Daily Fantasy -- It's Like Gambling Without the Risk of Winning!
September 15, 2015 12:47 PM Subscribe
If you've been seeing a lot of ads for DraftKings on your (U.S.) TV as the college and pro football seasons ramp up, you're not alone. The "daily fantasy" site has spent more than $100 million on television advertising this year, and last week outspent AT&T, Ford, Warner Brothers, GEICO, and everyone else. But what is this "daily fantasy" thing, and why is there enough money in it to outspend Fortune 500 companies?
Fantasy football is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but has previously about picking teams to compete across the whole of an NFL season, with all the trials and tribulations of players going through slumps, getting injured, and generally comparing their believed ability to their actual long-term performance. Many (if not most) players play for fun or nominal prizes (or punishments) among friends and co-workers. Season-long fantasy leagues are generally considered to be legal, even if there is money involved, because of the strict parameters of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, including that the games must "refrain from tying the outcome of the fantasy sports games to the score, point-spread or performances of any single real-world team or combination of teams; and refrain from tying the outcome to being solely based on a single performance of an individual athlete in any single real-world sporting or other event."
The upstart daily fantasy sports version, on the other hand, is based on picking players based on how they will perform in one particular game, which would seem to run afoul of the UIGEA. And some lawmakers are asking for a ruling on the field.
In an O. Henry-esque twist, the thing that may save daily fantasy from being called "gambling" is the fact that genuine skill seems to be of significant use: "In the first half of the 2015 MLB season, 91 percent of [daily fantasy sports] player profits were won by just 1.3 percent of players." The sites are unlikely to want this fact publicized, as their advertising mostly consists of apparent average people who just happen to get lucky. And so, in true American style, the daily fantasy sites are hiring lobbyists.
Fantasy football is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but has previously about picking teams to compete across the whole of an NFL season, with all the trials and tribulations of players going through slumps, getting injured, and generally comparing their believed ability to their actual long-term performance. Many (if not most) players play for fun or nominal prizes (or punishments) among friends and co-workers. Season-long fantasy leagues are generally considered to be legal, even if there is money involved, because of the strict parameters of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, including that the games must "refrain from tying the outcome of the fantasy sports games to the score, point-spread or performances of any single real-world team or combination of teams; and refrain from tying the outcome to being solely based on a single performance of an individual athlete in any single real-world sporting or other event."
The upstart daily fantasy sports version, on the other hand, is based on picking players based on how they will perform in one particular game, which would seem to run afoul of the UIGEA. And some lawmakers are asking for a ruling on the field.
In an O. Henry-esque twist, the thing that may save daily fantasy from being called "gambling" is the fact that genuine skill seems to be of significant use: "In the first half of the 2015 MLB season, 91 percent of [daily fantasy sports] player profits were won by just 1.3 percent of players." The sites are unlikely to want this fact publicized, as their advertising mostly consists of apparent average people who just happen to get lucky. And so, in true American style, the daily fantasy sites are hiring lobbyists.
Has anybody noticed that their website also looks like it was designed on a very small budget?
I'm not saying this to be a snob, but because something about this doesn't pass the sniff test. Given the size of the ad buy and cash pot, why does their website have the fit-and-finish of a $50 Wordpress theme?
Something about this smells like a hastily-constructed scam.
posted by schmod at 12:55 PM on September 15, 2015
I'm not saying this to be a snob, but because something about this doesn't pass the sniff test. Given the size of the ad buy and cash pot, why does their website have the fit-and-finish of a $50 Wordpress theme?
