer, against the house, draft, etc. – are illegal in the Golden State.

California DFS games have operated in gray market for years, unregulated by the government or paying taxes to the state.

According to Underdog’s lawsuit, Bonta lacks the authority to issue an opinion California DFS contests. According to California Government Code, limits are set on the Attorney General’s authority to accept, and issue, requested legal opinions.

“The Attorney General may only answer pure legal questions (‘any question of law’) that ‘relat[e]’ to the office of the requesting official. As the Attorney General himself has recognized, these conditions are not mere suggestions; they are ‘textual limitations on [his] responsibility to issue opinions.’ But they are limits he has disregarded here,” Lin wrote.

The opinion is in response to a 2023 request from Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21), who left the state legislature in 2024. The Attorney General did not issue an opinion in response to his request prior to him leaving the legislature, and his opinion has been pending for more than 18 months.

Through conversations with the Attorney General, Underdog noted that the forthcoming opinion will be broad and find “all daily fantasy sports be illegal under California law.”

“The Attorney General’s office confirmed that after releasing the opinion, the goal would be to use the threat of an enforcement action – under the interpretation of California law that the Attorney General will impermissibly announce in the opinion – to pressure Underdog into agreeing to leave California entirely,” Lin wrote.

Irreparable Harm to Underdog

According to the lawsuit, Underdog has operated in California since 2020 and the state accounts for more than 10% of the company’s annual revenue.

Underdog faces “irreparable harm” if the opinion is released, counsel argues, and since the company only received days’ notice it seeks a timely “ex parte temporary restraining order to preserve the status quo that has persisted in California for decades.”

“Without this Court’s immediate intervention, this unlawful gambit may succeed. Underdog faces imminent irreparable harm – from fleeing customers, risk-averse banks and
payment processors, and the loss of investment and goodwill – if the Attorney General issues the opinion as planned.”

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The Coalition for Fantasy Sports – which represents the interests of Betr, PrizePicks, Underdog, Dabble Fantasy, and Splash – is hoping the future of California daily fantasy sports competitions may be determined by state voters, not the Attorney General.

The Coalition for Fantasy Sports today reacted to the report that Attorney General Rob Bonta will soon release his long-awaited opinion on daily fantasy sports contests in the state, likely declaring all forms of DFS illegal in California.

JT Foley, Executive Director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, told Saturday Down South that recent polling numbers show a majority of voters support a legalized California DFS market and the coalition hopes to work with the legislature moving forward to “build regulations and potential taxation of DFS in the state of California.”

Coalition Keeping All Options Open

According to polling results released by the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, 75% of overall California voters support allowing fantasy sports to be played in the state. The survey, conducted by Global Strategy Group, was fielded among 1,000 of California’s likely 2026 voters between May 6-11, 2025.

“75% of California voters support fantasy sports — a clear sign of how popular these games are across the state. Millions of Californians actively play fantasy sports, and even among opponents, most agree the decision should be left to voters, not courts or politicians. To take these games away now would be a complete disregard for the will of the people. We urge the Attorney General to listen to the millions of sports fans whose voices deserve to be heard,” Foley told Saturday Down South.

Of the 25% of poll respondents who oppose DFS in the state, 75% of them believe the future legality of the fantasy sports market should be determined by California voters.

When asked if the Coalition for Fantasy Sports was considering the option of a voter referendum in the state to determine DFS legality, Foley said it is no secret that California gaming referendums have had a tough road to approval in the past.

He did say, however, that “this is something we’ve been looking at.”

“We’re keeping any and all options open right now,” Foley said.

Attorney General Likely to Declare DFS Illegal

According to a report from KCRA 3, Attorney General Rob Bonta is expected to release a long-awaited legal opinion on the legality of California daily fantasy sports contests. He is expected to conclude all DFS contests are illegal in the Golden State.

California DFS games have operated in gray market for years, unregulated by the government or paying taxes to the state.

The legality of California DFS has long been in question, with queries dating as far back as 2015. California State Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-10) called for then California Attorney General Kamala Harris to declare DFS operations illegal in the state.

Neither Harris nor Attorney General Xaxier Becerra shared their official legal opinion on the validity of DFS during their terms from 2011 to 2021.

California lawmakers again reached out to the Attorney General to decide on the legality of DFS in late 2023, when Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21) requested Bonta review the operations of DFS companies in California to see if their services are in line with state gambling laws. Nearly two years later, Bonta will release his official opinion, which will likely not be good news for DFS operators.

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California daily fantasy sports contests may not be long for this world.

According to a report from KCRA 3, California Attorney General Rob Bonta is expected to release a long-awaited legal opinion on the legality of California daily fantasy sports contests. He is expected to conclude all DFS contests – peer-to-peer, against the house, draft, etc. – are illegal in the Golden State.

California DFS games have operated in gray market for years, unregulated by the government or paying taxes to the state.

DFS Reviewed for Years

According to KCRA 3, the full opinion from Bonta is expected to be released on July 3.

The legality of California DFS has been in question in for years, dating as far back as 2015. California State Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-10) called for then California Attorney General Kamala Harris to declare DFS operators illegal in the state.

Neither Harris or Attorney General Xaxier Becerra shared their official legal opinion on the validity of DFS during their terms from 2011 to 2021.

California lawmakers again reached out to the Attorney General to decide on the legality of DFS in late 2023, when Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21) requested Bonta review the operations of DFS companies in California to see if their services are in line with state gambling laws. Nearly two years later, Bonta will release his official opinion, which will likely not be good news for DFS operators.

The Coalition for Fantasy Sports – representing Betr, PrizePicks, Underdog, Dabble, and Splash – told Saturday Down South the decision on its legality should be left to California voters.

“75% of California voters support fantasy sports — a clear sign of how popular these games are across the state. Millions of Californians actively play fantasy sports, and even among opponents, most agree the decision should be left to voters, not courts or politicians. To take these games away now would be a complete disregard for the will of the people. We urge the Attorney General to listen to the millions of sports fans whose voices deserve to be heard,” JT Foley, Executive Director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports said.

DraftKings and FanDuel also have a heavy DFS presence in California.

If Bonta does indeed declare DFS illegal, the opinion will likely end up challenged in California courts by the operators. California is one of, if not the largest, DFS market for these companies in the country.

California Tribes Turned Up Heat on DFS

Over the last year, California tribes took aim at DFS operators in the state, hoping the Attorney General would find their operations illegal.

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) submitted a letter to the California State Legislature earlier this week, when rumors that DFS operators were working with state lawmakers to introduce a bill to legalize the games in the state.

“Despite this pending opinion, some fantasy sports interests are already approaching members of the Legislature to author and/or support a bill on this issue. We respectfully urge you to withhold any commitments or authorships until the Attorney General releases his opinion. It is essential that all stakeholders – including the Legislature – have the benefit of clear legal guidance and facts before proceeding with any legislation,” CNIGA Chairman James Siva and Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, wrote in the letter.

California tribal leaders have historically shared their displeasure with the DFS industry, turning up their attention this year.

Siva appeared on The New Normal podcast, hosted by Victor Rocha, conference chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, and Jason Giles, executive director of the Indian Gaming Association, this past October, criticizing the DFS and sweepstakes industries in the state.

During the episode, Siva made it quite clear that he believes DFS is illegal, according to the California constitution, and threatens tribal gaming exclusivity in the state.

“The fact is, according to the California constitution, DFS is illegal in every way,” he said during the episode.

Rocha flatly said DFS operators cannibalize tribal gaming operators, taking revenue out of California through their untaxed and unregulated offerings.

“When we’re talking about cannibalization, this is what we’re talking about. They’re taking money out of California. It’s unregulated and it’s untaxed,” Rocha said.

The post California Attorney General Likely to Declare DFS Illegal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks is racking up the MLB daily fantasy sports partnerships.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that PrizePicks is now the team’s official daily fantasy sports partner. The partnership features several digital and in-stadium activations at history Dodgers Stadium for the DFS operator.

PrizePicks is the official DFS partner with five MLB franchises.

