FanDuel debuted a new peer-to-peer fantasy sports product on Tuesday after soft launching the offering earlier this year in markets where online betting isn’t regulated.
On Thursday, FanDuel introduced FanDuel Picks, a fantasy product that allows users to compete against one another by creating lineups based on player statistic projections. The product is similar to the props-style fantasy games popularized by companies like Underdog and PrizePicks.
FanDuel Picks allows users to pick between three to six players in a lineup and select “more” or “less” on their projected statistics with the highest scores of correct selections winning a share of a prize pool. Contest entry fees make up the prize pool rewards.
“Just in time for NFL season, we are excited to bring fans a social way to engage with the sports and athletes they love with the launch of FanDuel Picks,” said FanDuel Picks General Manager Rob Cullen. “The ‘more’ or ‘less’ selection model offers a streamlined fantasy sports experience, and we look forward to offering our customers another way to interact with games this season.”
In April, FanDuel Picks soft launched in Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oregon and Wisconsin to “a limited number of customers,” a company spokesperson confirmed to SBC Americas.
The offering has since expanded its reach to 12 additional markets that include:
- Alaska
- Georgia
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
FanDuel’s stance on prop-style DFS does a 180
The launch of the game stands in stark contrast to the company’s stance on props-style fantasy just two years ago. At a 2023 National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) meeting, FanDuel Senior Director of State Government Relations Cesar Fernandez did not name which operators, but appeared to be taking a very firm stance on this category of fantasy, though it is unclear if his objection was to the format or the against-the-house nature of the product at the time.
“There are companies today posing as fantasy sports operators, and they are running illegal sportsbooks,” he said.
During comments at the 2023 Global Gaming Expo (G2E), FanDuel CEO Amy Howe skirted directly saying whether or not these competitors were running afoul of the law and said that was something for the regulators to figure out. She did suggest that verticals with “blurred lines”, she is concerned about KYC protocols, such as restricting players to 21 and up.
Per the site’s terms, FanDuel Picks is open to those over the age of 18 unless in a market where regulators have stipulated participants must be older, such as Massachusetts.
No California for FanDuel Picks
FanDuel Picks is not available in one of America’s largest markets, California.
The product is unavailable to users in the Golden State after California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office released an opinion stating that no version of DFS is in compliance with state law.
Active California law does not explicitly ban DFS operators from accepting customers in the state allowing the companies to operate in a grey area. Several operators, including PrizePicks, continue to operate in California. FanDuel, which intends to work with Bonta’s office to discuss DFS, decided to not offer its P2P picks offering in the state amid the news.
Underdog took the opportunity in July to make its California fantasy offerings P2P only. The operator pulled its against-the-house version of its pick’em game in the state.
Despite California law remaining stagnant regarding DFS, Bonta wants to take formal action against operators that continue to operate in California. It is unclear what enforcement could look like but cease and desist orders may be a reality.
Bonta’s office could also aim to apply pressure by threatening litigation.
FanDuel bolsters P2P offerings
FanDuel Picks marks the operator’s first foray into P2P pick’em fantasy contests, but the operator has established a footprint in P2P gaming through its FanDuel Faceoff offering.
FanDuel Faceoff offers both free play and real money options with paid play available in several markets that have yet to authorize online wagering, including California and Texas.
FanDuel Faceoff allows users to compete head-to-head through a variety of contests, including word and puzzle games. The product leverages skill-matching to pair users who possess similar gameplay and skill levels for games offered by the product.
