NYT: Scandal Erupts in Unregulated World of Fantasy Sports

[SeoulSoxFan]

O/U was 4 weeks after the first kick-off: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/sports/fanduel-draftkings-fantasy-employees-bet-rivals.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur
 

A major scandal is erupting in the multibillion-dollar industry of fantasy sports, the online and unregulated business in which players assemble their fantasy teams with real athletes. On Monday, the two major fantasy companies were forced to release statements defending their businesses’ integrity after what amounted to allegations of insider trading, that employees were placing bets using information not generally available to the public.
 

 

The data that DraftKings acknowledged was released by its employee, Ethan Haskell, showed which particular players were most used in all lineups submitted to the site’s Millionaire Maker contests. Usually, that data is not released until the lineups for all games are finalized. Getting it early, however, is of great advantage in making tactical decisions, especially when an entrant’s opponents do not have the information at all.

 
Good move Commish! Oh, about that integrity thing...

Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Robert K. Kraft of the New England Patriots have stakes in DraftKings, which recently struck a three-year deal with the N.F.L. to become a partner of the league’s International Series in Britain, where sports betting is legal. In addition, DraftKings has tapped hundreds of millions of dollars from Fox Sports, and FanDuel has raised similar amounts from investors like Comcast, NBC and KKR.

 
Yup. Pats fault, again.

 

[twothousandone]

Are NFL players compensated for (or does the CBA cover) the use of their names and on field performance? How far is fantasy sports from O'Bannon?

 

[Joshv02]

Its a bit of a fools game - lots of fishes, a few whales, and sharks (that are now using automated trading functions).  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-10/you-aren-t-good-enough-to-win-money-playing-daily-fantasy-football 

 

[P'tucket rhymes with...]

 

Yup. Pats fault, again.

 

You don't think the fact that some of the NFL owners have skin in the game should be in the article?

 

[soxfan121]

Already being discussed here. 

 

[Stitch01]

This is way more than four weeks after the first kickoff for these buys, but yeah, ownership data being available to employees and allowing employees to play on other sites is bad.  These guys are on the fast track to killing the golden goose this season.

 

[j44thor]

Already being discussed here. 

 
But why is it in the media forum?  I looked all over for this last night and ultimately had to visit Soxhop page since I knew he started the thread.  This should probably be in the fantasy sports forum since it is solely about fantasy sports.  I could also see it in the BBTL forum since the controversy and hype is squarely around the NFL.  
 
This should probably be in P&G before the media forum unless we are going to start putting all news stories in the media forum.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

 
But why is it in the media forum?  I looked all over for this last night and ultimately had to visit Soxhop page since I knew he started the thread.  This should probably be in the fantasy sports forum since it is solely about fantasy sports.  I could also see it in the BBTL forum since the controversy and hype is squarely around the NFL.  
 
This should probably be in P&G before the media forum unless we are going to start putting all news stories in the media forum.

 
Missed it in the Media forum, and thought of starting it in the P&G before posting it here. I'd be happy to move it to P&G if folks wish.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

 
But why is it in the media forum? 

 
Because soxhop!