Something about this smells like a hastily-constructed scam.
posted by schmod at 12:55 PM on September 15, 2015
The center panel (and alt text) are my guiding light in reacting to media blitzes like this.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:55 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:55 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think the fact that the leagues themselves are making pretty big deals with FanDuel/DraftKings is a good indication that there won't be too big of a legal push against it any time soon; the leagues are such huge moneymakers and lawmakers like them too much to fight that (see also: every horrible stadium deal ever given out).
posted by zempf at 12:58 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zempf at 12:58 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
In the other thread about ad-blockers and how live sports are one of the few things people still watch live on tv, I think this came up. You COULD. NOT. GET. AWAY. from all the ads this past week for these two services.
posted by k5.user at 12:58 PM on September 15, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by k5.user at 12:58 PM on September 15, 2015 [7 favorites]
Draft Kings is one of a select group of companies that advertises on every podcast in the world. I imagine there is someone somewhere on Earth that opens their wallet to do some fantasy sports betting, only to remember that they spent all their cash on wholesome snacks, team collaboration software and breathable underwear.
posted by selfnoise at 12:59 PM on September 15, 2015 [17 favorites]
posted by selfnoise at 12:59 PM on September 15, 2015 [17 favorites]
Well, they can go listen to a carefully selected audiobook instead, selfnoise.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:00 PM on September 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 1:00 PM on September 15, 2015 [5 favorites]
I feel like I haven't heard that many Audible ads lately in my podcast rotation... it's all MeUndies, NatureBox, two different mattress ones... some Warby Parker, a recent surge of DraftKings and FanDuel, and some Blue Apron.
posted by kmz at 1:04 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by kmz at 1:04 PM on September 15, 2015
I read about some of this the other day, and it's really not surprising. If it looks like gambling and smells like gambling, it's probably gambling. And if it's gambling, there are going to be a few die-hards who figure out how to ... if not "cheat' then at least rig the game in their favor. And if the house is earning their rake, they're going to tolerate it as long as it's not driving away the fish (which it doesn't seem to be, so far).
That said, some of my friends do small-stakes private FanDuels every so often (at least I think they're private; I really don't know how it works). They seem to think that whatever the rake is, it's worth it. But then again, they aren't the hardcore target market.
posted by uncleozzy at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2015
That said, some of my friends do small-stakes private FanDuels every so often (at least I think they're private; I really don't know how it works). They seem to think that whatever the rake is, it's worth it. But then again, they aren't the hardcore target market.
posted by uncleozzy at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2015
Draft Kings is one of a select group of companies that advertises on every podcast in the world.
Slate's Hang Up and Listen podcast had one of the authors of the "90 percent goes to 1.3 percent" article on last week, and the host pointed out that DraftKings had been a sponsor, and they both laughed at the fact that those ad buys were dead now.
posted by Etrigan at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Slate's Hang Up and Listen podcast had one of the authors of the "90 percent goes to 1.3 percent" article on last week, and the host pointed out that DraftKings had been a sponsor, and they both laughed at the fact that those ad buys were dead now.
posted by Etrigan at 1:05 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
> I'm not saying this to be a snob, but because something about this doesn't pass the sniff test. Given the size of the ad buy and cash pot, why does their website have the fit-and-finish of a $50 Wordpress theme?
Squarespace, probably. To wit:
> Draft Kings is one of a select group of companies that advertises on every podcast in the world. I imagine there is someone somewhere on Earth that opens their wallet to do some fantasy sports betting, only to remember that they spent all their cash on wholesome snacks, team collaboration software and breathable underwear.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:07 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Squarespace, probably. To wit:
> Draft Kings is one of a select group of companies that advertises on every podcast in the world. I imagine there is someone somewhere on Earth that opens their wallet to do some fantasy sports betting, only to remember that they spent all their cash on wholesome snacks, team collaboration software and breathable underwear.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:07 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Betting? Online esports are one of the few options American gamblers really take to and their services know it. No one says it's gambling but it is quite addictive and the amount of money spent on accessories, even trips, is staggering. Still a ton of room for disruption in here.
posted by parmanparman at 1:07 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by parmanparman at 1:07 PM on September 15, 2015
Something about this smells like a hastily-constructed scam.
The novelty oversized checks give it away for me. My bank's ATM won't take them!
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:08 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
The novelty oversized checks give it away for me. My bank's ATM won't take them!
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:08 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Every time these ads come on TV they just scream SCAMMY SCAM SCAM. They also remind me of that scene from Sopranos where Paulie and Silvio are trying to hit up a corporate Seattle-based coffee chain for protection money and Paulie's like "How did we miss out on this espresso craze?" Paulie would want in on this is what I'm saying.
posted by bleep at 1:15 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep at 1:15 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
"In the first half of the 2015 MLB season, 91 percent of [daily fantasy sports] player profits were won by just 1.3 percent of players."