Fifth MLB Partnership for PrizePicks

PrizePicks is now an official DFS partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves.

As part of the multi-year partnership, PrizePicks will receive prominent in-venue branding at Dodgers Stadium. This includes banner displays throughout the stadium and specific LED signage in the outfield pavilion.

“Partnering with the Dodgers is an incredible opportunity to align with one of the most respected organizations in sports,” said Mike Quigley, chief marketing officer at PrizePicks. “As the Dodgers chase another championship title, we’re looking forward to delivering unique moments that bring fans even closer to the action.”

Throughout rest of the Dodgers’ season, PrizePicks will introduce an exclusive in-game promotion for Dodgers fans. Anytime the team scores 10 runs or more at home, the Dogers will launch a PrizePicks branded social media contest offering users a chance to win a free PrizePicks lineup and tickets to a Dodgers game.

“We are pleased to welcome PrizePicks to our family of partners,” said Lon Rosen, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Los Angeles Dodgers. “Their innovative approach to fan engagement aligns well with our commitment to delivering world-class experiences, and we look forward to a winning collaboration.”

Second Partnership in Last Month

In late May, PrizePicks announced its fourth overall MLB partnership with the Houston Astros.

The multi-year partnership allows PrizePicks branding to be prominently displayed throughout Daikin Park with featured static and rotational signage throughout the stadium. The DFS company is also now featured on the Astros Radio Network with sponsored “more or less” segments prior to each game.

Each MLB partnership names PrizePicks as the official DFS partner of the MLB franchise. Each partnership allows PrizePicks branding throughout each stadium and provides special contests and promotions for fans during each home game.

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DraftKings Fantasy launched a new peer-to-peer daily fantasy sports product during game one of the NBA finals.

DraftKings Pick6 went live on Thursday, June 5, a new offering for its peer-to-peer DFS product. Users can now build lineups during live events and introduces new game dynamics for the market.

The new DFS product will also soon be available for MLB markets and will be available in the upcoming NFL season.

Available Throughout U.S., Plus D.C.

The new DFS product is available in 33 states throughout the U.S., plus Washington, D.C. The majority of states allow users who are 18 to play the new DFS product, while Alabama and Nebraska require users to be 19. Massachusetts and Arizona require customers to be 21.

Users can build lineups of two to eight athletes from multiple teams and select whether or not they believe each will outperform their listed stat projection.

“The Pick6 live product represents a major potential differentiator for us,” said Corey Gottlieb, chief product officer, DraftKings. “We’re leveraging our existing live sports data platform to offer robust in-game content availability that we believe will set us apart from competition. This creates hundreds of new moments for customers to enjoy the prizing upside that already makes Pick6 unique.”

New game dynamics such as “evolving multipliers, rolling entry, and live state tracking throughout the games” will be available in the Pick6 markets.

Where is This Available?

DraftKings Pick6 is available in the following U.S. states and jurisdictions:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kanas
• Kentucks
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

DraftKings Pick 6 is also available in the following Canadian locations:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

The post DraftKings Launches Pick6 Live During NBA Finals appeared first on Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks is now the official daily fantasy sports partner of the Houston Astros.

The multi-year partnership with the Astros features digital and in-stadium activations for customers at Daikin Park, plus signage for the largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) operator in North America.

It’s the fourth DFS partnership PrizePicks has announced this year with an MLB franchise.

Partnership Includes Signage, Promotions

The partnership will allow PrizePicks branding to be prominently displayed throughout Daikin Park with featured static and rotational signage throughout the stadium. The DFS company will also be featured on the Astros Radio Network with sponsored “more or less” segments prior to each game.

“This partnership is all about bringing more fun and bigger rewards to PrizePicks players in Houston,” said Mike Quigley, Chief Marketing Officer at PrizePicks. “We’re rolling out new promotions and experiences that make following the Astros even more exciting for fans — both at the ballpark and at home.”

The company will also collaborate with the Astros for a special City Connect Monday promotion supporting all of the team’s Monday home games. As the Astros wear their Nike City Connect uniforms, the team will provide fans a chance to win a $10,000 free PrizePicks lineup and tickets to a future Astros game to watch their picks live.

“We are thrilled to add PrizePicks as an official Astros partner,” said Matt Richardson, Vice President Corporate Partnerships. “PrizePicks continues to invest in Major League Baseball and is committed to engaging fantasy sports fans in both a responsible and fun way.”

The partnership with the Astros is the fourth partnership by PrizePicks with an MLB team.

PrizePicks Partnering With MLB Franchises

The Astros partnership is the fourth MLB partnership with PrizePicks. The DFS company announced DFS partnerships this year with the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Astros.

It also announced a partnership renewal with the Atlanta Braves in April. PrizePicks agreed to its original partnership with the Braves in 2020.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Atlanta Braves and to bring even more unforgettable experiences to fans across Braves Country,” Quigley said. “As a company rooted in community and growth, we’re proud to extend this collaboration for a fifth consecutive season and deepen our connection with fans nationwide.”

Each partnership names PrizePicks as the official DFS partner of the MLB franchise. Each partnership allows PrizePicks branding throughout each stadium and provides special contests and promotions for fans during each home game.

The post PrizePicks Now Official DFS Partner of Houston Astros appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Underdog Fantasy has made a surprising return to New York.

Underdog Fantasy tonight relaunched its draft-style daily fantasy sports (DFS) games in New York, nearly two months after it withdrew all of its DFS competitions from the Empire State.

The decision to withdraw all DFS contests from New York in March came after a ruling from the New York State Gaming Commission in which the commission determined Underdog was not in line with the state’s current DFS law.

Surprising Decision to Relaunch in NY

An Underdog Fantasy spokesperson notified Saturday Down South of the relaunch around 6:55 p.m. The games were officially relaunched in the Empire State around 7 p.m.

The Underdog Fantasy spokesperson declined to comment on why the company decided to relaunch its draft competitions in New York. The spokesperson instead pointed to a social media post on X about the decision.

The draft competitions are now live in the state.

An Underdog Fantasy spokesperson did confirm the company is still working under a temporary license. The New York State Gaming Commission agreed to allow the company to offer its draft DFS games with the temporary license.

Most DFS companies in New York do operate with a temporary license.

Disagreement Over DFS Licensing

Underdog Fantasy withdrew from the state in March after a disagreement over its temporary license. Underdog Fantasy acquired Synkt Games, and its temporary DFS license, in 2022.

However, the New York State Gaming Commission determined state law requires that temporary license holders not alter their DFS games from the time of license issuance. For Underdog, this means the company would have had to offer DFS games similar to the ones Synkt Games offered when it received its temporary license from the gaming commission in 2015.

The gaming commission, however, ruled that Underdog Fantasy did indeed alter its games from their original state and fined the company $17.5 million.

The company released a statement to the media following its withdrawal decision. Underdog Fantasy legal counsel disagreed with the commission’s interpretation of the law, but agreed to settle the matter with the withdrawal and paying the $17.5 million fine, equivalent to the amount of revenue Underdog’s game generated in New York.

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FanDuel is getting into the daily fantasy sports peer-to-peer pick’em market.

The daily fantasy sports and sports betting giant recently launched a new app, FanDuel Picks, offering peer-to-peer pick’em games to customers across five states.

Dustin Gouker’s “The Closing Line” substack was the first to break the news.

Small Release So Far

FanDuel Picks is currently only available in five states, but will likely be expanded farther across the country after the initial rollout. The new FanDuel pick’em option is only available in Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

The FanDuel Picks website has an option for customers to sign up to receive information on when the new game will launch in their state.

The new DFS game allows customers to compete against other customers by picking between three and six players and predicting “more” or “less” on a set total of their projected stat lines. Customers earn points for every correct prediction and the highest point total wins the contest entry amount.

Perfect lineups receive bigger winnings, according to the official rules.

A FanDuel representative offered a brief comment on the launch to Saturday Down South.

“FanDuel Picks is available to a limited number of customers in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oregon and Wisconsin.”

