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Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks are still offering daily fantasy sports Pick ‘Em games in New York despite approved rules that may potentially ban the games, but one DFS operator has already pulled out of the Empire State.
The New York State Gaming Commission unanimously finalized DFS rules earlier in the month, which likely includes a ban on Pick Em’ style games. The new DFS rules declare that “contests shall not be based on proposition betting and shall not have the effect of mimicking proposition betting.”
While Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks will continue to offer the Pick ‘Em games at the present in New York, Sleeper has already pulled all fantasy services out of the state.
DFS Rules May Ban Pick ‘Em Games
Last week, the gaming commission’s DFS rules were sent to the New York State Register and published with no amendments.
The criteria for DFS games are clearly laid out in the rules.
“These would include statutory standards as well as a requirement that contests shall not be based on proposition betting and shall not have the effect of mimicking proposition betting. Contests in which a contestant chooses whether an individual athlete or a single team will surpass an identified statistical achievement would be prohibited,” a paragraph of the approved rules reads.
Even with the newly approved rules, an Underdog Fantasy spokesperson told Saturday Down South that it has not received any order to shut its Pick ‘Em games down and will continue to offer them in New York.
“We will continue to work with the gaming commission to ensure we operate under the finalized fantasy sports rules,” the spokesperson said.
As of Monday, Oct. 23, PrizePicks is also still offering Pick ‘Em games in the state.
“The New York Gaming Commission staff have been terrific partners through this transition period to a new permanent licensing process. We remain in regular communication with them and will update our members as soon as we have more details to share,” the spokesperson told Saturday Down South.
One Operator Calls it Quits
Sleeper, a popular daily fantasy sports operator, pulled all of its DFS services from the state in the wake of the approved rules. New York is now listed on its “excluded states” list.
With the new DFS rules being approved in New York, @SleeperHQ no longer offers any DFS games in the Empire State. pic.twitter.com/KRBZvdIxhu
— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) October 23, 2023
Sleeper Pick ‘Em games are currently live in 27 states plus Washington, D.C. It offers draft DFS games in 28 states plus Washington, D.C.
Robert is an expert on sports betting in the United States, specifically the legalization process and regulation surrounding the industry.