Linked below the fold, but repeating for emphasis. Read this one. It explains 91% of what you need to know about these places.
posted by kiltedtaco at 1:17 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Linked below the fold, but repeating for emphasis. Read this one. It explains 91% of what you need to know about these places.
posted by kiltedtaco at 1:17 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I really don't think they're any more of a scam than the various online poker sites ever were (aside from Ultimate Bet of course) - there's no incentive there for them to cheat anyone since the money is so great for them just by sitting back and collecting the rake. How hard is it for them to just sit there and take their % while letting all the fish get eaten by the sharks? The bigger problem for them will be when the fish start to realize they're not winning and the supply of new people dries up.
posted by zempf at 1:20 PM on September 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by zempf at 1:20 PM on September 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
Glad this showed up here! I hear their ads on podcasts like others, and they've plastered the MBTA with billboards. I couldn't figure out how this was legal.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:24 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by backseatpilot at 1:24 PM on September 15, 2015
It drives me crazy how much the NFL pushes fantasy leagues, and the ads with players in the locker room talking about their fantasy teams are in such poor taste.
Despite the money involved, if there's one thing Congress loves, it's talking tough about sports gambling. Endless hearings that prevent them from having to engage in actual governing, moralizing, fairness, and press coverage, all in one issue! I'd be scared if I were these daily fantasy sites.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:26 PM on September 15, 2015
Despite the money involved, if there's one thing Congress loves, it's talking tough about sports gambling. Endless hearings that prevent them from having to engage in actual governing, moralizing, fairness, and press coverage, all in one issue! I'd be scared if I were these daily fantasy sites.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:26 PM on September 15, 2015
How hard is it for them to just sit there and take their %...
I mean, it's a common enough problem that Aesop wrote a fable about it.
posted by ODiV at 1:26 PM on September 15, 2015
I mean, it's a common enough problem that Aesop wrote a fable about it.
posted by ODiV at 1:26 PM on September 15, 2015
Heh. I love the League. Funny stuff.
Oh, and FanDuel is also spending big dough on advertising. I've never really understood the appeal of fantasy leagues. All the headaches of owning a team without any of the rewards.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:27 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, and FanDuel is also spending big dough on advertising. I've never really understood the appeal of fantasy leagues. All the headaches of owning a team without any of the rewards.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:27 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I mean, if I'm Roger Goodell, I'm thinking the best thing that can happen is a congressional investigation of FanDuel so I can hang them out to dry while talking about how I'm protecting the integrity of the game. (I mean, if I'm Roger Goodell I'm probably trying to plant evidence in Tom Brady's locker that FanDuel deflated his footballs, just for good measure, but I will also accept congressional hearings on something that I am, just for a change, not personally culpable for.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:31 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:31 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Mental Wimp: "Heh. I love the League. Funny stuff.
Oh, and FanDuel is also spending big dough on advertising. I've never really understood the appeal of fantasy leagues. All the headaches of owning a team without any of the rewards."
In my broadcast area, DraftKings hit the ground running, but FanDuel is slowly spooling up.
posted by Samizdata at 1:48 PM on September 15, 2015
Oh, and FanDuel is also spending big dough on advertising. I've never really understood the appeal of fantasy leagues. All the headaches of owning a team without any of the rewards."
In my broadcast area, DraftKings hit the ground running, but FanDuel is slowly spooling up.
posted by Samizdata at 1:48 PM on September 15, 2015
It's like high frequency trading for sports gambling, lots of rubes paying in, but the only guys making any money are the quants with algorithms entering 500 times per contest and the sites themselves.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:50 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:50 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
T.D. Strange: "It's like high frequency trading for sports gambling, lots of rubes paying in, but the only guys making any money are the quants with algorithms entering 500 times per contest and the sites themselves."
