According to communication sent to customers in the state, Underdog will be pulling its paid pick’em fantasy product out of North Carolina later this week.
Customers received an email informing them that the company would be ceasing paid pick’em contests but would continue to offer a free version of the game with real-money prizes going forward.
The North Carolina State Lottery Commission considered regulations that would limit the scope and nature of fantasy sports in the state last fall but ultimately decided to focus on sports betting and press pause on redefining fantasy.
While the group has not moved forward with any official action to change and implement new fantasy regulations, Underdog is nonetheless pulling the game from the state. Underdog declined to comment to SBC Americas on the matter.
Underdog currently has an application for a sports betting license pending with North Carolina. If approved, it will be the first state where Underdog will offer sports betting. In the past, Underdog Fantasy CEO Jeremy Levine has said the company is ultimately focused on transitioning into the sports betting market.
While the lottery has yet to officially approve operators, the state is planning to launch online sports betting in just a couple of weeks on March 11 and all eight potential operators are on track to be live in the state on that day.
PrizePicks confirmed to SBC Americas that nothing about its offering in the state is changing, including pick’em games.
