Should Fantasy Sports Be Considered Gambling?

Unlike the UK casinos online and sportsbooks allowed in a regulated market, the current climate in the United States is heavily anti-gambling. Only a few select states can offer casino and sports betting locations to players at the present time. However, the use of real money placed on fantasy sports is one such form of entertainment that passes through the confusing legislative loophole.

While they may be legal for now, fantasy sports are facing renewed investigation from US lawmakers. The main question regarding sites offering fantasy sports is whether the activity is actually gambling. In short, the popular answer is “maybe.”

First and foremost, fantasy sports rely on the individual conducting research on players and developing a strategy to earn the most points. Since the system does not rely completely on chance, many fantasy sports enthusiasts would argue that the games are based on skill and do not constitute gambling.

New York is one of many states in which elected lawmakers have said the fantasy sports scheme has no difference from a traditional casino game like slots or poker. In reality, there are numerous sites available to certain US players that already offer games with real money bets. These sites, of course, are heavily regulated and require licensing. Fans of fantasy sports say the same regulatory process should be used instead of an outright ban.

Fantasy sports and gambling have drawn comparisons, but the real similarities between the two are difficult to identify. As a result, the legislation concerning gambling finds itself in a gray area when it comes to fantasy sports. Current laws in the United States offer no real solution to how fantasy sports sites are classified. This issue is gaining more exposure now more than ever due to statistics showing that over 50 million individuals played fantasy sports in 2017.

Participation in fantasy sports is especially popular in the professional leagues of American football (NFL), basketball (NBA), and baseball (MLB). Fantasy players present the argument that these leagues are the primary focus of the game, instead of straightforward gambling. However, legislators contend that the game is just skirting around the issue of winning and losing money based on risk.

The strongest argument on the side of lawmakers in the US is that fantasy sports, like gambling, can lead to an addiction. Players who are constantly obsessing over fantasy points and losing large amounts of money show the same warning signs as a gambling addict. Therefore, politicians are adamant about the sites providing these games undergoing the proper regulation.