S02.E34: Daily Fantasy

[formerlyfreedom]

Daily fantasy sports sites claim they are not gambling enterprises, but they seem awfully…gamblish. If only their ads were more truthful.

[Jediknight]

John forgot one huge thing about Daily Fantasy Sports, and that's the insider trading stuff that's been going down.  That's what has caused this huge push to take down FanDuel and DraftKings.  It came out that someone with access to data at one of the sites, played at another site, and used the data to win over $300,00.  And that person isn't the only one that's done it.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Jediknight

[attica]

And still, Janice from Accounting doesn't give a fuck. Hee!

[Primetimer]

You too could turn $1200 into $6.18!

Read the story

[dcalley]

I think I may have seen a DraftKings ad once. Sounds like I've been lucky. I should buy a lottery ticket! :)

Here's more on the employees of the two companies being allowed to bet/play/whatever at the other company, and how that has recently come to an end:

DraftKings and the rival site FanDuel have acknowledged that their employees — many of whom regularly rank among the most consistent big winners — have played and won significant money on each other’s sites.

A FanDuel spokeswoman has said that DraftKings employees have won less than $10 million on FanDuel. In the wake of allegations concerning the use of insider information, the websites barred their employees from competing in daily fantasy sports.

Bold is mine because I wanted to say that the internet says DraftKings has 200-500 employees. Yeah.

I liked how this Janice from Accounting was slightly different: She don't give a fuck about sports.

 

[peeayebee]

Mike Birbiglia's segment in that fake commercial was the best.

 

And still, Janice from Accounting doesn't give a fuck. Hee!

This never fails to crack me up.

 

John's speech about the Paris terrorists was just right.

[Sharpie66]

That fake commercial really hit home for me. I know someone who, decades ago, was married to a gambling addict. Soon after she had their son, the police came to their front door looking for him (he was kiting checks). He had told her to lie to the cops and went and hid. She opened the door, and with all the utter exhaustion and had-it-up-to-here-with-the-jerk feelings in her face, she looked at the cop, told him, "He's hiding in the bedroom closet," and then after they left with him, she packed up her stuff and moved back home with her parents after filing for divorce.

 

I sort of smiled ruefully at the commercial, but it got almost painful to watch by the end of the credits.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Sharpie66

[Victor the Crab]

The NFL games shown here in Canada are simulcasted - they put the Canadian broadcast of the game on the American channel. So we don't get bombarded by the DraftKings/FanDuel ads. But I watch Fox NFL Sunday, which is not broadcasted on any Canadian channel, and they are bombarded with ads from the two. DraftKings sponsors the In or Out segment where Jay Glazer tells viewers which injured player is ready to play and which is not.

 

Thankfully, I don't get involved in these kinds of player drafts as they are a waste of time. But it is funny how these major league sports outfits are so in bed with these companies while trying to maintain their image of staying above and away from anything involving gambling.

 

It's amazing Janice from accounting isn't fired by now.

[cattykit]

But I watch Fox NFL Sunday, which is not broadcasted on any Canadian channel, and they are bombarded with ads from the two. DraftKings sponsors the In or Out segment where Jay Glazer tells viewers which injured player is ready to play and which is not.

 

It's amazing Janice from accounting isn't fired by now.

The NFL pregame and postgame shows have gotten to the point where it's impossible to separate the advertising from the content.   The fantasy sites have become completely embedded.  I hate fantasy sports with a passion, because I'm a purist, so I'm biased against these sites anyway. 

 

If fantasy gambling is ok, then fucking Pete Rose should be reinstated and eligible for the baseball HOF. 

[ganesh]

Janice from accounting must have the goods on her boss. 

I don't have a problem with gambling. It's your money, do what you want with it. Pro sports' backbone is gambling. The NFL was literally invented for gambling. 

 

I play fantasy football/baseball, not for money. I've been consistently good. But it's not "predominantly skill based" as the guy said on the show. You put in players who are playing well and you sit players who are injured. That's really it. Or you spend your auction dollars on players who you think are going to do well. It's gambling. It's a highly specialized form of it. You put enough money into it, you can up your odds a little but it's still gambling. 

Calling it not gambling is like saying blackjack isn't really gambling if I count cards because math. 

 

But yeah, the story isn't whether it's gambling or not, or the hoops that they have to jump through to stay legal. The story is the "insider trading". Now, it's about conning people out of their money and the field isn't level. Which is why you call it gambling and regulate it so people don't get scammed. 

 

Who was the woman in the commercial. She was hilarious. 

Edited November 16, 2015 by ganesh

[dcalley]

Who was the woman in the commercial. She was hilarious. 

Kathryn Hahn

[Delwyn]

It's amazing Janice from accounting isn't fired by now.

Janice was fired years ago, but she DGAF.

[Muffyn]

I think the baby died right now while we were doing this commercial!  

 

I worked with a guy who had a major gambling addiction.  He was constantly getting in trouble for streaming videos at work, basically watching every possible sports analysis to decide which bets to place and catching any game he could on line.  He is now apparently spending a lot of money not gambling on draft kings.  Either way, much like Seth Rogen in the ad, he can turn $1200 into $6.18 and feel proud of his accomplishment.  

 

I absolutely love that there is a football phone behind Seth and Kathryn.  

