Fantasy Sports, Live In-Play Wagering Helping to Boost Sports Betting

Written by:
Tyrone Black
Published on:
Oct/02/2014
Fantasy Sports, Live In-Play Wagering Helping to Boost Sports Betting

Fantasy Sports was a hot topic at this week’s Global Gaming Expo with daily leagues helping to fuel sports betting.

Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill, which operates sportsbooks in Las Vegas told those in attendance that “the business is very, very healthy”.

Asher also touched upon the thrill of live in-play betting on every single aspect of a game such as who will score the next touchdown and who will make the next catch.

Online betting sites like Bookmaker.eu, for instance, tell Gambling911.com that their live in-play platform betting now accounts for more than half their overall business.

That same concept is what makes daily fantasy leagues so appealing, writes Richard N. Velotta of the Las Vegas Review Journal.

“Weeklong fantasy sports contests fit into how our consumers play,” Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings, said during the panel discussion.

“We appeal to the player who likes the bite-sized, instant gratification style of play,” he said. “It’s generally accepted as legal because it’s skill-based and we have free games or money games that you can play for as little as 25 cents.”

Velotta notes that the casino companies are keeping a close watch on daily fantasy leagues, which are expressly legal under the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA).  In fact, MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said on Tuesday that his casino company is considering offering fantasy sports products.

- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com

Gambling News

Former FanDuel VP Charged With Revitalizing ESPN Bet

Recruiting industry talent has been a priority for Penn recently, and former FanDuel senior vice president Billy Turchin is the latest example after being named chief product officer. Billy Turchin will oversee Penn’s three interactive brands, Bookmakers Review has reported.

Top Betting Markets - April 21, 2025

There are certainly games to be wagered on Monday but the top betting markets included wagering on the next Pope following the Vatican's confirmation that Pope Francis had passed away.  Meanwhile, there was plenty of early betting on this week's NFL Draft.

Top Betting Markets - April 20, 2025

This week, Gambling911.com will be laser focused on the NFL Draft and all the wagering that goes with it.  This will be the most high-demand betting market on Thursday, Day 1 of the draft.

Syndicate