Power Conferences To DraftKings, FanDuel: Knock Off Fantasy College Football
Dustin Gouker, September 20, 2015
he five power conferences in college football have sent letters to DraftKings and FanDuel, asking them to discontinue daily fantasy sports based on college games, according to reports on social media.
What we know about the letter
The information trickled out over Twitter, after Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott spoke with the media at halftime of the college football game between USC and Stanford. Fox Sports writerStewart Mandel broke the news:
Stewart Mandel
✔@slmandel
Speaking at halftime, Larry Scott says the Power 5 commissioners have sent letters to FanDuel and DraftKings asking to stop college games.
12:09 AM - 20 Sep 2015
Stewart Mandel
✔@slmandel
Scott also says the conference network will not air any daily fantasy ads.
12:10 AM - 20 Sep 2015
Scott was speaking on behalf of his conference, along with the SEC, the Big Ten, the Big 12 and the ACC. The text of the letter is not yet published online, nor does it appear that it will be.
A spokesperson from the Southeastern Conference confirmed the content of the letter with Legal Sports Report, but said the text was not available. “I can confirm Commissioner [Greg] Sankey signed the letter referenced by Commissioner Scott along with the other commissioners,” the spokesperson said.
The letter and Scott’s statement came soon after Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby referred to DFS as gambling. It’s also of note that DraftKings and FanDuel are not the only sites offering fantasy football based on college games; several second-tier sites do as well.
Legal Sports Report reached out to both FanDuel and DraftKings late Saturday night, to see if either site had an official response. Neither had an official comment, so far.
Does this mean anything?
In reality, it seems like the letters will likely not result in any changes. Scott apparently admitted as much in his comments:
Ryan Kartje
✔@Ryan_Kartje
Scott said the Pac-12 wrote a letter to FanDuel and DraftKings to ask them to stop utilizing college game. But does he expect response? "No"
12:35 AM - 20 Sep 2015
Stewart Mandel
✔@slmandel
Scott also says the conference network will not air any daily fantasy ads.
12:10 AM - 20 Sep 2015
While advertising on the conferences’ networks is cheaper than paying for commercials on major college football broadcasts, it’s likely not going to cause DraftKings or FanDuel to lose much sleep. The sites have a multitude of options for advertising, and college football generates little revenue for either site. (Their college football advertising on other TV outlets, however, has a lot of cross-over appeal for its NFL offerings.)
If either DraftKings or FanDuel wanted to generate a little bit of good will heading into apossible Congressional hearing, they could certainly consider stopping their college fantasy contests.
But DraftKings and FanDuel have remained steadfast in saying that daily fantasy sports is not gambling — and that appears to be the main cause of concern for the conferences. That means the DFS sites are unlikely to give in to the conferences’ wishes.
Dustin Gouker, September 20, 2015
he five power conferences in college football have sent letters to DraftKings and FanDuel, asking them to discontinue daily fantasy sports based on college games, according to reports on social media.
What we know about the letter
The information trickled out over Twitter, after Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott spoke with the media at halftime of the college football game between USC and Stanford. Fox Sports writerStewart Mandel broke the news:
Stewart Mandel ✔@slmandel
Speaking at halftime, Larry Scott says the Power 5 commissioners have sent letters to FanDuel and DraftKings asking to stop college games.
12:09 AM - 20 Sep 2015
Stewart Mandel ✔@slmandel
Scott also says the conference network will not air any daily fantasy ads.
12:10 AM - 20 Sep 2015
Scott was speaking on behalf of his conference, along with the SEC, the Big Ten, the Big 12 and the ACC. The text of the letter is not yet published online, nor does it appear that it will be.
A spokesperson from the Southeastern Conference confirmed the content of the letter with Legal Sports Report, but said the text was not available. “I can confirm Commissioner [Greg] Sankey signed the letter referenced by Commissioner Scott along with the other commissioners,” the spokesperson said.
The letter and Scott’s statement came soon after Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby referred to DFS as gambling. It’s also of note that DraftKings and FanDuel are not the only sites offering fantasy football based on college games; several second-tier sites do as well.
Legal Sports Report reached out to both FanDuel and DraftKings late Saturday night, to see if either site had an official response. Neither had an official comment, so far.
Does this mean anything?
In reality, it seems like the letters will likely not result in any changes. Scott apparently admitted as much in his comments:
Ryan Kartje ✔@Ryan_Kartje
Scott said the Pac-12 wrote a letter to FanDuel and DraftKings to ask them to stop utilizing college game. But does he expect response? "No"
12:35 AM - 20 Sep 2015
Stewart Mandel ✔@slmandel
Scott also says the conference network will not air any daily fantasy ads.
12:10 AM - 20 Sep 2015
While advertising on the conferences’ networks is cheaper than paying for commercials on major college football broadcasts, it’s likely not going to cause DraftKings or FanDuel to lose much sleep. The sites have a multitude of options for advertising, and college football generates little revenue for either site. (Their college football advertising on other TV outlets, however, has a lot of cross-over appeal for its NFL offerings.)
If either DraftKings or FanDuel wanted to generate a little bit of good will heading into apossible Congressional hearing, they could certainly consider stopping their college fantasy contests.
But DraftKings and FanDuel have remained steadfast in saying that daily fantasy sports is not gambling — and that appears to be the main cause of concern for the conferences. That means the DFS sites are unlikely to give in to the conferences’ wishes.