It’s an interesting shift for FanDuel, as the company is one of the final to debut a peer-to-peer fantasy pick’em product for its customers. DraftKings Fantasy, PrizePicks, Betr, and Underdog Fantasy all have peer-to-peer offerings after a number of states cracked down on popular player vs. the house fantasy games that gaming regulators believed mirrored sports betting too closely.

Shift to Peer-to-Peer

Daily fantasy sports operators have generally shifted to offering peer-to-peer products over the last several years after states began to crack down on player vs. the house options.

State gaming regulators began to focus on player vs. the house pick’em games back in 2023, ordering operators to cease the games or even outright fining them for their offerings. The Maine Gambling Control Unit issued a $391,850 fine to Underdog Fantasy in 2023 for offering the games in their state.

New York approved an alteration of its DFS rules in 2023 to prohibit traditional pick’em games. The New York State Gaming Commission finalized DFS rules that include a ban on Pick Em’ style games. The new DFS rules declared that “contests shall not be based on proposition betting and shall not have the effect of mimicking proposition betting.”

Colorado, Arizona, and Michigan all took steps to alter or outright ban pick’em games as well.

The post FanDuel Entering Peer-to-Peer Daily Fantasy Sports Market appeared first on Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks, one of the largest daily fantasy sports operators in the country, recently announced a substantial investment into its responsible gaming tools and programs.

The company announced a $50 million investment into its responsible gaming programs and initiative for fiscal year 2025, which will be used to strengthen the company’s commitment to player protection and safety.

This is the first year the company has publicly announced its responsible gaming investment for a fiscal year.

Continued Growth, Continued Responsibility

The $50 million responsible gaming investment will be allocated towards enhanced know-your-customer/anti-money laundering technologies, responsible play tools, responsible gaming-focused advertising, employee training, compliance efforts, and expanded support through the company’s partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health.

Kindbridge Behavioral Health is a mental health service provider dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges related to problem gaming and other mental health issues. PrizePicks announced its partnership with Kindbridge last year, with the company incurring all initial costs of Kindbridge’s support services for its customer-facing employees and player community.

Players on PrizePicks and customer support employees have access to in-depth clinical assessment, clinical review, and care plan development sessions throught the partnership. It also provides customers with access to educational and peer support groups.

“With continued growth and national expansion comes an even greater responsibility to our players,” said Mike Ybarra, CEO of PrizePicks, in the company announcement. “Player protection has been a core pillar of PrizePicks since day one, and this investment reflects our unwavering commitment to responsible gaming. As we bring our innovative products to new states, we’re equally focused on advancing industry-leading standards for safety, transparency, and care.”

Only DFS Operator with iCAP Accredictation

The investment continues PrizePicks dedication to responsible gaming programs. In March, the daily fantasy sports operator announced it received Internet Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP) accreditation from the National Council on Problem Gaming (NCPG). The accreditation program is the leading online responsible gaming assessment program in the United States.

 Certification is granted to operators that meet the NCPG’s high standards for responsible gaming and consumer protection practices.

The certification process involves an independent, comprehensive review of the operator’s responsible gaming policies, practices, know your customer protocols, staff training programs, work culture, consumer protection measures, responsible gaming tool offerings, customers service standards, and regulatory compliance.

The post PrizePicks Announces $50 Million Responsible Gaming Investment appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The NCAA investigated a former Baylor employee for participating in improper gambling activity and found he played impermissible daily fantasy sports contests on professional and college games, including contests that included Baylor student-athletes or student-athletes competing against Baylor.

Sam Hancock, former director of resource development at Baylor University, played 2,950 contests from July 2019 through September 2024 for a total of $45,979 across three different DFS operators. According to the investigation, 113 of the contests involved Baylor University.

However, Hancock never impacted the integrity of the competitions and he did not utilize inside information to place any wagers.

Knew Actions Against NCAA Rules

The case originated Aug. 31, 2024, when Baylor received notification that Hancock participated in impermissible activity through the daily fantasy website PrizePicks. Baylor self-reported Hancock’s actions to the NCAA on Oct. 30, 2024.

“Hancock confirmed that he began participating in daily fantasy betting prior to starting his employment at Baylor and continued betting throughout his employment. Hancock acknowledged that his betting activity was limited to daily fantasy betting on three different platforms where he would bet on specific individuals to achieve certain benchmarks within a contest,” the NCAA revealed in its investigation.

Through the investigation, Hancock confirmed he knew his actions were against NCAA rules. He received rules education and training related to sports betting from Baylor, but acted alone without anyone’s knowledge.

According to data acquired from the DFS operators, the contests he played included professional and collegiate sports athletes, as well as student athletes from Baylor or those involved in contests where Baylor was participating.

The NCAA ordered a two-year show-cause order for Hancock from April 10, 2025, through April 9, 2027. During the period, any employing institution much require him to participate in gambling counseling and attend NCAA Regional Rules Seminars at his own expense. In addition, he will receive a two-week suspension during the first year of employment within the show-cause period, in which Hancock cannot participate in any athletics activities, including being present or communicating with development staff members, athletics staff members or student-athletes during the suspension period.

First Major Sports Betting Infraction Since January

This is the first major NCAA sports betting infraction released since January, in which the NCAA investigated Zachary Kelly, former director of equipment and services of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)

Kelly placed impermissible bets on professional and collegiate games from September 2023 through January 2024, including a VMI men’s basketball game. The NCAA issued a three-year show-cause order for Kelly, in which any employing institution must restrict him from all athletically related activity during the period and a one-week suspension during the first year of employment during the show-cause period.

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Hawaii daily fantasy sports contests are likely soon going to become a reality.

The Senate yesterday approved Rep. Daniel Holt’s bill, HB 1308, to legalize Hawaii sports betting and daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests by a 15-10 vote. The amended bill will be sent back to the House for concurrence.

The House is expected to agree with the changes and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) to then sign the legislation into law.

Hawaii Daily Fantasy Sports Coming Soon

If the Hawaii House of Representatives approves the amendment included in the bill, and Gov. Green signs the bill into law, Hawaii will become the 40th state to legalize sports betting and will also be able to offer DFS contests to state residents.

According to the approved bill, DFS contests must include the following:

• There are no fewer than two participants; provided that all participants are natural persons and a fantasy sports contest operator shall not be construed to be a participant
• Participants own, manage, or coach imaginary teams
• All prizes and awards offered to winning participants are established and made known to participants in advance of the game or contest
• The winning outcome of the game or contest reflects the relative skill of the participants and is determined by statistics generated by actual individuals, including athletes in the case of a sporting event
• No winning outcome is based solely on the performance of an individual athlete or on the score, point spread, or any performance of any single real-world team or any combination of real-world teams

The wording of DFS contests in the bill will make player vs. the house games illegal, as an operator cannot be defined as a participant in the contest. A number have states have prohibited these types of DFS games, construing them as sports betting.

Recently, both Maryland and Illinois have considered legalizing the contest type.

If signed into law, operators such as DraftKings Fantasy, PrizePicks, and Underdog Fantasy will have the opportunity to offer DFS contests in Hawaii.

Bill Also Legalizes Online Sports Betting

The bill will also allow at least four online sports betting licenses to be awarded to operators in the state.

The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement will regulate the new form of gaming if ultimately approved. Additionally, the enforcement of the general excise tax on sports betting will be administered by the Hawaii Department of Taxation.

If approved, the bill will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

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One of the leading daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators in the country, Underdog Fantasy announced today it has withdrawn all DFS contests from New York and will pay a fine of $17.5 million to the New York State Gaming Commission.

However, it also announced plans to expand its DFS games into both New Jersey and Delaware by the end of the month.

Goodbye New York

The decision to withdraw all DFS contests – both pick’em and draft – came after a ruling from the New York State Gaming Commission in which the commission determined Underdog was not in line with the state’s current DFS law.

Underdog Fantasy operated in the Empire State, like all major DFS companies in New York, under a temporary license. Underdog Fantasy acquired Synkt Games, and its temporary DFS license, in 2022.