I’m joining Betable, to disrupt gambling.
posted by boo_radley at 2:08 PM on September 15, 2015
I’m joining Betable, to disrupt gambling.
posted by boo_radley at 2:08 PM on September 15, 2015
a lungful of dragon:
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:19 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
"The novelty oversized checks give it away for me. My bank's ATM won't take them!"You could probably still mobile-deposit them if you have a ladder from which to snap pictures of the checks. Just make sure to scale up your signature on the back proportionally.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:19 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
I feel like I haven't heard that many Audible ads lately in my podcast rotation... it's all MeUndies, NatureBox, two different mattress ones... some Warby Parker, a recent surge of DraftKings and FanDuel, and some Blue Apron.
Also, Mailkimp.
posted by schmod at 3:11 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also, Mailkimp.
posted by schmod at 3:11 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
From Twitter:
Not gonna lie, I might be enticed by a melted cheese league. Sure, you can spend all your cap on your Emmentals, Gruyeres, and Appenzellers. But for me, I'm going hard with sleepers like Raclette and Vacherin.
posted by mhum at 3:32 PM on September 15, 2015 [7 favorites]
Fon Duel, my competitive dipping sauces league, was a terrible idea.Terrible? Or wonderful?
Not gonna lie, I might be enticed by a melted cheese league. Sure, you can spend all your cap on your Emmentals, Gruyeres, and Appenzellers. But for me, I'm going hard with sleepers like Raclette and Vacherin.
posted by mhum at 3:32 PM on September 15, 2015 [7 favorites]
This hasn't triggered my Podcast Ad scamdar nearly as hard as Oxy Bump, which is so terribly misnamed that I thought it was a bit on the first comedy podcast I heard it on, and screams "quackery" so hard it makes Boiron look like Pfizer.
posted by Shepherd at 3:42 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Shepherd at 3:42 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, and MeUndies are awesome. If anyone is thinking about giving 'em a try, MeMail me, I have a discount code and can get MORE FREE UNDERWEAR out of referrals. I have no shame, and love them underdrawers.
posted by Shepherd at 3:43 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by Shepherd at 3:43 PM on September 15, 2015
I just saw on SC a listing of last week's ad buys on sports. #1? Draft Kings. $13.5 Million
posted by eriko at 4:18 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by eriko at 4:18 PM on September 15, 2015
All I know is that the million dollar winner on the left looks like the archetype of the dudebro. None more dudebro.
posted by dirigibleman at 4:34 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by dirigibleman at 4:34 PM on September 15, 2015
These guys are ruining the football watching experience with these ads, and that is hard to do because football is already pre-ruined with too many ads. It's not just the repetition, but the doubling up on the focus on fantasy on the broadcasts. I play fantasy football, but it's not why I'm watching a game.
Draft Kings even sponsors the Red Zone, which is supposed to be commercial free heaven, but when you hear and see "Draft Kings" every two fucking seconds it's not really feeling as ad free as it used to.
ALSO, JUST LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING ALREADY. If these sites are okay, just straight up betting on the game should be too. Fantasy for money is no more or less degenerate. Poker is much more of a game of skill too, so legalize that.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:54 PM on September 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
Draft Kings even sponsors the Red Zone, which is supposed to be commercial free heaven, but when you hear and see "Draft Kings" every two fucking seconds it's not really feeling as ad free as it used to.
ALSO, JUST LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING ALREADY. If these sites are okay, just straight up betting on the game should be too. Fantasy for money is no more or less degenerate. Poker is much more of a game of skill too, so legalize that.
posted by Drinky Die at 4:54 PM on September 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
Wasn't Phandool a hobbit?
posted by Servo5678 at 6:03 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Servo5678 at 6:03 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I realized just how ridiculous the daily fantasy sites marketing was getting when I was at a Six Flags amusement park a month or so ago--and Draft Kings was giving out "skip to the head of the line" passes for free (a $40 value, I think?) just for signing up for the site.
The frequency of the commercials is just about intolerable watching any kind of sports content. Recently I saw a long form commercial with stories of not just the big-time winners but a couple small- and medium-time winners; you can tell they're really trying to make it seem like anyone could win at least a little bit. The article in the FPP and quote about the 91%/1.3% split makes it clear just how important that story is to draw in the suckers.
