“This Week In Daily” is LegalSportsReport’s weekly wrap of key facts, happenings and miscellany from the daily fantasy sports industry.
Stories of note
Yahoo, Yahoo, Yahoo
The big story of the week would have been hard to avoid if you follow DFS at all. Yahoo went live with its daily fantasy sports product on Wednesday, to mixed reviews.
Our initial takeaways?
- Mainstream media was calling daily fantasy sports either gambling or sports betting, pretty much across the board.
- In the same story, we touched on FanDuel calling out Yahoo for allegedly copying its look.
- Is Yahoo really just beta testing DFS, and isn’t calling it that?
- Yahoo might not make a ton of money in year one.
In the end, Yahoo is just getting ready for football season. Obviously, what they do between now and then will be interesting to follow.
Scripting at DraftKings, FanDuel
The change of terms of service at DraftKings to allow scripts has been a point of contention all week with regular players in the DFS world. What is scripting, you ask? It’s the use of an automated process to decrease the time taken to do something; in the case of DFS, that is generally setting lineups for multi-entry contests.
DraftKings changed its TOS to allow some scripting. FanDuel says its TOS would stay the same, and that you have to ask if you want to use a script. We break down the issue here. It was a big point of controversy and backlash in social media and on DFS forums.
Of the week
Read of the week
Interesting op-ed that sets the stage for the battle for the hearts and minds of DFS players everywhere. While DraftKings has made its case for No. 1 early in 2015, the rubber meets the road in September, when NFL season goes live. Then, we’ll get a better idea of whether DK or FanDuel is really No. 1, and how quickly Yahoo and Amaya can challenge them, if at all.
Watch of the week
DFS talk with the industry insiders over at RotoCurve, including Yahoo’s launch:
ICYMI of the week
Other news from the world of DFS:
- “How Daily Fantasy Sports Became a Heavyweight in the Advertising World” via AdWeek.
- Fantasy Feud announces integration with a sports news app.
- ESPN plans on more integration of fantasy content in its broadcasts.
Tweets of the week
Yahoo has been a big player in traditional fantasy. Now it assumes role of underdog in DFS as it seeks to take market share from DK, FanDuel
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBJ) July 8, 2015
I strongly disagree with @DraftKings script allowing policy, will be moving my action to Yahoo. Your decision kills the little guy #DFS
— Ken In Brooklyn (@Ken_In_Brooklyn) July 9, 2015
Number of the week
$200mm
According to a report at AdWeek, DraftKings “will be supported by $200 million in media.”
