American sports betting powerhouse DraftKings has unveiled a new peer-to-peer fantasy sports game called Pick6. Debuting in six states, the game leverages simple, yet exciting mechanics that will provide sports fans with hours of fun.

DraftKings’ newest fantasy title is debuting in Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin, allowing players to enjoy premium fantasy sports content. At launch, Pick6 will feature picks of the National Football League and the National Basketball Association.

Pick6 will sport a dedicated application that is separate from DraftKings’ main app. Fans can download the new game for both Android and iOS and build teams of two to six sports players from two or more teams. After that, players have to choose either more or less statistic for each athlete they picked.

Pick6 users can win prizes depending on how many picks they guessed correctly. The game is competitive by nature, allowing sports aficionados to put their knowledge of sports to the test and outplay their peers.

Speaking of peers, Pick6 is a fully peer-to-peer game where users compete against one another instead of against the house.

The application boasts a variety of features, such as lineup edits, real-time performance tracking and addable funds. Players can also check their selections via the My Picks section in the menu.

DraftKings Continues to Drive Fantasy Sports Innovation

DraftKings’ chief product officer, Corey Gottlieb, commented on the new product, saying that it is in line with the company’s ambition to define innovation in fantasy sports.

Pick6 is the next great example of that innovation — this is a homegrown, peer-to-peer product that taps into our customers’ desire for fun, simple-to-play experiences tied to their favorite athletes.

Corey Gottlieb, CPO, DraftKings

Gottlieb added that his team is excited to put an exciting new way to experience live sports in the hands of its customers.

Previously, DraftKings unveiled “Progressive Parlay,” another fresh product that seeks to push back against the rising popularity of competing fantasy sports operators. It mirrors the style and functionality of apps, aiming to further capitalize on the vertical’s popularity.

In the meantime, DraftKings prepares to power its New Jersey iGaming offering with content from Hacksaw Gaming, as agreed with the supplier. Under the deal, DraftKings will retain exclusivity to offer Hacksaw Gaming’s titles for two weeks after the provider’s launch in the Garden State.

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At DraftKings’ Investor Day, the renowned sports betting platform announced a game-changing betting product called “Progressive Parlay.” This new offering mirrors the style and functionality of apps from smaller fantasy gaming operators, hoping to attract some of their growing user bases. Companies like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy have faced increasing pressure from industry leaders who allege they operate outside the law.

Progressive Parlay Targets a Specific Market Niche

DraftKings’ new product visually resembles and operates like other fantasy apps, enabling bettors to build parlay cards and potentially win money even if some bets lose. However, it strictly falls under regulated sports betting and won’t be accessible in fantasy-only states. The betting giant did not specify a launch date but remained optimistic Progressive Parlay would engage bettors.

“Those are the… things we’re focused on. The customer likes it, but there are so many of those products that can be great financial drivers for DraftKings.”

Jason Robins, DraftKings CEO

A successful launch could significantly bolster DraftKings’ impressive US presence, aiding its growth ambitions. The company’s recent Q3 financial results highlighted the success of its overall strategy and the positive impact of the company’s investments. A successful Kentucky launch means the leading operator is well underway to a record-breaking fiscal year.

DraftKings’ ability to swiftly recognize and adapt to industry trends has been one of the leading factors for its unparalleled success. Its newest Progressive Parlay product directly responds to the rising popularity of fantasy gaming, offering a similar experience for real-life sports. The gambling giant hopes it will attract new types of players, helping it compete against more niche operators.

Fantasy Sports Operators Remain on the Rise

Established operators like DraftKings argue that prop products like those offered by fantasy gaming companies are a form of gambling and should be subject to appropriate regulations, lobbying state legislators to take action. However, the fantasy operators disagree, emphasizing DraftKings’ and FanDuel’s origins as upstart fantasy operators in legal grey areas.

The intensifying feud has escalated as smaller fantasy gaming companies exhibit substantial growth in popularity and revenue. For instance, PrizePicks, operating in Arizona, reported $28.2 million in entry fees this year through August, significantly surpassing DraftKings and FanDuel in the fantasy realm. However, the two companies recorded $115 million in traditional mobile wagers, highlighting their massive scale.

While modest compared to the betting giants, the success of these smaller fantasy companies highlights their well-designed user experience and willingness to offer products in states where sports betting remains illegal. DraftKings’ new product hopes to match some of these offerings, leveraging its leadership position to increase competitiveness in regulated markets.

