Fantasy Football

[Bob B.]

I'm not a big football guy, but I am a big Michigan State Spartans fan. I usually don't watch the games on TV, I follow them on the radio while I'm doing something else. I watch almost no NFL.

This past Saturday night, MSU played during prime time on ABC, and I watched the game. I was absolutely floored by the number of fantasy football ads that ran during the game.

The way I understood fantasy football was as an activity for a group of friends, or people at the work place. According to the number of ads during the game, it's big business that must generate tons of money. Apparently people pay in a couple hundred dollars to be part of a league, presumably against several thousand people. They have the chance of winning the big jack pot - tens of thousands of dollars up to a million or millions? Truly a lottery mindset, with some skill at picking the right players sprinkled in.

Is anyone here part of that scene? Or do you know people who are?

[bjl584]

Several people that I know are big time into it. Some do it for fun, but others are wagering real money.

I've never gotten that into it. I like sports, but I typically don't gamble on them. About the most I'll do is buy a few blocks on a Super Bowl pool.

I never really got into the whole fantasy scene. I'm too busy to tinker around with a lineup.

[97guns]

This is my second year playing, I play in a league not the weekly fantasy you see on TV commercials. It's actually a lot of fun and I got hooked from winning my league last year but then again I'm a gambler and gamble on some kind of sports game nightly. The got Denver and Louisville tonight

[QuarterMillionMan]

Sports betting is my one of my favorite gambling activity. However, I haven't tried fantasy sports due to not knowing the players involved well enough. Unfortunately for me legal sports betting can only be done while physically in Las Vegas. Off shore betting sites would gladly be willing to accept my money but hesitant make those bets.

BTW 97guns good call on the Broncos.

[BuckyBadger]

I'm in two fantasy leagues, but nothing like the stuff they're advertising on TV, like Draft Kings and whatnot.

My leagues are just 10-12 teams with old friends and coworkers. No buy-in, no prizes for winning except bragging rights.

My husband and I love it. We watch almost all the games anyway, and fantasy makes even pointless games entertaining to watch.

[97guns]

BTW 97guns good call on the Broncos.

Took a real beating last weekend going 2 for 8 in both college and pro and I'm off to an 0-2 start in my fantasy league but as a gambler you keep plugging along because a winning streak will come. Its been a strange start to the pro season, lots of injuries and the jets are 2-0

[MakeAStash]

When Congress granted fantasy sports, deemed a game of skill, an exemption from online gambling restrictions it did not anticipate the invention of daily fantasy games. Daily games involve far more luck than do season-long games, and therefore huge profits are available to the games' providers.

[corn18]

When Congress granted fantasy sports, deemed a game of skill, an exemption from online gambling restrictions it did not anticipate the invention of daily fantasy games. Daily games involve far more luck than do season-long games, and therefore huge profits are available to the games' providers.

You nailed it. The stuff they advertise on TV is just another form of gambling. I have nothing against gambling. I like to play blackjack in Vegas. But I think they should tax the snot out of it and give it to education.

[Bob B.]

When Congress granted fantasy sports, deemed a game of skill, an exemption from online gambling restrictions it did not anticipate the invention of daily fantasy games. Daily games involve far more luck than do season-long games, and therefore huge profits are available to the games' providers.

Thanks for that explanation. I would guess you're spot on.