DraftKings launches pick’em-style game across six US states
Boston-headquartered operator returns to DFS roots with contest-style game despite continued regulatory scrutiny of sector across US
DraftKings has unveiled a new Pick6 game, a peer-to-peer fantasy sports variant geared around a “more or less” mechanic based on individual player statistics.
The game has been launched in six US states initially: Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, with more expected to follow.
At first, the Pick6 game will be based on player picks for NFL and NBA contests and will see users pay an entry fee that is pooled as prize money and distributed among winning players. A user with the most correct selections versus their fellow players will win an amount of money depending on their entry and the size of the contest concerned.
Users build lineups of two to six players from two or more teams, choosing more or less of a statistic for every athlete on their team.
Users will soon in time be able to utilize a “My Picks” functionality which allows for the monitoring of submitted, live, and finalized picks, as well as editing, depositing, and real-time performance tracking.
“For the past decade, DraftKings has defined innovation in fantasy sports,” DraftKings chief product officer Corey Gottlieb said in a press release confirming the launch.
“Pick6 is the next great example of that innovation – this is a homegrown, peer-to-peer product that taps into our customers’ desire for fun, simple-to-play experiences tied to their favorite athletes.
“We are excited to give our customers another way to experience live sports by competing against each other,” the CPO added.
DraftKings successfully filed a trademark application with the US Patents and Trademark Office for the Pick6 game in October, having previously filed a trademark application for “DraftKings Cashpicks” in May.
DraftKings recently came under the spotlight for its criticism of pick’em-style games offered by rival operators Betr, Sleeper, Prize Picks, and Underdog Fantasy.
Such pick’em games are similar in nature to the Pick6 game, however, they differ in that players play against the house rather than each other as with Pick6.
This criticism has taken the form of questions to regulators on the pick’em vertical and whether it constitutes a form of sports betting, with DraftKings and rival operator FanDuel perceived by the newer DFS operators as using lobbying tactics to squeeze them out of the market.
This activity has seen regulators in Maine, Wyoming, New York, Michigan, Colorado, and North Carolina debate and in some cases exclude pick’em-style contests from approved fantasy sports contest lists.
The harshening stance towards pick’em games has also seen “cease and desist” letters issued to operators including Underdog across several jurisdictions.
Underdog launched its own peer-to-peer pick’em-style DFS contest “Pick’em Champions” in November.
DraftKings has also confirmed the impending launch of a “Progressive Parlay” functionality within its sports betting product, having filed for the additional trademark in October.
Progressive Parlay is a regulated sports betting wager made against the house that involves placing a parlay bet on player props with a chance to win even if one or more legs of the parlay lose.