Welcome! I guess you came here wondering if daily fantasy sports is legal in the US? Well, I’ve compiled a guide to answer this question in detail, so please stick around.
Just to give you a TLDR answer to this question, there isn’t a definite yes or no answer to it. The legality of daily fantasy sports varies from one US state to another. I’ll talk more about that and the federal laws on daily fantasy sports.
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It’s only right that I begin this DFS legal states guide by discussing the legal differences between daily fantasy sports and traditional sports betting.
I’ve seen many individuals wonder why daily fantasy sports is legal in US states where conventional sports betting is still not legal. Well, this narrows down to the issue of skill and chance.
You see, daily fantasy sports is classified as a game of skill, unlike regular sports betting, which is a game of chance. Doesn’t daily fantasy sports also involve chance? You may ask. It does play a part in winning in daily fantasy sports. However, a person’s skills significantly contribute to them winning.
There’s a lot an individual has to consider and study before drafting players for their lineup. For example, one has to take into account the player’s injuries, the weather conditions on the day of the game, home and away stats, and the list goes on. So yes, chance may play a part, and your player wins, but you’ll still need to have a bit of knowledge up your sleeve to amp up the chances of your players winning.
Now, what does the US law say about daily fantasy sports? The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) defines daily fantasy sports operators as legal if they meet its terms. Among them include:
So, does the UIEA automatically make daily fantasy sports legal across the US? No, it does not. There are still state-specific regulations that determine whether or not DFS is legal. So, where is daily fantasy sports legal in the US? Allow me to explain more about this throughout the rest of this guide.
When it comes to daily fantasy sports legal states, it depends on the dfs contests. Confused? Let me break this down further.
There are some states that restrict certain DFS contests, particularly pick’em contests. For example, when it comes to Underdog Fantasy legal states, only 34 states permit individuals to participate in pick’em contests on this DFS platform. On the other hand, some states allow players to participate in all the available daily fantasy sports contests.
It's also important to point out that some states only allow players to access free-to-play contests on daily fantasy sports sites. For instance, when it comes to DraftKings legal states, participants from Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington states can only access free-entry DFS contests. Also, when it comes to FanDuel legal states, individuals from the above states are also only allowed to participate in free-entry contests.
In the next section of this “Is daily fantasy sports legal?” guide. I’ll be giving a summary of where some of the top DFS platforms are legal in the US, and I’ll be giving my two cents about what stands out when it comes to these platforms. So, let’s get to it, shall we?
| Daily Fantasy Sports Site | Pros | Cons | Legal States |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings |
|
| Fully legal in 44 states. In Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, only free-entry contests are available |
| FanDuel |
|
| Fully legal in 44 states. In Connecticut, Montana, Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada, and Washington, only free-entry contests are available |
| Underdog Fantasy |
|
| Pick’em contests available in 34 states. Daily drafts contests available in 41 states |
| PrizePicks |
|
| Pick’em arena contests available in 9 states. Pick’em contests available in 22 states. Free-to-play contests available in 3 states |
It’s only right if I conclude this “Is daily fantasy sports legal?” guide with a couple of tips to remember the next time you’re choosing a DFS site to join.
You already know by now that not all US states accept daily fantasy sports entirely. So, find out whether the daily fantasy sports site in question is legal in your state. It’s also crucial to find out which contests on the platform are accessible in your state. It’s crystal clear that there are some US states that restrict some DFS contests. The good thing is that most daily fantasy platforms have listed the states where they're legal and those where they aren't. A good example is PrizePicks. There's a section on this site that details all of the PrizePicks legal states.
Before choosing a DFS platform to join, check out its fantasy sports selection. How many are there? Does the site have major sports leagues like the NBA and NFL? The bottom line is, find a DFS site with fantasy sports that tickle your fancy. The same case goes for the DFS contests. Find out which types of contests a particular daily fantasy site offers, and if you're comfortable with them.
I’m sure you’ve heard the adage, “The customer is always right.” In this case, they are almost always right. So, it’s best to not only read through customer reviews on the daily fantasy sports site but also from other trusted sources (like this one) online. This will help you get an idea of what to expect based on the experiences of different individuals who’ve already played on the site.
It’s an overlooked tip, but it’s still crucial if you’re looking to have a seamless DFS experience. Having played daily fantasy sports for a while, I always consider a couple of factors regarding a DFS platform’s website. For starters, is it easy to navigate from one fantasy sports section to another? The site should allow individuals to move from one fantasy sport to another with ease. Also, does the site experience lag when doing things like drafting a team, entering a particular contest, depositing money for entry fees, and withdrawing prizes? A top-notch site should not lag, especially when engaging in important activities such as the ones I’ve mentioned.
Online security is also an essential factor when choosing a DFS site. You want a daily fantasy platform with online security protocols that ensure your information, such as your payment details, is safe. A good example is the SSL encryption security protocol.
It’s also advisable to check if a particular DFS platform has a decent variety of sports leagues. This includes the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, just to mention a few.
Another critical factor to keep in mind when selecting a DFS site to join is the contest entry fees. It’s advisable to pick a platform whose contest fees fit your budget.
Having played in several DFS sites, I have realized that each one has a different scoring system for their fantasy sports contests. So, it’s important to check the scoring system to decide whether or not you’re comfortable with it.
When choosing a daily fantasy platform, also check its payment options. How many are there? I always advise people to pick a DFS site with several payment methods. This will give you options to choose from based on your needs and preferences. You’ll also have a backup payment method if the one you’re using isn’t working.
This isn’t a top-priority factor to consider, but it is still important. Keeping yourself up to date with the latest sports news is crucial when it comes to daily fantasy sports. It will help you know about important details, such as a player being injured, which will enable you to make the right decision when drafting your team. So, it is an advantage if a DFS site has a sports news update section. I have seen a couple that have one, like FanDuel and Underdog Fantasy.
It’s also recommendable to check out the customer support section before joining a particular DFS site. One of the factors to consider when it comes to customer service is variety. How many customer support options are there? I prefer a site with several customer service options as it allows me to pick which one suits my needs and preferences best. It also enables me to have a backup option if the one I’m using isn’t suitable for me.
To sum up this “Is daily fantasy sports legal?” guide, I can confidently say daily fantasy sports is legal in the better part of the US. However, keep in mind that most US state laws change from time to time. So, you may find that a particular DFS site that was legal in your state is no longer legal.
It’s safe to say the number of daily fantasy legal states vary from one DFS platform to another, as you’ve seen throughout this guide. It also depends on the daily fantasy sports contests.
Daily fantasy sports is a game of skill in which individuals use their skills and statistical knowledge to boost their chances of winning.
As I explained at the beginning of this guide, the distinction between these two comes down to skill and chance. Daily fantasy sports mainly involves skill, while conventional sports betting involves chance.
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