And now SportsCenter is not only providing regular fantasy sports info/guidance, but also daily fantasy advice as well. It's inescapable.
posted by misskaz at 7:05 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
The frequency of the commercials is just about intolerable watching any kind of sports content. Recently I saw a long form commercial with stories of not just the big-time winners but a couple small- and medium-time winners; you can tell they're really trying to make it seem like anyone could win at least a little bit. The article in the FPP and quote about the 91%/1.3% split makes it clear just how important that story is to draw in the suckers.
And now SportsCenter is not only providing regular fantasy sports info/guidance, but also daily fantasy advice as well. It's inescapable.
posted by misskaz at 7:05 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not a fan of this stuff but to be fair it's not a scam in any way. And definitely being a pro/bro with an algorithm and a bunch of entries is the best way to win consistently. But it's certainly no worse than powerball and a heck of a lot more fun that watching ping pongs pop out of a machine.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:10 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:10 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
But the sites themselves are clearly solidly from the Go Daddy school of Schwinganomics
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:12 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:12 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
Danica Patrick could probably use a new sponsor.
/hasn't watched NASCAR in a bit, would not be surprised if they already did it.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:20 PM on September 15, 2015
/hasn't watched NASCAR in a bit, would not be surprised if they already did it.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:20 PM on September 15, 2015
ALSO, JUST LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING ALREADY. If these sites are okay, just straight up betting on the game should be too. Fantasy for money is no more or less degenerate. Poker is much more of a game of skill too, so legalize that.
This. It's kind of absurd that we have this end run around gambling laws, but poker (which is just as skill based) is beyond the pale.
Of course, if sports betting was legalized, those ads would quickly become just as intolerable.
posted by thecaddy at 7:54 PM on September 15, 2015
This. It's kind of absurd that we have this end run around gambling laws, but poker (which is just as skill based) is beyond the pale.
Of course, if sports betting was legalized, those ads would quickly become just as intolerable.
posted by thecaddy at 7:54 PM on September 15, 2015
Just give me a variety of ads, it's all I ask! Play poker, bet on tennis, fantasy curling!
posted by Drinky Die at 8:00 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by Drinky Die at 8:00 PM on September 15, 2015
The evolution of fantasy sports
The way the Internet transformed fantasy sports is one of the grand financial success stories in the history of professional athletics. [...]posted by tonycpsu at 8:14 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
And as the years have gone on, I've noticed it has done something else, something it's done with everything else in human existence: It has made it so easy to do something that the activity has almost no meaning anymore.
[...]
This was probably inevitable and has been further exacerbated by the rise of daily fantasy leagues, which have not only eliminated the social aspect of fantasy sports but have basically turned it into day trading. (I know people who are so into daily fantasy leagues that they've dropped out of leagues they'd been in with old friends for decades. "No time.") Fantasy football is a solitary activity now, like essentially every other activity.
(A side note on coverage: It is fascinated to see how fantasy sports, once thought of as an activity for dorks and wannabes, have become "Boiler Room"-esque brofests now. Look at a TV ad for one of those daily fantasy leagues. Just thick-necked dudes punching the air and fist-pounding their bros while a woman in a bikini and a sash gives them an oversized check. It feels like a scene out of "The Wolf of Wall Street.")
Drinky Die: “Draft Kings even sponsors the Red Zone, which is supposed to be commercial free heaven, but when you hear and see "Draft Kings" every two fucking seconds it's not really feeling as ad free as it used to.”Which is interesting because the old title sponsor for the Red Zone was Chevrolet, but it didn't seem as annoying. On the other hand, some fantasy sports "we swear it's not gambling" website outbid Chevrolet for one of the biggest sponsorships in TV? They must be making money hand over fist.
posted by ob1quixote at 8:27 PM on September 15, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah, it's the cumulative effect that makes it annoying. On Thursday I got inundated with the ads. On Sunday I went Red Zone and got inundated with the sponsorship. Sunday Night the ads again. Monday night the same. Then I turn to the local sports cable channel for the coverage after the game...sponsored by Draft Kings and ads. It's just too much.
posted by Drinky Die at 8:47 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Drinky Die at 8:47 PM on September 15, 2015 [3 favorites]
That Will Leitch article that tonycpsu linked is really good. But, it gets better when you replace all references to "fantasy sports" with "masturbation". For optimum results, also try replacing "draft" with "jack sesh" (NSFW Urban Dictionary link) and "sports" with "sex".
