Underdog Fantasy moves to peer-to-peer games in California ahead of law change
Underdog Fantasy is changing its most popular daily fantasy sports game in California ahead of legal uncertainty.
Two weeks on from California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s damning response to the legality of fantasy sports games, Underdog Fantasy appears to be getting ahead of any anticipated law changes. Increasing legal uncertainty is putting pressure on gaming providers, with Bonta asserting that such games involve betting on sporting events.
While fantasy operators argue that their contests are a matter of skill and should not be considered as gambling, the backing of the Attorney General is making it increasingly likely that legal changes could be on the way soon – although it’s worth noting that his decision alone is not enacting any legal actions.
That’s having knock-on effects in the sector, with Underdog’s main competitor PrizePicks already shifting to a peer-to-peer model earlier this month.
Now, Underdog has itself also changed its California DFS pick’em games to a peer-to-peer format. With this ‘Champions’ format, users pay an entry fee to compete against each other in hopes of winning a cash pool. Previously, the pick’em format saw users select players and bet against Underdog in exchange for a fixed payout.