Underdog Fantasy is bringing an innovative pick’em-style contest to players in Arizona.
The New York-based DFS and sports betting company has been approved by the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) to launch its Pick’em Champions contest in the state. Underdog’s Pick’em Champions contest allows players to build a roster of up to eight athletes and choose a preferred statistical metric for each athlete. Players, who face peer-to-peer competition, receive prizes based on the ability to pick winning statistical metrics.
“We work very closely with the Division of Gaming, and after a highly professional review, they agree our peer-to-peer game meets the state’s fantasy sports requirements,” Underdog SVP of Government Affairs and Partnerships Stacie Stern told SBC Americas.
The decision by Arizona’s gaming regulator comes after it sent a letter in November 2023 to fantasy operators stating that pick’em-style contests failed to comply with state regulations. Despite the ADG’s claim, the regulator had initially approved Underdog’s pick’em-style offerings in 2022, according to emails obtained by SBC Americas.
As of September 2024, Pick’em Champions is available in 13 states, including Florida.
Underdog Fantasy makes investment
Underdog’s presence in Arizona builds on recent efforts to bolster the company’s reach.
The company’s responsible gaming fund, GuardDog, selected the Game Safety Institute in August as its next recipient of investment. The Game Safety Institute will use the fresh injection of capital to develop platforms that assess risk and provide RG education tools.
The Game Safety Institute is the second entity to receive an investment from GuardDog joining RG data provider idPair. GuardDog launched in October 2023 with an initial $1 million in funding. It also provides mentorship and consultation from Underdog executives.