However, the New York State Gaming Commission determined state law requires that temporary license holders not alter their DFS games from the time of license issuance. For Underdog, this means the company would have had to offer DFS games similar to the ones Synkt Games offered when it received its temporary license from the gaming commission in 2015.

The gaming commission, however, ruled that Underdog Fantasy did indeed alter its games from their original state and fined the company $17.5 million.

In a statement released to the media, Underdog disagreed with the commission’s interpretation of the law, but has agreed to settle the matter by withdrawing all games and paying the fine, which was based on the amount of revenue Underdog’s games generated in the state.

Underdog Fantasy has since applied for a permanent fantasy sports license in the state.

“It’s a unique, temporary license issue specific only to New York, and not related to any specific game format we offer,” Nicholas Green, Underdog’s General Counsel, said in a release statement. “Any fantasy game created after 2015, no matter the format, is not permitted under the commission’s interpretation of what games a temporary permitholder, like Underdog, can and cannot offer. The high fine amount speaks to the popularity of our games, as the settlement was calculated based on our revenue in New York.” 

Green continued, noting that New York’s DFS landscape has operated in “regulatory uncertainty” for nearly the last decade. Consumers are limited to only a few “legacy operators” in the state, he said.

While Underdog does disagree with the commission’s interpretation of the law, Green said the settlement does provide clarity on state DFS licensing issues.

“The settlement recognizes that Underdog worked in cooperation with the commission and operated at all times in a good faith interpretation of state law. We look forward to offering all of our contests again to New Yorkers, and we are working with the commission to do so as soon as possible,” he said.

This is not the first time the New York State Gaming Commission has levied a hefty fine against a DFS operator. In February 2024, the commission fined PrizePicks nearly $15 million for operating in the state without a license.

Expanding into New Jersey, Delaware

While it will withdraw its DFS games from New York, Underdog also announced it will expand into both New Jersey and Delaware by the end of the month.

Underdog will offer its Pick’em Champions product in both state. When live, Underdog will offer a variation of its pick’em games in 36 states.

“New Jersey and Delaware have been at the forefront of modern sports gaming regulation, and bringing our Pick‘em Champions game to those states is yet another endorsement from highly respected regulatory bodies of the product we built, which much of the industry has now replicated,” Green said.

The post Underdog Fantasy Withdraws From N.Y. and Fined $17.5 Million, But Expands into N.J. and Delaware appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Coalition announced Splash Sports as its latest member, joining Betr, Dabble, PrizePicks, and Underdog Sports.

“Fantasy sports continues to evolve, and with the addition of industry leaders like Splash Sports, our coalition is stronger than ever,” said Coalition Executive Director JT Foley. “Together, we will continue to advocate for smart policies that allow fantasy sports to thrive while prioritizing consumer protection and innovation.”

Splash Sports Joins DFS Coalition

Joel Milton, co-founder and CEO of Splash Sports, noted the company is excited to join the coalition and have its voice be heard in the DFS industry.

“Splash Sports is excited to join forces with the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, an organization that shares our passion for responsible and innovative fantasy sports gaming. Together, we will work to protect and grow the fantasy sports industry, ensuring that consumers have access to a safe, enjoyable, and innovative experience,” he said.

Splash Sports, along with RunYourPool and OfficeFootballPool, is owned by Certamen Ventures, Inc. Together, the three platforms have over two million active users and offer numerous fantasy sports and skill game formats.

Certamen Ventures is headquartered in Denver and is backed by leading venture capital firms Accomplice, Boston Seed Capital, Acies Investments, Dream Ventures, Velvet Sea Ventures, and other investors in the gaming space.

Unified Voice for DFS Companies

By joining the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, Splash Sports will be able to have a voice with the other leading DFS companies on legislative battles, market expansion, and responsible gaming efforts.

It will also have access to the coalition’s recently introduced responsible gaming measure, idPair. The RG measure, which was debuted last October, allows users to simultaneously self-exclude themselves across all platforms, regardless of their location.

IdPair’s advanced data anonymization ensures 100% privacy, safeguarding self-excluded users’ sensitive data, according to the announcement. The company is able to enhance consumer protection through research and the creation of innovative technology. Its products include the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program and a single-customer view platform to identify and reduce high-risk consumer behaviors by combining anonymized transactional data across multiple operators.

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An Illinois legislator has proposed a new bill to establish a Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act, to completely regulate daily fantasy sports in the Prairie State. Additionally, a Maryland lawmaker has proposed a new bill to allow for a new type of daily fantasy sports market in state.

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators are live in both states, but Maryland is the only market out of the two with a regulated DFS industry.

Bringing Illinois into the Legal Light

Sen. Lakeisha Collins (D-5) introduced SB 1224, the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act, to completely regulate the DFS industry in Illinois. While DFS operators currently offer DFS games in the state, they do so in a gray area, and this bill will establish DFS license fees and tax rates.

The bill has been referred to the assignments committee.

The bill establishes DFS license fees for operators that were live in the state before the bill’s effective date shall be 8% of its adjusted gross fantasy contest receipts from the preceding calendar year, or $1 million, whichever is less.

Initial license fees for an operator not in the state for at least 12 months before the effective date of the bill will be $10,000, except, if an operator has 10,000 or more fantasy contest participants in Illinois with an active account who participated in at least in at least one fantasy contest with an entry fee, then the operator will notify the Illinois Gaming Board and remit an application fee in the amount of $990,000 within 10 days.

The bill also establishes legal DFS contests, which includes specific player vs. the house markets.

“Fantasy contest includes both contests wherein participants compete against each other and contests wherein only a single participant competes against a target score set by the fantasy contest operator. Fantasy contest does not include any fantasy contest without an entry fee.”

The bill includes a DFS tax rate of at least 10 %, but not more than 15% of an operators adjusted gross fantasy contest revenues, as determined by the Illinois Gaming Board.

Maryland Considering Player vs. House Contests

Maryland, which has a regulated DFS market, is considering a revamp of its DFS rules. In early 2024, several DFS operators in Maryland had to repeal games that saw users competing against the house after a regulatory mandate prohibited the types of contests in the Old Line state.

Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-21) and Sen. Paul D. Corderman (R-2) introduced bill SB 470 to allow for these types of games.

If approved, the bill defines for the following contests:

• A participant competes against other participants

• Subject to the provisions of the subtitle, a single participant competes against a statistical measurement established by the fantasy competition operator

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Missouri sports betting is now statutorily required to launch in the state by Dec. 1, 2025, but will likely launch sooner than the approved deadline, according to state gaming regulators.

The Missouri Board of State Canvassers, which includes Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Judge Jon Beetem and Judge Daniel Green, last week certified the results of the Nov. 5 general election. No recount request has been made within the necessary seven-day window, so all results are now official.

Sports Betting Likely By Late-Summer 2025

Voters approved the sports betting amendment by 1,478,652 yes votes (50.05%) to 1,475,691 no votes (49.95%), passing the amendment by just 2,961 total votes. Missouri will become the 39th state in the country to legalize sports betting and the 31st to approval online sports betting as well.

Despite the close results, Missouri has no automatic recount laws. The amendment’s 0.1% margin of victory did qualify it for a recount, but no individual made a recount request within seven days of the certification.

Missouri must launch sports betting by Dec. 1, 2025, but according to Jan M. Zimmerman, chair of the Missouri Gaming Commission, it will likely happen much sooner than the deadline. Zimmerman said the gaming commission is looking at the summer of 2025 as a potential launch time for sports betting, to have the markets up and running before the start of the lucrative football season.

It takes a state about eight months on average from its sports betting approval to its sports betting launch. The gaming commission will be able to begin work this month, so if the average of eight months to launch stands, the state could be looking at start around August 2025.

The approval of the sports betting amendment will allow each professional Missouri sports franchise and land-based casino to be eligible for one retail sports betting license and one online sports betting license each. Each individual team and casino will also be able to partner with up to one online sports betting operator.

In total, the state can see 19 retail sports betting licenses and 21 online sports betting licenses under this framework.