Edited November 17, 2015 by Muffyn

[mjc570]

I think it's important to remember that not everyone who gambles has a gambling problem (although, of course, many do).  My son and his friends (all males in their mid 20s) play DFS  (can't remember which one).  My son has a small budgeted amount per week (basically, the cost of a movie ticket), and really does see it as entertainment.  He has won small amounts, but winning money is not that important to him.  He doesn't expect to make money from it, so anything he does get is just a nice bonus.

[Hanahope]

Calling it not gambling is like saying blackjack isn't really gambling if I count cards because math.

 

Yes, and casinos will kick you out if they catch you doing it too.

 

If fantasy gambling is ok, then fucking Pete Rose should be reinstated and eligible for the baseball HOF.

 

Word.  Especially when MLB is actively sponsoring it.

 

I liked how this Janice from Accounting was slightly different: She don't give a fuck about sports.

 

Janice must be the best accountant ever.  Reminds me of the year I won my first office football pool (we picked teams every week for a small win, and added up over the season for the big overall win - I won many small weeks and first place overall), because I picked teams whose colors or mascots I liked best.  So there!

 

I loved how Oliver was able to give an unfiltered statement about the Paris attacks.  Thanks HBO.

[ganesh]

*Everybody* gambles on something. Legalize it, and regulate it so the insiders can't fleece people who want to play in a few $2, $5 games each week. 

[Danny Franks]

Joe Namath tells it like it is. While John Oliver covered all the bases, and showed these guys up for their shady business model, that's really all that was needed. Do you pay money to play? Do you win things? Then it's gambling. My rule of thumb is, if someone is trying to sell you on the chance to make stupid amounts of money, then they're the ones who will make the money.

 

Game of skill? I've played free fantasy football for a few years, and there is absolutely no skill involved. This year, for example, I let my team auto-draft because I was busy, and ended up with Devonta Freeman, who I knew nothing about, and he's become one of the best RBs in the NFL.

 

Loved Seth Rogen corpsing at the end, when the woman said "I think the baby just died". These celeb cameos are always fun.

 

Also, loved John's comments on the Paris attacks. Of course they won't win a battle of culture with France. A country with that richness of art and philosophy and cuisine and history, against a bunch of nihilistic butchers who respect nothing and understand nothing.

[teebax]

*Everybody* gambles on something. Legalize it, and regulate it so the insiders can't fleece people who want to play in a few $2, $5 games each week.

Not everyone. I've never gambled and have no desire to. I'm not high and mighty; I just don't want to lose money I work so hard to earn. That being said, my retired parents like to go to the local casinos here, and they use my veterans reward card so I get comp rooms, free meals, free concerts, and such.

As far as fantasy football is concerned, I don't care if they legalize it or not, but they have to get rid of the incessant commercials. It's too damn much.

[ganesh]

*Everybody* gambles on something *within the 6 sigma statistical uncertainty.* Obviously, I didn't mean literally every legal adult in the USA. I'm talking about people like Janice from accounting who goes into an office pool for the NFL or the actual, literal billions on the NCAA basketball tournament with brackets everywhere. My parents when on a riverboat casino day trip for the day. 

I'm talking about the ridiculous concept that we have to tiptoe around it. Legalize it and regulate it. 

[fastiller]

Not everyone. I've never gambled and have no desire to. I'm not high and mighty; I just don't want to lose money I work so hard to earn. That being said, my retired parents like to go to the local casinos here, and they use my veterans reward card so I get comp rooms, free meals, free concerts, and such.

Not even in an office-pool for a Super-Bowl™ box?  Or an office/friends/family pool for when a baby will be born?

Edited November 18, 2015 by fastiller

[HawaiiTVGuy]

The MLB thing is interesting, especially if baseball players are playing DFS, or any fantasy baseball league. Does the CBA cover that?

[Victor the Crab]

If fantasy gambling is ok, then fucking Pete Rose should be reinstated and eligible for the baseball HOF.

 

I'd sooner put Shoeless Joe Jackson in first.

[Cosmosgravitation]

IMO, the problem with Pete Rose wasn't that he gambled on games, it's that he gambled on games in which he was a player or manager and could affect the outcome.  And while there isn't concrete evidence he bet against his own team, many experts think he did because he placed his bets with a bookie that was connected to organized crime.  MLB has a zero tolerance policy because they don't even want a hint of compromised games.

 

On the other hand, there is a very good chance Joe Jackson was innocent so I think he should be allowed in.

Edited November 20, 2015 by Cosmosgravitation

[ganesh]

I think Rose has done his time and should be in the HOF, but yeah, you can't do that. I don't think people employed by the sport should be betting on it. If Rose was betting on football, different story.

 

[BetterButter]

Court Issues Injunction Barring FanDuel And DraftKings In New York

[OneWhoLurks]

Quote

 

DraftKings and FanDuel, the two leading fantasy sports companies, are working on a deal to merge, according to The Wall Street Journal. Under the combination, DraftKings CEO Jason Robbins would likely be CEO while FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles would serve as chairman, according to the report.

The companies have struggled with sustaining interest, particularly with a lackluster start to the football season. It has also dealt with regulatory hurdles and a scathing segment by John Oliver on "Last Week Tonight."

Together, they account for a vast majority of the estimated 4.5 million daily fantasy sports users, according to the WSJ.

 

DraftKings, FanDuel close to a major fantasy sports merger