Photos taken at Las Vegas.
After receiving a cease-and-desist order from the Florida Gaming Control Commission for operating player-prop-style games against state regulations, PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy have resumed operations in Florida with new legally compliant ‘peer-to-peer’ gaming formats
After receiving a cease-and-desist order from the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy, two operators in the daily fantasy sports (DFS) industry, have resumed operations in Florida with a new, legally compliant format.
Both companies were ordered to halt their traditional player-prop-style DFS games after the FGCC deemed them to be against state gambling regulations.
Both companies informed their Florida customers of their return through emails on Monday, introducing new ‘peer-to-peer’ games. Underdog Fantasy rolled out “Pick ‘Em Champions,” and PrizePicks launched “Arena.” The games differ from previous offerings because they allow players to compete against each other rather than betting against the house, which aligns with Florida’s legal requirements.
Peer-to-peer contests are skill-based competitions where outcomes are determined by players’ decisions, not by odds from the operators. According to the companies, this model fits within Florida’s legal definition of acceptable gaming because it avoids elements typical of traditional gambling.
The FGCC informed PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and a third company yet to re-appear, Betr, on January 31 that they have 30 days to halt their operations in Florida or face potential legal action from the state Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The orders specifically targeted the “pick’em” style games offered by these companies, which the FGCC argued violates Florida’s gambling laws. Such games allow players to wager on whether their chosen sports teams will score above or below a point threshold set by the…
