Q:
Daily Fantasy Sports has been in the news a lot recently, but what does this purportedly billion-dollar business mean to you personally, if anything? (Check as many options as apply, and feel free to email us an explanation.)
A:
1115 Total Votes
| What is "Fantasy Sports"? I’ve never even heard of it. |
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| I bet real sports but I have zero interest in these fantasy games. DFS is strictly for the geeks and kids. |
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| I’ve seen TV and online ads for companies like FanDuel and DraftKings, but I don’t really know what they’re selling. |
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| I enjoy playing the season-long fantasy sports leagues with my buddies, but I’m not interested in Daily Fantasy Sports, which is a whole different animal. |
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| Is DFS even legal? Or regulated? Until I know it’s a totally legit and secure, I’m steering clear of this -- I don’t need to risk any assets getting frozen etc. as poker players did. |
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| I’m definitely interested in the concept of DFS, but I don’t feel I have the knowledge or expertise to take part with any competence. If I had more insight into how it all works and knew there was a strategy that could help me compete, I’d be much more likely to play. |
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| From what I’ve heard, the house takes out 10 percent or more, which I think is too much. |
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| OTHER - please email us what! |
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| I would be interested in playing DFS, but I don’t understand the rules, what’s required to get started, or the procedure for opening an account. |
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| I play DFS occasionally, but haven’t made up my mind if I’ll continue or increase my involvement in the future. |
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| I’ve played DFS in the past, but didn’t like it. (Why? Too time consuming? Expensive? Something else?) |
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| I play DFS regularly and will continue to do so. |
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| I’m a dedicated DFS fan. I predict that this is just the beginning and DFS is going to be HUGE -- maybe bigger than online poker. |
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Analysis
This survey certainly yielded some interesting results, of which we've taken note. That the biggest vote went to the "I've never heard of DFS" option isn't such a surprise, in spite of the escalating predictions of how much this industry could be worth, potentially, and how many millions of people are involved in playing already. For anyone who's curious, the good news is that Huntington Press has a new title in the works, from a veteran national news and sports journalist, which will answer all your queries about the history and nature of Daily Fantasy Sports, while also providing some typical HP-style insight into how to optimize your play. For now, however, here's your take on this subject, or at least some representative samples of same:
- "Sounds like fun, glad others enjoy it, but given that I don't follow football that closely, I have zero interest." [Ed: Can't say fairer than that!]
- "Other then an occasional pre-season prop bet I don't bet sports, either live or online, as I feel the whole system is rigged. I definitely would not waste the time or funds for these online sites."
- "I have no desire to get involved in any fantasy sports. I don't ever bet on sports, either. I just love watching it. I don't want the stress of losing money to ruin my fun and festive mood while watching the games!"
- "I know exactly what DFS is, but have never had the urge to play. Surprised this wasn't an option on the poll. I have done live sports betting, but only occasionally on my home teams (and only the tame win/lose bets). It seems like you need to have way too much up-to-date info to have a chance to make it profitable, I just can't see wasting my time and energy on it."
- "I've got just enough time for the season-long fantasy leagues. WAY too busy for daily leagues."
- "I have heard of fantasy sports, but not daily."
- "I have no interest in sports betting, be it real, or fantasy."
- "I'm aware of DFS and could enjoy it but at the moment my interest is not strong enough to get me involved." [Ed: Our new book could be just the thing to change that!]
- "Boomer 55 here. I enjoy sports more when wagers are involved and have for decades. Confession: sometimes spent too much time handicapping. Avoided FS for lack of time. Retired summer '14. Joined golf buddies' 2014 fantasy football leagues As I'd feared, spent waaay too much time on it. Learned much tho, enjoyed & won. Another golf buddy got pink-slipped. Weekly hh group bankrolled him. He studied and played DFS for us. Followed online or got updates at hh. Didn't prosper, but enjoyed. Have determined the following: To invest large sums in DFS over the long term, one needs competitive advantage (as in any sports wagering). Advantage comes from better analysis of data/stats and better data (#of variables considered, beat-reporter updates, etc). Not a techy/programmer and not willing to turn DFS into a job, so I'll treat it like all sports wagering: Allot a % of discretionary income and time to it, play small, enjoy games, hope to get lucky, and spend time on what's important -- people and short game."
- "No interest whatsoever. I don't bet the sports book at all, though the cheap hot dogs are tasty! I am a slots and/or video poker player, period. Sorry." [Ed: It's okay, no apology necessary!]
- "I don't have any interest in betting on sports (outside of football pools) but I wanted to respond to today's poll." [Ed: Hello and thanks! Was that all?!]
- "Just not interested in it.
- "I live in Arizona, one of the states where pay for play Fantasy Sports is illegal. While friends and associates play in informal fantasy leagues for money here, you can't join a national syndicate site and win prize money. Even if I wanted to join a DFS or season site, I couldn't."
- "I don't wager on invisible cards, dice, or players."
- "I see the DFS spots all of the time - can't miss them. I have been in a Fantasy Football League with the same core group of guys since 1990. The investment is minimal and we have fun doing it. I have seen too many articles about people for whom this is a full-time job and/or run spreadsheets and more on what players to pick. I know my stuff but I can't invest 26 hours per day looking up everything. I never have done anything DFS-related and doubt I ever will."
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