The state has set its sports betting tax rate at 10% and will allow for promotional deductions against sports betting revenues. It’s estimated by sports betting proponents that the state could see upwards of $28.9 million annually in sports betting tax revenues.

Who Will Operate in Missouri?

While the work to begin licensing has yet to start, we can make some predictions on who will be awarded sports betting licenses in the state. Each casino and Missouri sports franchise can apply for a retail and online sports betting license under the bill’s regulatory framework. Caesars Entertainment, PENN Entertainment, Boyd Gaming, Affinity Interactive, and Century Casinos each own brick-and-mortar casinos in the state.

This means that Caesars Sportsbook and ESPN BET will likely apply for online sports betting licenses in Missouri. As per previous reports, it has been highly suggested that DraftKings and FanDuel are in line to receive the two untethered online sports betting licenses.

There are currently several sports betting partnerships or existing relationships in the state already. A look at the landscape of potential Missouri sports betting apps is as follows:

• Kansas City Chiefs: DraftKings and BetMGM.
• Century Casinos: Company has a sports betting partnership with bet365. Owns two casinos in the state.
• PENN Entertainment: Partnership with ESPN BET. Company has three casinos in the state
• Caesars Entertainment: Caesars Sportsbook. Company has three casinos in the state.
• Bally’s Casino in Kansas City: Bally Bet
• Boyd Gaming: Boyd Sports

Additional partnerships will be developed with sports betting operators as teams, casinos seek out licensure.

The post Yes, Missouri Sports Betting Will Launch in 2025 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The daily fantasy sports company today announced it has been awarded daily fantasy sports licenses in both Delaware and Missouri. PrizePicks will soon be launching its peer-to-peer Arena contest in both states.

PrizePicks Arena game is now legal in 15 states.

Launch Details Coming Soon

PrizePicks did not reveal when its peer-to-peer Arena game would launch, but noted on X that it would reveal additional launch details sometimes next week.

“We are proud that Arena has been approved in every state where it has been submitted. We’ve seen strong player adoption to date and we look forward to replicating our success in these new markets with a fun gaming experience,” said PrizePicks CEO Mike Ybarra. “We’d like to extend our gratitude to the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement, the Delaware Lottery, and the Missouri Gaming Commission for their thoughtful collaboration.”

Since launching in January, players on Arena have built over 20 million peer-to-peer lineups. Arena is currently live for those who are over 18 in Alaska, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Arena is also available for those over 19 in Alabama and Colorado, and in Arizona and Massachusetts for customers over 21.

PrizePicks is now operating in 44 jurisdictions.

Lawsuit Still Looms in Massachusetts

In other PrizePicks news, no further movement has been reported in a lawsuit recently filed against the company, and fellow DFS operators Underdog Fantasy and Yahoo Fantasy Sports, by a Massachusetts man who claims the two operators offered illegal sports betting in the commonwealth.

Plaintiff Joseph P. Curran filed a lawsuit against the three companies in Essex County Superior Court on Thursday, Oct. 17. His counsel is seeking damages equal to triple the total amount bet on the markets by customers in the commonwealth through March.

The lawsuit alleges that the offerings from Underdog Sports, PrizePicks, and Yahoo Fantasy Sports in which users played pick’em games against the house were actually unlicensed sports bets, as opposed to fantasy sports offerings.

The traditional peer-to-house pick’em games were offered by the companies through at least March 6, 2024, in the state.

PrizePicks had no comment on the lawsuit, but a representative for Underdog Fantasy spoke out on the filed suit last week.

“He never even played on our platform. It’s a completely transparent phishing attempt by a plaintiff’s lawyer, and it will get dismissed sooner rather than later. It’s a press release searching for a legal theory, trying to extract a settlement. We continue to offer our product in compliance with Massachusetts law,” the spokesperson said.

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Plaintiff Joseph P. Curran filed a lawsuit against the three companies in Essex County Superior Court on Thursday, Oct. 17. His counsel is seeking damages equal to triple the total amount bet on the markets by customers in the commonwealth through March.

“Mr. Curran has standing to bring this action as plaintiff under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 137, § 1, which provides that if a person having a claim under the statute ‘does not within three months after such loss, payment or delivery, without covin or collusion, prosecute such action with effect, any other person may sue for and recover in tort treble the value thereof,'” his counsel wrote in the lawsuit.

Underdog, PrizePicks Ceased Traditional Pick’em in March

The lawsuit alleges that the offerings from Underdog Sports, PrizePicks, and Yahoo Fantasy Sports in which users played pick’em games against the house were actually unlicensed sports bets, as opposed to fantasy sports offerings.

The traditional peer-to-house pick’em games were offered by the companies through at least March 6, 2024, in the state.

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Officer sent cease-and-desist letters to 10 operators offering the games in the state. Yahoo Fantasy Sports was one of operators who received a cease-and-desist letter:

• Boom Fantasy
• OwnersBox
• Parlay Play
• Real Time Fantasy Sports
• Sleeper
• Splash Sports
• Talid Sports dba Chalkboard Fantasy Sports
• Two Nine Sports dba StatHero
• Vivid Picks
• Yahoo! Daily Fantasy Sports

However, PrizePicks and Underdog Sports did not receive a notice. Both agreed to alter their pick’em games in Massachusetts to a new peer-to-peer model.

The lawsuit levied against the operators claims they accepted illegal sport bets when offering their peer-to-house pick’em games before altering their services.

“In actuality, while Defendants may have some offerings which are considered Daily Fantasy Sports, until March 2024 (and possibly beyond), they also offered sports wagers. However, Defendants offered and accepted sports wagers in Massachusetts illegally because they were never registered in Massachusetts as entities that can accept such bets,” counsel wrote.

Jason A. Zweig of Bartko LLP, counsel for Curran, declined to comment on the lawsuit further to Saturday Down South. 

In the lawsuit, Curran said he will donate any damages he receives to a charity.

Underdog Sports Speaks Out on Lawsuit

While a PrizePicks representative declined to speak to the lawsuit, and Yahoo Fantasy Sports did not return a request for comment, an Underdog Sports representative spoke out against the filed lawsuit to Saturday Down South.

According to the Underdog Sports representative, Curran has never used the platform in the commonwealth and described the lawsuit as a “transparent phishing attempt.”

“He never even played on our platform. It’s a completely transparent fishing attempt by a plaintiff’s lawyer, and it will get dismissed sooner rather than later. It’s a press release searching for a legal theory, trying to extract a settlement. We continue to offer our product in compliance with Massachusetts law,” the spokesperson said.

The lawsuit never explicitly noted that Curran used any of the parties in the document, claiming that he occasionally “engages in online betting activity through websites and apps that are legally registered to accept such wagers in Massachusetts.”

The post Lawsuit Filed Against PrizePicks, Underdog, Yahoo in Massachusetts for Pick’em Games appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The new initiative will allow daily fantasy sports (DFS) users who choose to do so to simultaneously self-exclude themselves across all platforms, regardless of their location.

“This unprecedented partnership demonstrates the value each of our members place on protecting consumers and improving their mental health,” said JT Foley, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports, in a press release. “We’re dedicated to leading the Responsible Gaming space and encourage all operators across the gaming industry to follow suit.”

One Step to Self-Exclude From All

The partnership is the first of its kind in the DFS industry. Players who hope to self-exclude themselves from playing DFS will be able to block access to multiple gaming sites in one simple step, giving them a chance to take a break from gaming for a period of their choice.

IdPair’s advanced data anonymization ensures 100% privacy, safeguarding self-excluded users’ sensitive data, according to the announcement. The company is able to enhance consumer protection through research and the creation of innovative technology. Its products include the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program and a single-customer view platform to identify and reduce high-risk consumer behaviors by combining anonymized transactional data across multiple operators.

“At idPair, we are dedicated to connecting data to improve tools that help people play more sustainably through cutting edge anonymization and encryption methods,” said Jonathan Aiwazian, CEO of idPair. “Our technology enables stronger safeguards and ensures sensitive information remains secure and private, giving players peace of mind. We’re proud to partner with the Coalition to raise the bar for safer gaming.”

