Fantasy Sports Operators Fight Back Against North Carolina Sports Betting Legislators

Following North Carolina sports betting legislators’ move to ban prop-style games, popular fantasy sports operators have voiced their opposition. North Carolina is one of multiple markets making a consorted effort to remove pick ’em-style prop fantasy games, which some argue resemble player prop betting at sportsbooks too closely.

As regulators continue to take a closer look at these games, popular fantasy sports operators are beginning to fight back. North Carolina lawmakers were recently called out by representatives from PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy, two of the more popular apps with these games.

Fantasy Sports Operators Unhappy over Potential North Carolina Ban

During the North Carolina sports betting meeting last week, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission heard public comments. This meeting allows the public to voice their support or concerns over proposed regulations for the upcoming sports betting market.

Representatives of popular fantasy sports operators used the opportunity to speak out against North Carolina legislators who seek to ban pick ’em games in the state.

“The legislature could have easily adopted the exact same language that the proposed rules have in them, and it chose not to do that,” said Nicholas Green, Underdog General Counsel. “It chose not to do that, knowing full well what the fantasy sports landscape in North Carolina was on the day of passage, in which our company and other companies like ours had been operating for years and offering fantasy contests.”

Lawmakers will have another meeting on Nov. 16. They will likely finalize sports betting regulations then. With these comments on the record, NC legislators could shift their thinking toward these games. However, it may be unlikely, with other markets already committing to similar bans.

Several Markets On Board To Ban Pick ‘EM Games

Alongside North Carolina, Wyoming, Colorado, Michigan, New York, and others have either banned or are working towards banning these games. Most recently, Arizona and Mississippi have begun questioning fantasy pick ’em games as well.

With so many markets looking at pick ’em games in a new and different light, NC may remain steadfast in its decision to move ahead with the rules as they are currently proposed, including the ban. These rules lay the groundwork for the eventual sports betting market in the state, which has to launch by June 14, 2024.