"The way the Internet transformed [masturbation] is one of the grand financial success stories in the history of [sex]. Before the Internet, you either [found a box of porn in the woods] or [called a phone sex line]."posted by mhum at 10:39 PM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]
"It has made it so easy to do something that the activity has almost no meaning anymore."
"[Masturbation], all told, has begun to feel like a job. It's a chore -- just one more item on the to-do list."
"And if you do [jerk off] in person, you've got your laptop open and are constantly updating your Excel spreadsheet anyway. [Masturbations] no longer resemble [sex]. They resemble work."
"[Masturbation] is a solitary activity now, like essentially every other activity."
"I say all this not to complain, necessarily. I still enjoy [masturbation] and will spend several hours preparing for Monday night's [jack sesh]."
"And more to the point: It's becoming less fun. Remember, [masturbation] was meant to be a complement to the experience of [sex] itself -- not just the [sex], but the camaraderie, the friendship, the community aspect. There is no time for that now."
We started running ads for FanDuel at the cinema I work for. I've seen the same ad approximately ninety-five times by now. My favorite part of the sell comes after the eager announcer shows you the dudebro who won $720K (I'll take your word for it, FanDuel) and then mentions that the site is set to pay out over a billion dollars this year, so "you gotta get your share!" That is some fantastic American advertising rhetoric right there. All but promising a personal stake.
posted by Spatch at 10:43 PM on September 15, 2015
posted by Spatch at 10:43 PM on September 15, 2015
Drinky Die:On the NBC affiliate In the Atlanta market they also bought the after-the-news infomercial Saturday evening.Yeah, it's the cumulative effect that makes it annoying. On Thursday I got inundated with the ads. On Sunday I went Red Zone and got inundated with the sponsorship. Sunday Night the ads again. Monday night the same. Then I turn to the local sports cable channel for the coverage after the game...sponsored by Draft Kings and ads. It's just too much.
posted by ob1quixote at 2:06 AM on September 16, 2015
MeUndies...
MeFUndies...
One is an online underwear company - the other could be an online blue and yellow underwear company.
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:36 AM on September 16, 2015
MeFUndies...
One is an online underwear company - the other could be an online blue and yellow underwear company.
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:36 AM on September 16, 2015
Here is a tip for DraftKings and FanDuel — tone it down.
posted by craven_morhead at 8:19 AM on September 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by craven_morhead at 8:19 AM on September 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
"In the first half of the 2015 MLB season, 91 percent of [daily fantasy sports] player profits were won by just 1.3 percent of players."
Actually this seems like the most effective advertising that they have. At least 50% of the people I know that do fantasy football think they are really, really good at doing fantasy football. We are all the 1.3%!!
posted by rtimmel at 8:37 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Actually this seems like the most effective advertising that they have. At least 50% of the people I know that do fantasy football think they are really, really good at doing fantasy football. We are all the 1.3%!!
posted by rtimmel at 8:37 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the other hand, some fantasy sports "we swear it's not gambling" website outbid Chevrolet for one of the biggest sponsorships in TV? They must be making money hand over fist.
There's got to be some percentage of the audience that at least gets a nagging "wait, something doesn't add up here" feeling from businesses like this being able to throw what's clearly a huge amount of money around, right? Although whether any of them would ever sign up in the first place...
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:42 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's got to be some percentage of the audience that at least gets a nagging "wait, something doesn't add up here" feeling from businesses like this being able to throw what's clearly a huge amount of money around, right? Although whether any of them would ever sign up in the first place...
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:42 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's got to be some percentage of the audience that at least gets a nagging "wait, something doesn't add up here" feeling from businesses like this being able to throw what's clearly a huge amount of money around, right?