Initiative Applauded by Responsible Gaming Advocates

The new gaming initiative is receiving praise from responsible gaming advocates in the country.

“This cross-platform self-exclusion program is a major advancement in protecting players. The Coalition and idPair are leading the way in fostering a safer gaming market,” said Brianne Doura-Schawohl, CEO of Doura-Schawohl Consulting LLC and formerly the Legislative Director for the National Council on Problem Gaming (NCPG).

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An Underdog Fantasy representative confirmed to Saturday Down South that its Pick’Em Champions service, a peer-to-peer daily fantasy sports (DFS) game that allows players to build teams of athletes and predict how they’ll perform against statistical benchmarks, is currently live in North Carolina.

“We shifted to our peer-to-peer fantasy sports model in North Carolina and the Tar Heel State fans continue to love our fantasy sports games. We are permitted to offer our hallmark fantasy sports product in the state, while at the same time, we also hold a sports betting license and continue to offer our sports betting products to fans as well,” Senior VP of Government Affairs and Partnerships Stacie Stern told Saturday Down South.

Peer-to-peer live in North Carolina

Underdog Fantasy ceased its classic pick’em services in North Carolina in February when questions arose from the state about its legality. North Carolina regulators had concerns with Underdog Fantasy’s pick’em games, as they traditionally pit users against the house. Many regulators view these types of DFS games as being a variation of sports betting.

Pick’em Champions, however, is fundamentally different from Underdog’s classic pick’em game, as it allows players to enter their teams into a tournament where they face off against other users as opposed to the house.

It’s worth noting that other DFS companies, such as PrizePicks, continue to offer classic against the house pick’em style games in North Carolina.

Saturday Down South reached out to the North Carolina Lottery Commission for comment on Underdog Fantasy launching Champions in the state. The commission, however, noted that it does not regulate fantasy sports and offered nothing further.

“The Commission works closely with its eight licensed sports wagering operators and is aware of their various offerings; however, the Commission does not regulate fantasy sports. Please see 18C-902(e) in the Sports Wagering Law passed by the NC General Assembly in 2023. (“(e) Nothing in this Article shall apply to fantasy or simulated games or contest in which one or more fantasy contest players compete and winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the fantasy contest platers and are determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sports event.”),” Ryan Carter, public information officer of the commission, told Saturday Down South.

While DFS is currently offered and legal in North Carolina, the state legislature has yet to pass any specific rules or regulations for the industry. Legislators actually proposed DFS rules in late 2023, but decided to hold off on the approval and implementation to focus on the launch of sports betting.

Underdog Fantasy was one of the original operators to receive a sports betting license from the commission and launched sports betting in the state this past March.

Underdog has successfully re-entered other states

Underdog Fantasy has successfully re-entered a number of states in the past year after asking the company to cease offering its pick’em games. Underdog has started offering its Champions DFS game in Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, Kansas, and Colorado within the last 12 months after state regulators banned pick’em games.

In Tennessee, for example, Underdog Fantasy initially offered its pick’em games, but had to pull back its services when notified it did not comply with state statutes and regulations. However, when the company notified Tennessee regulators that it would not offer pick’em and would stick with its Champions DFS game, the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council agreed to Underdog’s proposal.

Tennessee would become one of four states were Underdog debuted its Champions product in late 2023, joined by Alabama, Mississippi, and Wyoming.

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The largest daily fantasy sports operator in North American announced today the launch of Streak, a new free to play fantasy offering that allows fans to choose one player projection per day to build as long of a winning streak as they can to compete for an opportunity to win up to $1 million.

PrizePicks registered a trademark for “The Streak” this past June.

Second New Game Debuted This Year

Streak is the second new game from PrizePicks to debut this year, with its Arena brand of competitions launching this past January.

Streak will debut in 13 jurisdictions including New York, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“Our goal at PrizePicks is to lead the online gaming industry by offering innovative new game types that exceed the expectations of our members and give them new ways to play,” said PrizePicks CEO Mike Ybarra in a release. “Streak adds to our growing list of contests and allows us to reach even more sports fans across the country.”

Streak will integrate data from other PrizePicks games to display the most relevant and popular selections of the day across all major sporting events. The new game will allow members to swip through 10 player cards to make their free daily picks.

As members build a streak of winning picks, they have the chance to be awarded a free four-pick lineup to use on the full PrizePicks pick’em contest board to win preset payouts based on the length of the winning streak.

If a player makes 32 correct picks in a row they will have the opportunity to win a $1 million prize.

“Following the successful launch of Arena earlier this year, it’s exciting to introduce another new product to our members,” said Brian Huss, VP of Innovation, PrizePicks. “Streak undoubtedly enhances the sports viewing experience in a fun, engaging manner and we look forward to adding new features for our members to enjoy.”

Filed For Trademark in June

Saturday Down South reported in late July that PrizePicks registered for two new trademarks; “PrizePicks Squads” on May 31, 2024, and “PrizePicks Streaks” on June 25, 2024. The company also registered for the similar “PrizePicks Streak” trademark on April 19, 2024.

At the time, Saturday Down South reached out to PrizePicks for more information on the filings and a potential launch for their use. No further details were provided, but a spokesperson did describe the filings as “new innovative game types.”

“We’re always working on new innovative game types to entertain sports fans,” a company spokesperson told SDS.

Details on “PrizePicks Squads” still have not been released, but it seems to be a tool for fantasy sports users that allows them to track their fantasy sports participation, fantasy sports results, and fantasy sports performance data.

The trademark is identified as such on the U.S. Patent Office:

“Downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for submitting online fantasy sports entries, tracking fantasy sports performance data, and calculating fantasy sports earnings; downloadable software in the nature of a mobile application for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for submitting online fantasy sports entries, tracking fantasy sports performance data, collecting funds from fantasy sports participants, and distributing fantasy sports earnings.”

The final line of the identification also seems like it will allow users to collect fantasy sports league dues and distribute winnings through the software.

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The daily fantasy sports company announced this morning it has received a new gaming license to operate in New Hampshire. It will be the PrizePick’s 35th operating market.

As of right now, PrizePicks will only be offering its peer-to-peer Arena style of daily fantasy sports games in the Granite State. A launch date has not been announced.

New Northeast Market

The daily fantasy sports operator was awarded a daily fantasy sports operating license and will only offer Arena competitions in the state to start. Arena is a peer-to-peer game where players compete for prizes against each other.

Since launching in January, Arena is now live in nine jurisdictions and has surpassed two million lineups built by over 100,000 players.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our skill-based fantasy offering to sports fans throughout the Granite State,” said Adam Packer, Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance, PrizePicks. “We are grateful to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission for their thoughtful collaboration.”

A PrizePicks spokesperson told Saturday Down South that the company is moving through “go-live timelines” with its tech team to launch Arena games as soon as possible.

PrizePicks is the largest skill-based daily fantasy sports operator and the fastest-growing sports company in North America according to the 2023 Inc. 5000 rankings.

New Games Coming?

The daily fantasy sports company recently also filed for two new trademarks with the U.S. Patent Office, one of which may be a new game-type for PrizePicks users.

The daily fantasy sports company filed for trademarks “PrizePicks Squads” on May 31, 2024, and “PrizePicks Streaks” on June 25, 2024. The company also registered for the similar “PrizePicks Streak” trademark on April 19, 2024.

Saturday Down South reached out to PrizePicks for more information on the filings and a potential launch for their use. No further details were provided, but a spokesperson did describe the filings as “new innovative game types.”

“We’re always working on new innovative game types to entertain sports fans,” a company spokesperson told SDS.

Looking at the trademark filings, it seems as if “PrizePicks Streaks” will be for a new type of game for users. The filing is identified as such on the U.S. Patent Office website:

“Downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for conducting fantasy sports competitions; downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for conducting fantasy sports competitions whereby users compete for prizes by making the highest number of continuous winning selections.”

