Emails sent to the Wyoming Gaming Commission from a lobbyist associated with the market-leading sportsbooks indicate a concerted effort to oust DFS competitors. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Influential regulatory bodies
David Pickard, a lobbyist associated with the sports betting alliance that includes FanDuel and DraftKings, appears to have influenced Wyoming regulators to order daily fantasy sports (DFS) brands including Underdog Fantasy and PricePicks to cease and desist operating in the state in July.
OSW is illegal in Wyoming
Legal sports report He cites emails between Pickard and Wyoming Gaming Commission (WGC) Executive Director Charles Moore, the first in February titled “Illegal OSW in Wyoming.”
In the email, Pickard listed Underdog and PricePicks along with their mailing addresses as violating state laws for offering “exact view bets available at licensed and regulated Wyoming sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings.”
Pickard accused the likes of Underdog of offering player prop betting under the guise of DFS contests and that “what they offer is indistinguishable from sports betting”.
Pressure on WGC?
Five months after the February email, the World Gold Council ordered Underdog and PricePicks to cease and desist. However, a sign of Pickard’s influence on the DFS war in Wyoming comes from emails LSR cites Moore sending lobbyists In March and April.
“We are close to resolving this matter and the message is ready to be sent.”
In the first letter, Moore thanks the veteran political strategist for his patience waiting for the WGC’s letters to Underdog and PricePicks, which say a final draft will be coming soon. On April 21, Moore sent an apology letter to Pickard, saying: “Dave, just an FYI, we’re almost done with this and the letter is ready to send.” […] Sorry for the delay.”
Pickard was a direct representative for FanDuel and DraftKings from 2018 until 2022, when he switched his affiliation to the Sports Betting Alliance.
LSR He cites further evidence from a July 6 email Moore sent to Pickard, in which the WGC executive included copies of cease-and-desist orders sent to Underdog and PricePicks the day before.
Jeremy Levin, CEO of Underdog, recently said that the lobbying actions of the two largest sports companies in the United States are an “open secret.”
Eight states since July
FanDuel’s head of government relations, Cesar Hernandez, at the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States earlier this summer did much to ignite the statewide war on DFS.
Hernandez told the conference that there are companies “pretending to be fantasy sports operators […] “Operating illegal sportsbooks”
Whether it’s Hernandez scaring off state regulators, lobbying Picard, or something else, he’s successful. On Tuesday, the state of Maine ordered Underdog to cease operations, fining it $391,850 in the process. Maine’s action sees eight states ban or restrict Pick’em DFS contests since July.
