NFL Launches Pay-for-Play Fantasy Sports Leagues

The National Football League (NFL) has become the first of the North American professional sports leagues to launch a pay-for-play fantasy sports League.

The fantasy gambling concept, legal under federal law, will become available in 43 states.

Entrance fees will vary from $4.99 to $124.99 with prizes that include top-of-the-line sports memorabilia.

In offering the new game, the NFL must abide by state gambling laws.

Gambling Insider suggests that the new format appears to be the NFL's attempt to harness a corner of the 'derivative' fantasy football market, whose revenue far outstrips its own.

Forbes has valued the fantasy football market at $70bn, which is seven times that of the NFL's annual revenues.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com