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Michigan is joining the growing list of states taking steps to restrict fantasy pick’em games, a form of daily fantasy sports (DFS) that has come under scrutiny for its resemblance to sports betting. Despite rising concerns, the sector enjoys unprecedented growth and should be flexible enough to accommodate changing regulations.

Pick’em Games Resemble Sports Wagering Prop Bets

Unlike traditional DFS offerings, pick’em-style games focus on predicting player statistics. The objective is to choose whether an individual’s performance will go over or under a specific stat line, similar to a prop bet in a traditional sportsbook. The nature of the contest structure and prize pool means such games fall within the legal definition of fantasy sports.

Pick’em-style games’ unclear legal status means many view them as a form of unregulated sports betting. Last month, the Florida Gaming Control Commission sent cease-and-desist letters to several fantasy operators offering such products, citing concerns that these games mimic mobile sports wagering. The New York State Gaming Commission similarly adopted rules banning pick’em-style games offered by companies like Underdog, PrizePicks, and Betr.

Michigan Joins Florida and New York with Proposed Restrictions

Michigan is the latest state to join the rising discontent against pick’em-style games. Michigan’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) accepted new rules proposed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board to prohibit such offerings within its jurisdiction. The JCAR approved the rules without holding a formal meeting, signaling the state’s intent to restrict these contests.

The new rules should soon be filed with the Secretary of State’s office, paving the way for future implementation. While fantasy stakeholders have expressed frustration over this development, arguing that these games are legal forms of fantasy sports, the regulatory debate continues. This decision will undoubtedly impact their regional operations, but companies should be able to adapt and adjust their offerings.

Stakeholders Banded Together to Oppose the Decision

The Coalition of Fantasy Sports, representing companies like PrizePicks, Sleeper, and Underdog, expressed disappointment at Michigan’s decision. It vowed to work with regulators and policymakers to offer innovative fantasy sports products that align with customer preferences. Operators have also secured the support of State Senator Jim Runestad, who vowed to advocate for Michiganders’ ability to play pick’em-style fantasy games.

I pledge to work with the gaming commission and other lawmakers to restore access to the legal fantasy sports games that have just been stripped away from Michiganders.

Jim Runestad, Michigan State Senator

Michigan’s move to restrict pick’em-style fantasy games adds to the ongoing debate about the classification of these contests and their compliance with existing gambling regulations. Despite more states taking a stance against these offerings, the industry retains impressive momentum, with high-profile sportsbooks launching new offerings. The outcome of this ongoing debate will likely have implications for the future of pick’em-style contests in the DFS landscape, forcing stakeholders to remain flexible.

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20SHOTS, the fast-growing business-to-business betting software supplier, announced it forged a new deal, allowing it to expand the reach of its famous soccer jackpot game. On Thursday, the company revealed it joined forces with Grosvenor Casinos, allowing the leading casino and sports betting operator to gain access to its flagship free-to-play soccer jackpot game called Fantasy5.

The popular jackpot game allows users to pick five players to “beat their fantasy points target in five weekly games.” The customers that guess correctly all five picks will benefit from a £10,000 ($12,800) jackpot from Grosvenor Casinos. If more than one player makes the correct guesses, the jackpot is shared between them. Under the terms of the new agreement, Grosvenor Casinos will deliver the soccer game with its own branding. Additionally, the free-to-play soccer jackpot game will have a separate player pool from 20SHOTS.

The launch of the new soccer jackpot game is planned for Friday, August 11, 2023, via GrosvenorCasinos.com. The introduction of the thrilling new game comes just in time for the start of the new season of the Premier League and is expected to engage with new audiences and existing fans of the sport.

Earlier this year, Grosvenor Casinos confirmed the launch of its Live Casino Studio. Back in February, the leading betting and gaming company expanded its offering by bringing in live casino options for its growing customer base.

20SHOTS Continues to Expand

Jacob Kalms, 20SHOTS’ co-founder and CEO, was delighted about the new collaboration with Grosvenor Casinos. He acknowledged that the deal represents a major milestone for the company and reminded that 20SHOTS has a partnership with BoyleSports for the Fantasy5 game too, offering thrilling experiences for customers in the UK and Ireland.

Kalms said that 20SHOTS is excited to expand Grosvenor’s offering and position within the market. “We expect that its decision to offer a £10,000 jackpot will make it especially appealing to players and we look forward to a successful season,” said 20SHOTS’ co-founder and CEO in conclusion.

