

Daily Fantasy Sports
Assessing the esports DFS opportunity in the US
Oliver Niner, Head of B2B says that DFS remains a compelling vertical with huge growth potential especially if operators expand their offering into esports
The roll out of legal online and mobile sports betting across US states has presented a significant opportunity for operators, but the market has proved harder to crack than many anticipated.
The cost of customer acquisition is skyrocketing, building brand equity is taking much longer than expected, and there’s been a slowdown in new states embracing regulation and licensing.
This has led to a run of operators exiting the market as the numbers simply don’t add up.
But while this is happening, the daily fantasy sports space continues to thrive and remains a compelling opportunity for operators.
DFS has a unique legal standing in many states where sports betting is still restricted, allowing operators to reach audiences they otherwise couldn’t.
It also fosters deeper engagement with those who play – players aren’t just betting on outcomes; they’re actively managing lineups and pitting their knowledge and skills against others.
This is the perfect combination for retention and loyalty – something sportsbooks struggle to achieve with players easily swayed to join another brand simply because of a generous free bets offer.
There’s also an untapped opportunity in bringing the worlds of esports and daily fantasy sports together, allowing operators to connect with an entirely new audience.
Until now, traditional DFS brands have focused on the major sports, but the younger, digital-native audiences are more interested in esports such as CS2 and LoL than the NFL.
Why the DFS model works:
Before discussing how operators can get in on the esports DFS action, it’s important to understand why the DFS model works so well in the US, especially for those looking to diversify their offering.
The first is regulatory accessibility. DFS is legal in more states than traditional sports betting, allowing operators to enter markets where sportsbook licensing is unavailable or complex.
DFS has much lower acquisition costs while serving as a gateway to paid gaming. It often attracts a younger, more engaged audience at a lower CPA compared to traditional sports betting.
Strong user retention is another upside. Unlike one-off bets, DFS players return regularly to manage lineups, track stats and compete in contests, driving retention rates way beyond sports betting.
It’s also esports ready. Esports fans are highly engaged with player performance stats, making DFS a natural fit. It can then serve as an introduction to real-money esports betting when regulations allow.
The esports DFS opportunity to be explored:
DFS is an established and thriving vertical and while some operators offer esports within their proposition, it often lacks depth, innovation and mainstream adoption.
Esports fans are naturally engaged with stats, player performance metrics and in-game analytics, so easily segue into the DFS format.
Titles like LoL, CS2, Dota 2 and Valorant offer rich data sets that allow for creative and competitive fantasy formats, but most operators are yet to really get into it.
This leaves a major gap in the market and a huge opportunity for those who put together a compelling esports DFS product, especially as the popularity of esports betting grows.
What a compelling esports DFS product looks like:
The foundation of any esports DFS product is reliable, real-time data and the ability to provide a range of engaging contest formats.
This is where companies such as PandaScore come in. We provide operators with comprehensive esports data including player and team stats across all the major disciplines.
We supplement this with accurate odds and DFS pricing models, helping operators to set accurate and competitive odds – both our data and odds feeds are integrated seamlessly via API.
We also provide unrivalled market expertise; the team has years of experience powering esports betting which we leverage to ensure our partners can succeed with esports DFS.
In addition to markets and odds, players need to be able to access deep performance metrics so they can make informed decisions.
It’s also important for the operator to provide a smooth and intuitive experience via a seamless UX and mobile first approach to site and app navigation.
The diversity of the contests offered needs to be considered, too. This includes classic salary cap formats as well as pick’em games and more.
It goes without saying that social interaction needs to be baked into the experience through features such as leaderboards, private leagues and head-to-head challenges.
Operators need to get ahead in a rapidly evolving market:
The US sports betting and iCasino market is fast moving with the landscape constantly changing – just look at the conversation around sweepstakes casinos.
For me, DFS and especially esports DFS remain an underutilised growth channel that operators need to take advantage of.
As esports betting gains traction – PandaScore recently surpassed €1bn in bets through its platform – DFS serves as a vital entry point through which operators can build brand recognition and engage a digital-first audience primed and ready to play.
This audience might not be familiar with real-money betting today, but by providing them with an experience they are familiar and comfortable with, they can become the bettors of tomorrow.
At PandaScore, we are here to help operators capitalise on this opportunity with best-in-class data, pricing models and strategic support.
For operators, this means the numbers will always add up when it comes to esports daily fantasy sports.
The post Assessing the esports DFS opportunity in the US appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
2025 NFL season
Betr Kicks Off NFL Season with Revamped Betr Picks, Industry-highest 10,000x Payouts, Free $10 Play, and the Launch of Betr Arcade