Additionally, “PrizePicks Squads” seems to be more of a tool for fantasy sports users that allows them to track their fantasy sports participation, fantasy sports results, and fantasy sports performance data.

The trademark is identified as such on the U.S. Patent Office:

“Downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for submitting online fantasy sports entries, tracking fantasy sports performance data, and calculating fantasy sports earnings; downloadable software in the nature of a mobile application for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for submitting online fantasy sports entries, tracking fantasy sports performance data, collecting funds from fantasy sports participants, and distributing fantasy sports earnings.”

The post PrizePicks Awarded New Hampshire Gaming License appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The daily fantasy sports company filed for trademarks “PrizePicks Squads” on May 31, 2024, and “PrizePicks Streaks” on June 25, 2024. The company also registered for the similar “PrizePicks Streak” trademark on April 19, 2024.

A PrizePicks spokesperson declined to offer more information about the trademarks.

New Competition for Users?

Saturday Down South reached out to PrizePicks for more information on the filings and a potential launch for their use. No further details were provided, but a spokesperson did describe the filings as “new innovative game types.”

“We’re always working on new innovative game types to entertain sports fans,” a company spokesperson told SDS.

Looking at the trademark filings, it seems as if “PrizePicks Streaks” will be for a new type of game for users. The filing is identified as such on the U.S. Patent Office website:

“Downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for conducting fantasy sports competitions; downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for conducting fantasy sports competitions whereby users compete for prizes by making the highest number of continuous winning selections.”

The trademark seems to be a new competition for PrizePicks users to correctly guess as many continuous events in a row for prizes.

New Fantasy Sports Tool?

Additionally, “PrizePicks Squads” seems to be more of a tool for fantasy sports users that allows them to track their fantasy sports participation, fantasy sports results, and fantasy sports performance data.

The trademark is identified as such on the U.S. Patent Office:

“Downloadable computer software for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for submitting online fantasy sports entries, tracking fantasy sports performance data, and calculating fantasy sports earnings; downloadable software in the nature of a mobile application for facilitating fantasy sport play and fantasy sport participation, namely, software for submitting online fantasy sports entries, tracking fantasy sports performance data, collecting funds from fantasy sports participants, and distributing fantasy sports earnings.”

The final line of the identification also seems like it will allow users to collect fantasy sports league dues and distribute winnings through the software.

The post PrizePicks Files For Two New Trademarks with U.S. Patent Office appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Betr, a sports gaming and sports media company, and Dabble, a daily fantasy sports operator based in Austin, are the two newest members of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports.

Betr and Dabble join PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy as members of the coalition. The coalition works to protect fantasy sports players, promote innovation, ensure responsible play, identify best practices, and encourage growth of the daily fantasy sports market.

Memberships now official

Both Betr and Dabble were mentioned as members last month in the Coalition for Fantasy Sports’ official announcement of J.T. Foley as its first executive director, but the partnerships did not become official until today.

“The coalition is thrilled to welcome Dabble to the Coalition for Fantasy Sports,” Foley said in a press release. “Their innovative approach and commitment to the fantasy sports community aligns perfectly with our mission. I’m excited to work with Tom and the Dabble team to drive progress and growth in the industry.”

Dabble has expanded from an Australia company in 2020 to operating in the U.S. since 2023.

Betr, founded in 2022 by Joey Levy and Jake Paul, recently announced new market access deals for online sportsbook and casino in Pennsylvania and for online sportsbook in Colorado and Kentucky. It has secured market access in Indiana and applied for a sports betting license in Maryland. It’s also currently live in Ohio and Virginia with its beta product.

The company launched its real money fantasy sports product, Betr Picks, ahead of the 2023 NFL season.

“We are excited to announce Betr’s addition to the Coalition for Fantasy Sports,” Levy said in a release. “The Coalition has served as an effective advocate for consumer choice and fairness in the fantasy marketplace and we’re happy to help further that advocacy. We support their mission and hope our addition will increase the weight of the Coalition’s voice.”

Betr is on track to launch V1 of its sportsbook ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

On the heels of new executive director

Dabble and Betr joined the Coalition for Fantasy Sports several weeks after the organization named Foley as its first executive director.

Foley previously spent 17 years with the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, most recently servicing as its vice president of government relations. He will work closely with the coalition to promote innovation and responsible gaming policies, enhance consumer protections, and encourage growth of the daily fantasy sports market.

“I’m thrilled to join the Coalition for Fantasy Sports,” Foley said in a press release. “We will work with member companies to create the laws we need to grow this industry. Our member companies are leading on consumer protections and eager to share what we know with emerging DFS providers so that we can establish and preserve a safe and legal ecosystem.”

According to the coalition, Foley will “work to drive competition and innovation in the fantasy sports market and promote continuous improvement and choice in fantasy sports offerings.” He will also advocate for policies that benefit fantasy sports players and operators.

The post Betr, Dabble Officially Joining Coalition for Fantasy Sports appeared first on Saturday Down South.

PrizePicks today announced a new collaboration with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to provide certain clinical services at no initial cost to PrizePicks players and customer-facing employees.

The program will support problem gaming prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for PrizePicks users.

Available in All PrizePicks Jurisdictions

The new program will be available for customers in all 35 jurisdictions the daily fantasy sports company currently operates.

“We are proud to partner with Kindbridge and to be the first operator to cover program costs entirely, removing a significant barrier to access,” said Adam Wexler, PrizePicks Co-founder and CEO, in a press release. “It’s essential that the fantasy sports industry invests and innovates in the area of responsible gaming. This initiative not only helps players and employees but also strengthens PrizePicks’ role in promoting social responsibility within the industry. By addressing both prevention and treatment, we are paving the way for a healthier gaming community.”

Kindbridge Behavioral Health is a mental health service provider dedicated to supporting individuals facing challenges related to problem gaming and other mental health issues. PrizePicks will incur all initial costs of Kindbridge’s support services for its customer-facing employees and player community.

Players on PrizePicks and customer support employees will have access to an in-depth clinical assessment, clinical review, and care plan development session. It will also provide customers with access to educational and peer support groups.

Kindbridge Partnership is “Inspiring”

This new collaboration will provide users who many not have insurance, or financial barriers, with the support they need to address a potential problem gaming issue, said Daniel Umfleet, founder and CEO of Kindbridge Behavioral Health.

“It is inspiring to see a DFS operator actively providing essential care resources to their audience. Many individuals struggling with gaming-related health issues face significant financial barriers, even with insurance, which hinders their ability to follow a comprehensive care plan. This collaboration is a pivotal step toward eliminating these barriers, ensuring people can access the support they need, regardless of their financial situation,” Umfleet said.

Phil Sherwood, senior director of Responsible Gaming at PrizePicks, explained how the new program will help users who face high expenses who would otherwise not be able to procure services for a potential problem gaming issue.

“Many individuals face high out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare even with insurance, making it difficult to get the help they need. Partnering with Kindbridge allows us to help those individuals who wish to take preventative measures with a variety of world-class mental health services at no cost to them,” he said.

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Foley previously spent 17 years with the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, most recently servicing as its vice president of government relations. He will work closely with the coalition to promote innovation and responsible gaming policies, enhance consumer protections, and encourage growth of the daily fantasy sports market.

The Coalition for Fantasy Sports represents PrizePicks, Betr, Underdog Fantasy, and Dabble.

Foley: ‘Thrilled’ to join coalition

The coalition made the announcement last week.

“I’m thrilled to join the Coalition for Fantasy Sports,” Foley said in a press release. “We will work with member companies to create the laws we need to grow this industry. Our member companies are leading on consumer protections and eager to share what we know with emerging DFS providers so that we can establish and preserve a safe and legal ecosystem.”

According to the coalition, Foley will “work to drive competition and innovation in the fantasy sports market and promote continuous improvement and choice in fantasy sports offerings.” He will also advocate for policies that benefit fantasy sports players and operators.

Prior to his role at the coalition, Foley was the VP of Government Affairs at Las Vegas Sands Corp. for 17 years. He was instrumental in instituting political and community development activities at the company, while also helping to oversee the company’s political activity, lobbying efforts, and governmental affairs.

