Winning Money at Daily Fantasy Sports Is a Long Shot
The odds of bringing home big bucks aren't in your favor.

Anyone who watches professional football on TV has likely seen the commercials for DraftKings or FanDuel, the two biggest companies in the growing industry of one-day fantasy sports. The ads make fantasy games sound easy. Select a sport, pay an entry fee (typically $1 to $20) and choose a lineup of players based on who you think will perform well in that day’s real-life games. Assemble a better team than your competitors, and you stand to win a jackpot of hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
But with beginners facing off against elite players, chances are you won’t be the next “regular guy” holding a giant check on TV between quarters. About 70% of daily fantasy players broke even or lost money over the past year, according to Eilers Research, a gaming research firm.
Daily fantasy is considered a game of skill, which currently exempts it from a federal law prohibiting sports gambling. That may change. The FBI and the Justice Department are investigating, and class-action suits have cried "foul." Six states already label daily fantasy as gambling—including Nevada, whose gaming commission sets the tone for regulators nationwide.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Ryan joined Kiplinger in the fall of 2013. He wrote and fact-checked stories that appeared in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and on Kiplinger.com. He previously interned for the CBS Evening News investigative team and worked as a copy editor and features columnist at the GW Hatchet. He holds a BA in English and creative writing from George Washington University.
-
Four Surprising Signs You’ll Never Retire (and How to Fix Them)
Gearing up to retire? If any of these four signs ring true, you may want to make some changes before you do.
-
Stocks Rise After Trump-Powell Fed Tour: Stock Market Today
Nvidia hit a new all-time high intraday, but another renowned semiconductor name and some less iconic stocks were bigger movers Friday.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online Bargains
Feature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up. Here's what you need to know.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
-
When Is Amazon Prime Day? Everything We Know, Plus the Best Deals on Apple, Samsung and More
Amazon Prime Amazon Prime Day is four days this year. Here are the key details you need to know, plus some of our favorite deals to shop during the sale.
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage Rate
Becoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.