DraftKings forced to withdraw Pick6 fantasy format in Maryland
Peer-to-peer player prop product was available for around two weeks in the state before the regulator ordered it be taken down
Maryland has had a change of heart over DraftKings’ Pick6 product, just weeks after giving the Boston-headquartered firm the green light to launch in the state.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said that despite initially approving the product, it has since decided that the format violates state regulations.
DraftKings was the only operator to launch a pick’em-style offering in Maryland, with PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy steering clear of the state.
The launch in the Old Line State was included in DraftKings’ initial six-state rollout of Pick6, a format where users choose between two and six player prop bets.
Like its salary cap contests, DraftKings’ product is peer-to-peer, as opposed to the more controversial against-the-house pick’em games that have been accused by some of being player prop betting masquerading as DFS.
But despite this, the operator sent a message to its Pick6 players that the game is now unavailable. DraftKings peer to peer gaming director Jonathan Aguiar also confirmed the Maryland exit on social media.
Aguiar tweeted: “Unfortunately, we’ve had to stop offering Pick6 in Maryland at this time, we hope this will change in the future.”
Seth Elkin, Maryland Lottery and Gaming spokesperson, confirmed in a statement the decision to order pick’em-style games be withdrawn.
He said: “Maryland’s sports wagering law has a broad definition of wager types that are considered sports wagering as opposed to daily fantasy sports. As a result, there are competitions that may be permitted under the DFS laws and regulations in other jurisdictions, but aren’t permitted here.”
Elkin went on to explain that for a product to be considered part of its sports betting law, it must include one of the following: single-game bets; teaser bets; parlays; over-unders; moneylines; pools; exchange wagering; in-game wagering; in-play bets; proposition bets; and straight bets.
Elkin added: “If a competition has any of these components, it’s defined in Maryland as sports wagering and is not permitted as a DFS offering. It can only be made available by a licensed online sports wagering platform or facility.”
DraftKings’ Pick6 game is still available in 16 states, including Minnesota, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
The operator also recently launched Pick6 in California, although the state’s attorney general is expected to take a look at the legality of pick’em-style fantasy sports.
Pick’em-style games have emerged this year as a new regulatory battleground in the US. Last week, the Virginia Attorney General weighed in on the topic, insisting that it is a form of sports betting.
Jason S. Miyares said the variant constituted sports betting as defined in Virgina, although his comments have no legal weighting against operators offering the product.