Betr, a leading gaming and media business, announced a major revamp of its daily fantasy sports pick ’em product, Betr Picks, along with the official launch of Betr Arcade, just in time for the 2025 NFL season. Betr Picks is currently live in 33 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., reaching approximately two-thirds of the U.S. population, while Arcade has initially launched in 29 states, giving millions of users access to real-money peer-to-peer skill games.
Betr Picks’ overhaul introduces a new, simplified and modern user interface, expanded sports offerings including WNBA and top global soccer leagues, significantly more projections across both new and existing sports, and its industry-first 10,000X payout multiplier. In addition, the innovative “Mystery Multiplier” feature now allows two-pick lineups, which typically return 3X, to return payouts to users of up to 1000X.
To celebrate the launch, all new users will receive $10 to play for free, no deposit required, during the first two weeks of the NFL season. Additionally, new users will also be eligible for a 50% deposit match up to $200, and all existing users will receive a deposit match for each of the first two weeks of NFL season. With over $250 million already won on Betr, these updates are designed to bring an elevated experience to both new and existing users.
The debut of Betr Arcade marks the company’s entry into the casual peer-to-peer skill gaming space, featuring four initial games: 21, Fruit Match, Crossout 21, and 5 Across with more games rolling out in the coming weeks. Games start at just $1.25 and allow players to practice before entering real-money contests against others. The launch was highlighted by co-founder Jake Paul playing one of the games, 21, in a promotional video shared on social media.
“The Betr app has never been as strong as it is today. Betr Picks is now a top tier daily fantasy sports pick ’em product despite launching just less than two years ago, and we now have Betr Arcade live in 29 states, giving our customers a new skill gaming experience. We now have two nationwide gaming products live in our single Betr app available to users in a single wallet. The innovation won’t stop here – we will be releasing additional new products over the coming months – in addition to releasing several more games within Betr Arcade and further improvements to Betr Picks. The Betr team continues to prove that it ships product with a greater level of velocity than any other company in the industry. Most importantly I am excited for the hundreds of thousands of sports fans and gamers who have already won $250M on Betr to experience an early version of this new first-of-its-kind gaming super app,” said Joey Levy, Founder and CEO of Betr.
The post Betr Kicks Off NFL Season with Revamped Betr Picks, Industry-highest 10,000x Payouts, Free $10 Play, and the Launch of Betr Arcade appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Betr
Jake Paul-Linked Gambling App Betr Arcade Launches

Betr, the gambling and fantasy sports operator founded by Joey Levy and social media personality-turned-boxer Jake Paul, has introduced Betr Arcade, a cash-based gaming product built on head-to-head competition. The new feature launched earlier this month inside the Betr Picks daily fantasy sports platform and includes four games: 21, Fruit Match, Crossout 21, and 5 Across.
Unlike traditional casino play, these contests pit players directly against one another, rather than against the operator. Entry begins at $1.25 per game, with a practice option available for those who want to try the formats without wagering before entering for money. You should also ensure that you take advantage of a Betr picks promo code before entering for real money.
Levy described Betr Arcade as the company’s dedicated skill-gaming product, noting that it is already live in 29 states. He added that more titles and additional categories will be released in the coming months, broadening the scope of the Betr app beyond fantasy and skill-based contests.
The launch arrives as legal real-money online casinos are only offered in seven states, meaning that most of the nation cannot access regulated content. Focusing on peer-to-peer platforms, which are not subject to the same regulations as casino sites, Betr has been able to provide its services in states that ban casino play.
That includes big markets like Florida, Texas, and California, which have previously seen regulators crack down on against-the-house fantasy games. The peer-to-peer approach has allowed Betr to continue operating while expanding into new skill-based products.
Betr is not the only operator adapting its model to navigate state-level restrictions. Rival daily fantasy sports (DFS) operator PrizePicks has confirmed it no longer offers against-the-house Pick ’em contests in the US, shifting entirely to its peer-to-peer Arena product.
The change took effect on Aug. 22, according to a company spokesperson, who highlighted the move as an effort to deliver a more social and sustainable DFS product.
Previously, PrizePicks offered Pick ’em in 17 states and Washington, D.C., including major markets like California and Texas, where fantasy sports remain unregulated. Arena, first launched in January 2024, requires players to pay an entry fee to join competitions against other users, with prizes awarded to the highest-scoring lineups.
The format has been positioned as less vulnerable to regulatory pushback, as some state authorities have likened Pick ’em contests to sports betting.
PrizePicks had already shifted to Arena-only play in California in June, shortly before the Attorney General’s office issued an opinion stating that all DFS products violated state law. Following that decision, Underdog Fantasy also removed its Pick ’em contests in California.
Currently, PrizePicks is active in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and every Canadian province except Ontario. It has also secured a license in Puerto Rico.
The post Jake Paul-Linked Gambling App Betr Arcade Launches appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Adam Packer
PrizePicks Secures Gaming Licenses in Puerto Rico and Maine

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced it has secured gaming licenses in both Puerto Rico and Maine, marking a major milestone in the operator’s continued growth. With this expansion, PrizePicks becomes the first daily fantasy sports operator to obtain a gaming license in Puerto Rico.
PrizePicks players can now access Arena in Maine, with Puerto Rico set to go live in the coming months. Following the launch, PrizePicks will be operational with its fantasy contests in 47 jurisdictions across the US.
“We’re grateful to the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and the Maine Gambling Control Unit for their partnership and support throughout the licensure process. We’ve seen tremendous engagement with Arena across the country, and we’re confident that momentum will carry into these new jurisdictions,” said Adam Packer, Senior Vice President of Legal & Compliance at PrizePicks.
The post PrizePicks Secures Gaming Licenses in Puerto Rico and Maine appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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