Will US DFS players turn to sports betting?

The US Supreme Court has deemed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unlawful by a 7-2 majority decision to allow New Jersey to implement sports betting legislation.

Chris Christie’s crowning moment is just the beginning as several other states will follow suit and they include Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Mississippi. These states will implement legal frameworks to regulate sports betting and it seems there are another 18 states watching developments closely.

The US regulated sports betting market is set to be worth $6bn annually by 2023, with only a few first-mover states participating.

We’ll also start to see the impact of the more mature UK sportsbook market over here. UK bettors can wager on almost anything and it’s going to be fascinating seeing these bespoke markets being introduced into sports like NFL. Instead of the number of throw-ins, yellow cards or goals in match segments there will be US versions on the number of offensive yards for a particular player or the number of fumbles in the third quarter.

Will DFS players turn to betting?

DFS tactics have paved the way for US bettors by requiring users to develop an in-depth knowledge of professional players and teams. Data analytics are vital in gaining returns on betting investments.

Introducing legal sports betting into American sports will see a shift in user personalities as people see the ease and upside of betting. At RotoQL we see it as creating a “middle class” of sports bettors — described as part-timers who fluctuate between breaking-even and expecting some longevity from their deposits.

Those users who are serious about sports wagers will have a need for analytics just like DFS players, and there could be opportunities for operators willing to provide analytics and insights to customers whether on page as often seen with UK horse races, or dedicated betting blogs and multimedia content.

As more US sports fans turn their attention to legal betting it will bring rich rewards to those UK facing operators looking at expansion. This will rely on product quality as well as understanding local trends and this can be achieved with strategic partnerships which we’re already beginning to see.

New Jersey’s Monmouth Park racetrack has made inroads with its partnership with UK bookmaker William Hill. Paddy Power Betfair is considering merging its US business with fantasy sports company FanDuel to target the US sports betting market.

This week’s US Supreme Court ruling will change the sports gambling landscape immeasurably and the operators who understand how it will affect US sports bettors are the best placed to succeed.

Justin Park is the co-founder and CEO of RotoQL, a US DFS data analytics platform