He has successfully lobbied for gaming legislation in Pennsylvania, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, New York and Brazil on behalf of Sands. He also successfully backed legislation to help fund part of the Las Vegas Raiders and UNLV Running Rebels stadium in downtown Las Vegas.

“J.T. has played a critical role at Sands for nearly two decades,” said Andy Abboud, senior vice president of government relations and community development at Las Vegas Sands Corp. “He knows the industry as well as anyone and has an extensive network across the country. We’re sad to lose him, but excited to see the impact he will undoubtedly have guiding the Coalition for Fantasy Sports.”

Foley ‘well-respected’ in gaming industry

Foley is a respected voice in the industry and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the organization, Jeremy Levine, Underdog Fantasy co-CEO and founder, said.

“The daily fantasy sports market is rapidly expanding and our companies are fortunate to have someone with J.T.’s experience guiding this effort. We look forward to partnering with him to reach our potential and bring much-needed clarity to the marketplace,” he said.

His background and experience will give the coalition a “powerful voice on behalf of fantasy sports enthusiasts across the country,” Adam Wexler, co-founder and CEO of PrizePicks, said.

“We are excited to welcome J.T. to the coalition. His extensive industry background and expertise in government relations, public policy, and industry advocacy makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Coalition for Fantasy Sports. J.T. joining will ensure that the Coalition will continue to be a powerful voice on behalf of fantasy sports enthusiasts across the country,” he said.

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Trying to determine what games fall into the category of skill and that of gambling is a huge challenge regulators face as daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies are licensed in their states. Uniform laws across all states with DFS may help both operators and regulators avoid gray areas and improve clarity in the markets.

A panel of experts at SBC Summit North America spoke of the importance of operators and regulators working together to avoid costly mistakes and legal battles as both work towards a clearer line of what constitutes a DFS game and what constitutes gambling.

Clear Cut Rules Needed Throughout U.S.

From an operator perspective, more time is spent working with state regulators to ensure their games comply with all rules and regulations than it is actually developing new games or technology, said Derek Schmidt, a partner with Husch Blackwell, representing PrizePicks during the panel.

“We’d much rather spend our time and resources innovating in the marketplace and growing rather than dealing with issues in the regulatory space,” he said.

Uniform statutes and regulations across all states, a clear-cut line of what is allowable with DFS contests, and limited gray areas would be a welcome change for operators, Schmidt said.

“From our standpoint, we want to be regulated and we want to be taxed, which is not what you always hear from someone in the business community. Providing that clarity is very helpful to our business model. We don’t want to be spending more time than necessary discussing gray areas and turf,” he said.

Andromeda Morrison, general counsel for the Ohio Casino Control Commission, said clear lines of demarcation are necessary to avoid gray areas for both DFS and sports betting operators.

Having clearly approved regulations that explain what is allowed, what can be offered, and what cannot be offered can go a long way to ensuring operators steer clear of any costly mistakes, Morrison said.

“Engage with us. Reach out to us. Have those dialogues with us in Ohio. We believe in providing clear guidance and we’ve enjoyed worked with PrizePicks and others. We’ve had very productive conversations and have been able to that in a constructive way because we’re a very open commission,” Morrison said.

Conversation is Cheaper Than a Lawyer

Regulators are public servants, explained Justin Stempeck, deputy general counsel for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Operators need to reach out to regulators in states where they hope to procure a license or launch a new game. A scheduled conversation with a regulatory body can go a long way towards helping an operator avoid a catastrophic mistake, he said.

And it’s a lot cheaper than hiring a lawyer after receiving a cease-and-desist letter, he joked.

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The daily fantasy sports companies today both launched new peer-to-peer games in the Sunshine States. Underdog Fantasy launched its Pick’Em Champions game, a peer-to-peer daily fantasy sports (DFS) game that allows players to build teams of athletes and predict how they’ll perform against statistical benchmarks.

PrizePicks today launched PrizePicks Arena, a peer-to-peer game that allows users to compete against fellow customers. Users compete for guaranteed prizes in Arena by being placed into groups matching their number of entries, selected entry fee and experience level.

It’s an interesting turn for the operators, as the Florida Gaming Control Commission this past fall sent Underdog Sports, PrizePicks, and Betr cease-and-desist letters asking all three operators  stop “offering or accepting illegal bets or wagers from [Florida] residents” and “conducting any illegal lotteries” within 30 days of Jan. 31.

Peer-to-peer DFS acceptable in Florida?

Underdog Sports, PrizePicks, and Betr all ceased offering single-player fantasy games in Florida at the start of March after receiving the cease-and-desist letters. Paid fantasy sports operators, such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and OwnersBox, did not receive such letters from the Florida Gaming Control Commission and continued to offer their peer-to-peer fantasy products in the state.

Pick’em Champions allows players to enter their teams into a tournament where they face off against other users. Tournament winners will share a prize.

An Underdog Sports spokesperson noted Florida regulators have clarified the company’s peer-to-peer products, such as daily and weekly drafts and best-ball contests, can still be offered in the state.

“Florida’s gaming structure and compact are completely unique, though the state has made it clear peer-to-peer fantasy sports are permissible by expressly allowing FanDuel, DraftKings, OwnersBox, Yahoo, and others to offer their fantasy games. So, in addition to our draft contests, we are now also offering our strictly peer-to-peer fantasy contest, Champions, to the millions of fans in the state. We’ve worked with Florida regulators and when they previously asked us to stop offering a product, we did, and we are now following the new blueprint state officials have established,” an Underdog Sports spokesperson said.

The Champions product is now fully live in the state.

Champions is now live in Florida!

To celebrate our Player vs Player game launching in FL, our Sitewide Sunshine Special is now LIVE

Choose 1 of 4 options in-app! All available until their respective game times. pic.twitter.com/j1RuJmO8Fo

— Underdog Picks (@UnderdogPicks) April 22, 2024

PrizePicks also emailed Florida users this morning noting that its Arena game is now available.

The peer-to-peer fantasy sports game pits users against one another in paid prizes instead of against the house.

According to PrizePicks, users compete for guaranteed prizes in Arena by being placed into groups matching their number of entries, selected entry fee and experience level. The game offers users unique opportunities to win prizes for their entries by creating the highest scoring entry within their group.

“Arena is a peer-to-peer game played against other players rather than against the house, this model of games of skill was not subject to scrutiny in Florida. While we prefer state codification for all fantasy games of skill, rather than the common law, we look forward to working with policymakers to protect the DFS games sports fans across Florida love,” a PrizePicks spokesperson told Saturday Down South.

Finally positive Florida DFS news

The news comes after a rough several months for DFS operators in Florida. Pick’em games shut down in the state on Friday, March 1.

Florida Gaming Control Commission Executive Director Louis Trombetta notified the operators in the cease-and-desist letters that if the games were not discontinued in the state during the 30-day timeframe, the matter would be referred to the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

“If this cessation is completed within that timeframe, the Commission will deem the company and all its officials, directors, and employees have complied with the demands of the cease-and-desist order, and the Commission will not take further action, including referral to the Office of Statewide Prosecution or to any State Attorney.”

Shortly after the games were discontinued, two bills to fully legalize and regulate DFS in the state died in the final day of the state’s 2024 legislative session.

Sen. Travis Hutson (R-7) introduced SB 1568 in January to regulate DFS in the state through the Florida Gaming Control Commission. The Fantasy Sports Contest Amusement Act would have only allowed peer-to-peer games and traditional draft competitions. It specifically prohibited “contest operators from being a contest participant in a fantasy sports contest that the contest operator offers.”

The bill would have established a $500,000 initial license application and $250,000 renewal fees for license.

After being approved 18-0 in a fiscal policy committee in mid-February, it remained on a special order calendar in the Senate. There were rumblings in the final week of session the bill was scheduled to be discussed on the Senate floor, but those never came to fruition.

A House DFS bill (HB 7081) also was introduced in late February but never moved out of committee.

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