So, I just joined Draft Kings...

[Brian Fein]

We've all seen the really hard marketing push that these sites Draft Kings and Fan Duel have been putting on about getting people to join.  So, I thought, "I like fantasy football, I know something about it, let me take a stab."

I can already tell you, I find this more fun than my standard 16-years-running league.

The premise is exactly what ESPN Gridiron challenge was, minus the week-to-week carryover of locking in guys you had the last week and going over the cap.  You pick a team, stay under the cap, but you clearly cannot just pick all studs.  The salary table prevents it.  You have to take 2-3 sleepers in your lineup.

That's what makes it fun.  The people who win appear to be largely the people who guess the right sleepers.  I have 3 different lineups now in 4 different contests on Sunday, and I spent a total of $10.  I could potentially win 2 million.  But, in one of them, they pay the top 125,700 scoring teams, so even if you don't score 1st place, you can still walk away with some dough.

There are other leagues that cost $3-5 to join and have 3-5 entrants, and the winner takes $15-20.  You only have to beat 2 other buffoons for make cash.  I joined 2 like this.

I am giving this a shot for this week.  What's the worst that could happen?  I have burned $10 on dumber things.  And you never know, maybe Bishop Sankey blows up Cleveland for 3 TD's and I get some real cash out of it.

Anyone else playing Draft Kings?

[Tenshot13]

No, but I might after your explanation.

[Dolphster]

I just joined Fan Duel last week.  I had never played fantasy football before and didn't know a single thing about it.  But if I had known how simple it is, I would have done it years ago.  I don't foresee myself getting really all geeky into it, but it does make watching games more interesting. 

[Dave Gray]

I can already tell you, I find this more fun than my standard 16-years-running league.

That's 'cause your team sucks.  Go Stingers!

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Being from AZ I am unable to join these leagues. Online gambling is banned here for some goofy ass reason that I am unable to explain!!!!!

[Dave Gray]

^ Gambling makes baby Jesus cry.  Also why I couldn't buy a six back of beer at 11:30 last Sunday.  It pissed me off so bad.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

^ We used to not be able to purchase alcohol before 10:00am on Sundays as well....not sure if that is still the case because I have a kegerator so generally I am not looking to buy beer at the corner store much anymore!!!!

[Brian Fein]

Update:
In my first week on the site, I won $38.50 in cash.  I spent a total of $10 to enter.

I don't feel like it is gambling.  There is a skill involved.  You must be able to accurately predict the outcome of football games.  Sure it sounds like gambling, but they call it a contest and I buy it.  It is a contest to see who can create the best lineup.

[MikeO]

Update:
In my first week on the site, I won $38.50 in cash.  I spent a total of $10 to enter.

I don't feel like it is gambling.  There is a skill involved.  You must be able to accurately predict the outcome of football games.  Sure it sounds like gambling, but they call it a contest and I buy it.  It is a contest to see who can create the best lineup.

It's no different than buying stocks and the stock market. Buy stocks at a low price (aka find a sleeper of a player) hope they perform and you get a return on your investment

[Dave Gray]

I don't feel like it is gambling.  There is a skill involved.  You must be able to accurately predict the outcome of football games. 

This made me laugh. 

Q: Hey, do you gamble?
A: No, of course not.  But I do have $50 on the prediction on the outcome of the Colts beating the Falcons minus 7 1/2.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

This made me laugh. 

Q: Hey, do you gamble?
A: No, of course not.  But I do have $50 on the prediction on the outcome of the Colts beating the Falcons minus 7 1/2.

the courts have ruled that is gambling,  but fantasy sports isn't.   I don't see the difference myself. Both are gambling,  but this allows one of them to be legal

[MikeO]

the courts have ruled that is gambling,  but fantasy sports isn't.   I don't see the difference myself. Both are gambling,  but this allows one of them to be legal

The difference is with Fantasy Sports one players performance within the game doesn't directly effect the outcome of the game (yes if a guy misses a FG with 2 seconds left and his team loses it directly effects the outcome but the 3 and 1/2 quarters before that missed kick happened took place and there is no way to predict beforehand that this one player (the kicker for this one example) will be in that position with the game on the line). That's how its not gambling in the eyes of the law.

While strictly betting on game outcomes (gambling) all parties involved  with the game from Ref's to players know prior to the game if they tank for the entire game or called penalties on one team more than the other there is a better chance their team (or in the case of ref's one team) will lose. And that's why gambling on games is illegal in almost every state and why players can play fantasy sports but not gamble on game outcomes even in legal areas.

I'm not saying it makes total sense or I agree with it, just saying that is the difference

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

That is not the rationale,  the claim is picking a lineup involves skill, picking which team will win doesn't.

Here is an interesting rub, based on what I have read, including a team defense for scoring vs just having only players makes it illegal.

[Spider-Dan]

Congress wrote the anti-internet-gambling law in such a way that fantasy sports are specifically exempted as "games of skill."

The idea that daily fantasy sports are "games of skill" but poker is "gambling" is hilarious to me, but we all know the real reason why the definitions were worded that way: casino money in the pockets of politicians.

[MikeO]

That is not the rationale,  the claim is picking a lineup involves skill, picking which team will win doesn't.

Here is an interesting rub, based on what I have read, including a team defense for scoring vs just having only players makes it illegal.

It exactly is the rational you are 100% wrong. Picking various players from various games cannot effect the outcome of 1 specific game. Hence it doesn't compare to "gambling" (gambling as we have known it for years)

Sorry if you don't believe it but its true and totally correct