If that were the case, all advertising would collapse in on itself. Hell, the lottery can afford to advertise, and people still line up to throw their money at it. The New York Lottery's slogan has been "Hey, You Never Know.®" for years -- that's right, the official stance is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
posted by Etrigan at 9:58 AM on September 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
If that were the case, all advertising would collapse in on itself. Hell, the lottery can afford to advertise, and people still line up to throw their money at it. The New York Lottery's slogan has been "Hey, You Never Know.®" for years -- that's right, the official stance is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
posted by Etrigan at 9:58 AM on September 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'd be really interested to know what DFS's cut on all the bets are. What percentage of bets do they end up keeping?
I can imagine wanting to play this very, very badly if it had come out 12 years ago when I was into fantasy football, and knew the relative value of the top 100 or so NFL player and had an unhealthy obsession with figuring out which backups were about to break out into a starting role. There's got to be a lot of current NFL nerds out there who figure that they're in the top 10% of football knowledge, and itching to prove it.
But if the house is taking more than a little bit (which I imagine they are) it becomes impossible to win just by beating conventional wisdom, you have to have a serious system.
posted by skewed at 10:04 AM on September 16, 2015
I can imagine wanting to play this very, very badly if it had come out 12 years ago when I was into fantasy football, and knew the relative value of the top 100 or so NFL player and had an unhealthy obsession with figuring out which backups were about to break out into a starting role. There's got to be a lot of current NFL nerds out there who figure that they're in the top 10% of football knowledge, and itching to prove it.
But if the house is taking more than a little bit (which I imagine they are) it becomes impossible to win just by beating conventional wisdom, you have to have a serious system.
posted by skewed at 10:04 AM on September 16, 2015
I'd be really interested to know what DFS's cut on all the bets are. What percentage of bets do they end up keeping?
DraftKings’ rake is tiered based on your buy-in. The rake is 10 percent for players who play in leagues of $22 or less, but decreases considerably once you make your way into the higher stakes games.
posted by Etrigan at 10:07 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
DraftKings’ rake is tiered based on your buy-in. The rake is 10 percent for players who play in leagues of $22 or less, but decreases considerably once you make your way into the higher stakes games.
posted by Etrigan at 10:07 AM on September 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
But if the house is taking more than a little bit (which I imagine they are) it becomes impossible to win just by beating conventional wisdom, you have to have a serious system.
I think even if there was no rake at all, the presence of people using bots and advanced analytics would squeeze out anyone who wasn't using those tools, no matter how good their "system" is. It's less about the platform cheating you and more about other users cheating you.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:46 PM on September 16, 2015
I think even if there was no rake at all, the presence of people using bots and advanced analytics would squeeze out anyone who wasn't using those tools, no matter how good their "system" is. It's less about the platform cheating you and more about other users cheating you.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:46 PM on September 16, 2015
On the other hand, some fantasy sports "we swear it's not gambling" website outbid Chevrolet for one of the biggest sponsorships in TV? They must be making money hand over fist.
Or laundering money hand over fist.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:14 AM on September 17, 2015
Or laundering money hand over fist.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:14 AM on September 17, 2015
Can you explain the laundering angle ?
(I get how once the money is in, if there's an acceptable loss, a dedicated group could do it, but how does the money get in with out raising flags ? )
posted by k5.user at 8:41 AM on September 17, 2015
(I get how once the money is in, if there's an acceptable loss, a dedicated group could do it, but how does the money get in with out raising flags ? )
posted by k5.user at 8:41 AM on September 17, 2015
Draftkings is under review by the government of Massachusetts (which is where Draftkings is headquartered because of course it is).
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:15 AM on September 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:15 AM on September 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
ESPN's Matthew Berry Sells Credibility To DraftKings
posted by tonycpsu at 11:26 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tonycpsu at 11:26 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is that how we're spelling "soul" these days?
