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