“We now have multiple partners across multiple jurisdictions and we have a number of further partnerships due to be announced imminently.“

Jacob Kalms, co-founder and CEO at 20SHOTS

Tom Orton, Rank Group’s director of sports, the parent company of Grosvenor Casinos, added that the collaboration brings excitement. He said: “We were really impressed by the company’s retention and engagement figures and believe it is going to be a very successful acquisition and retention tool for our brand.” Finally, Orton said that the launch of Fantasy5 complements the company’s vision for the Premier League and anticipated growth.

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Legal sports wagering and fantasy sports participation in North America has experienced significant growth, according to a study conducted by the Angus Reid Group for the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA). 

Study Reveals Decrease in Fantasy Players and Sports Bettors Crossover

The study also highlighted a decrease in the crossover between fantasy players and sports bettors, with exclusive fantasy players increasing from 13% to 21% year-over-year, exclusive bettors rising from 28% to 34% year-over-year, and the crossover audience decreasing from 59% to 45% year-over-year. These findings indicate that consumers are becoming more selective in their gaming preferences, emphasizing the importance for companies to better understand their players and offer tailored games based on their interests.

Furthermore, the research revealed a migration of existing bettors from offshore accounts to regulated ones, with a 48% year-over-year drop in sports bettors using offshore accounts in legal markets and a halving of those using in-person bookies.

The study estimated that over the past year, there was a total of $102 billion in handle/entry fees across legal sports wagering, fantasy sports, and affiliated ancillary services. Notably, the fantasy sports industry experienced a 60% growth in entry fees from 2017 to 2023, reaching $11.5 billion. This significant increase suggests that the industry has not only stabilized but also that players are more engaged.

Additionally, approximately 60% of fantasy sports players and sports bettors pay for live sports packages or premium content, spending an average of $119 per year for fantasy players and $129 per year for sports bettors.

FSGA Chair Applauds Industry Growth and Safer Betting Options

FSGA Research Committee Chair Daniel Haight expressed excitement about the industry’s growth and the decrease in offshore betting activity, emphasizing the importance of regulated alternatives that provide responsible gaming measures.

The study also uncovered other insights, including the consolidation and engagement of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) players and the importance of retention within the sports betting universe rather than acquiring new customers. It noted a decline in fantasy sports play in Canada due to the emergence of legalized sports wagering and unsustainable paid fantasy regulations in Ontario.

The research reaffirmed that sports bettors and fantasy players are predominantly younger males, highlighting their value as a customer base, particularly in terms of potential partnerships. With the market maturing and consolidating, companies will focus on improving user experience to enhance players’ and bettors’ platform usage. The FSGA Chair, Brandon Loeschner, noted that the study results would aid the industry’s growth and improvement.

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Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games began to slowly increase their visibility more than a decade ago. Since then, their popularity has been expanding and many sports fans and bettors found such games engaging and entertaining. Mostly favored in the United States, DFS games are also available in different jurisdictions around the globe including Europe and Latin America.

In light of the increase in popularity of such games, the gambling regulator in Germany, the Federal Authority known as Gluecksspiel (GGL), recently looked into DFS games. But what are DFS games? Such games enable the participants to form a team consisting of virtual players that are based on the stats of real players from different sports leagues.

Once a team is formed, then the participants play against each other and depending on the statistics of the players, an outcome is determined which can be either a win or a loss. This functionality, which resembles a “game of chance,” according to the regulator, needs to be regulated.

Protecting the Consumers Is Paramount

The effort, GGL explained, comes at a time when the regulator seeks to implement effective protection for online gamblers. The GGL classified some DFS games as “illegal gambling.” However, upon further consultation late last month, it allowed a limited number of DFS games to operate and classified them as gambling products under the Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüNeuRSt) in the country.

“Fighting illegal gambling is an important consumer protection issue and can only be effective if all other authorities involved, such as law enforcement agencies, pull together.“

Benjamin Schwanke, CEO of GGL

GGL’s CEO, Benjamin Schwanke, explained that the fight against illegal gambling can be effective only if different law enforcement, authorities and regulators join forces. Still, he acknowledged that protecting consumers from illegal gambling is significantly important.

“We find that our decisions are accepted by the providers and implemented promptly.“

Ronald Benter, Board member of the GGL

Ronald Benter, GGL’s Board member, added that the Authority sees that providers adhere to GGL’s decisions and implement changes quickly. He pointed out that the changes related to DFS games ultimately seek to protect consumers from gambling-related addiction and illegal gambling. Benter reminded that a whitelist containing all regulated operators can be found via GGL’s website.

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