Scandal hits daily fantasy as DraftKings employee wins big on FanDuel

NYDailyNews ^ | October 5, 2015

[SMGFan]

At a time when many are wondering how the burgeoning business of daily fantasy sports is legal in most states, a scandal has broken out after a DraftKings employee won a large sum of money playing on rival site FanDuel.

According to a New York Times report, Ethan Haskell of DraftKings leaked data before the before the beginning Week 3 of the NFL showing which players were most used by participants in the site’s Millionaire Makers contest.

[SMGFan]

"games of skill"

Been tired of live copy ads read by Rush and Sean.

These two sites are taking in hundreds of millions a week.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

How is this not gambling?

People will gamble whether it's legal or not. I just don't see how this isn't classified as gambling.

[SMGFan]

There are a few sites explaining “why fantasy football is not gambling” bing/google search. But I think the reason is nonsense.

[Psalm 73]

"How is this not gambling?"

It is gambling, and far-removed from the actual game.
I don't gamble, I just like to watch football games - for the sport - remember when we would watch sports just for fun?

[Alberta's Child]

The article basically lays out the case for an "insider trading" scandal, in which employees of these sites use the information about their online leagues to get an advantage over regular competitors.

Personally. I think the real scandal will unfold when someone leaks the identities of NFL players who are involved in these games.

[jonascord]

Back when, past posting at someone else's book would get your knees broke, if you were lucky.

Speaking of which: Tell me this isn't an Outfit operation, like printed and video porn?

[ArcadeQuarters]

I’ll stick to the stock market.

[hadaclueonce]

Would someone please remind me why some gambling is illegal?

It is everywhere some even state sponsored.

Just who gets to pick an choose?

[mmichaels1970]

Ouch...Imagine if you had access and could mine the data from your biggest winners. You could let them do all the work and then compile and derive your lineup from the picks of your top 50 winners.

Very devious. I'd say they'd better get a handle on that or it could absolutely destroy their business. The initial seeds of destruction may have already been planted with this story. If they lose their credibility, they're done.

On a personal note, I jokingly take credit for the invention of fantasy sports. When I was a kid I used to bring my Strat-O-Matic cards into school all sorted by position. I would sell franchises for $5 or so. We would hold a draft where the kids would physically pick the cards to create their own deck.

Then I'd create a schedule, they'd set their lineups, and I'd go home and simulate the game by myself. I'd sit there alone in my room just rolling dice and updating a box score. Then I'd record the results and stats in my trusty Apple IIe computer and bring the printouts to school the next day. My desk at homeroom would be surrounded by about ten guys every day.

Not that anybody cares, but I always love finding an excuse to share that story.

[subterfuge]

Dishonest gamblers?! Gasp!!

[Mr. Jeeves]

I used to play that - APBA, too. Funny how those games were more satisfying than modern video games...because you had to use your imagination.

[X-spurt]

Fools and their money are soon departed.

Sort of like that fake money BitCoin thingy.

[mmichaels1970]

Funny how those games were more satisfying than modern video games...because you had to use your imagination.

Agreed! Nothing like sleeping out in a tent playing Strat-O-Matic and listening to KISS records with a buddy until the sun rose.

[mmichaels1970]

Sort of like that fake money BitCoin thingy.

I'm still making something like $0.25 a day on that.

[Night Hides Not]

I wonder how many millions were lost with that blown call in the Seattle game last night?

[SZonian]

[dfwgator]

Personally. I think the real scandal will unfold when someone leaks the identities of NFL players who are involved in these games.

It's inevitable.

[X-spurt]

Better than most.

Just think when you are 178, you’ll have a nice LITTLE nestegg.