I like Matthew Berry. His book on fantasy sports is just terrific. But ugh, this is so incredibly far over the line that I'm glad I gave up on fantasy football generally last year, because now I don't need to bother stopping reading him.
posted by Etrigan at 11:34 AM on September 18, 2015
I like Matthew Berry. His book on fantasy sports is just terrific. But ugh, this is so incredibly far over the line that I'm glad I gave up on fantasy football generally last year, because now I don't need to bother stopping reading him.
posted by Etrigan at 11:34 AM on September 18, 2015
Trying to watch a little sports news this morning (I was hoping to catch the Rugby World Cup but I guess it's not on TV) and SportsCenter and NFL Gameday were so full of fantasy-focused coverage I had to turn it off. And of course, Fan Duel and Draft King commercials at every break and sponsored segments within the shows. Ugh. I used to scoff at comments claiming fantasy football was ruining the game but I'm starting to agree.
posted by misskaz at 8:46 AM on September 20, 2015
posted by misskaz at 8:46 AM on September 20, 2015
Two things about modern America I don't get: fantasy sports and reality TV.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:53 AM on September 21, 2015
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:53 AM on September 21, 2015
Fantasy Sports Employees Bet at Rival Sites Using Inside Information
A major scandal is erupting in the multibillion dollar industry of fantasy sports, the online and unregulated business in which players assemble their fantasy teams with real athletes. On Monday, the two major fantasy companies were forced to release statements defending their businesses’ integrity after what amounted to allegations of insider trading, that employees were placing bets on information not available to the public.
Last week, a DraftKings employee admitted to inadvertently releasing data before the start of the third week of N.F.L. games, a move akin to insider trading in the stock market. The employee – a midlevel content manager — won $350,000 at rival site FanDuel that same week.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:07 PM on October 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
A major scandal is erupting in the multibillion dollar industry of fantasy sports, the online and unregulated business in which players assemble their fantasy teams with real athletes. On Monday, the two major fantasy companies were forced to release statements defending their businesses’ integrity after what amounted to allegations of insider trading, that employees were placing bets on information not available to the public.
Last week, a DraftKings employee admitted to inadvertently releasing data before the start of the third week of N.F.L. games, a move akin to insider trading in the stock market. The employee – a midlevel content manager — won $350,000 at rival site FanDuel that same week.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:07 PM on October 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
FanDuel has permanently barred its employees from playing DFS anywhere as a result.
posted by Etrigan at 9:49 AM on October 7, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 9:49 AM on October 7, 2015
It's time to stop being stupid about sports gambling
posted by nubs at 11:19 AM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 11:19 AM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
F.B.I. Investigating Daily Fantasy Sports Websites
Agents want to know whether employees of DraftKings passed on proprietary information or preyed on players in contests, according to the players. DraftKings, as well as rival FanDuel, have acknowledged that their employees — many of whom regularly rank among the most consistent big winners — have played and won significant money on each other’s sites. In the wake of the scandal, they banned their employees from competing in any contests.
The allegations have also raised a bevy of issues in the unregulated industry, including whether or not professional players have an unfair advantage over regular players. A recent study in Sports Business Daily found that over the first half of this year’s Major League Baseball season, 91 percent of daily fantasy sports player profits were won by just 1.3 percent of the players. In fact, on average, the top 11 players paid $2 million in entry fees and made profits of $135,000 each while accounting for 17 percent of all entry fees.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 7:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Agents want to know whether employees of DraftKings passed on proprietary information or preyed on players in contests, according to the players. DraftKings, as well as rival FanDuel, have acknowledged that their employees — many of whom regularly rank among the most consistent big winners — have played and won significant money on each other’s sites. In the wake of the scandal, they banned their employees from competing in any contests.
The allegations have also raised a bevy of issues in the unregulated industry, including whether or not professional players have an unfair advantage over regular players. A recent study in Sports Business Daily found that over the first half of this year’s Major League Baseball season, 91 percent of daily fantasy sports player profits were won by just 1.3 percent of the players. In fact, on average, the top 11 players paid $2 million in entry fees and made profits of $135,000 each while accounting for 17 percent of all entry fees.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 7:07 PM on October 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
Cash Drops and Keystrokes: The Dark Reality of Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Games
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:53 AM on October 15, 2015
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:53 AM on October 15, 2015
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DraftKings Announces Sponsorships With 12 NFL Teams To Kick Off 2015-16 Season
Through the NFL team sponsorships, DraftKings is opening fantasy sports lounges that will give the company a permanent presence at three NFL stadiums. AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys; Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots; and Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs now feature DraftKings lounges.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:52 PM on September 15, 2015