Daily fantasy sports is undergoing a boom time right now. With high-profile brands like FanDuels and DraftKings driving its popularity, fantasy sports is experiencing a growth unmatched since it was first conceived in the 80s. With people getting more into the fantasy sports action, it can seem a bit familiar. In the early 2000s, online poker faced a similar boom. People were entranced by the World Series of Poker and the great amounts that people were winning. Poker celebrities were being recognized on TV and online poker sites had a booming membership. Suddenly, it all ended. Some of it can be blamed on the US government’s crackdown on the poker sites, but the boom was already tapering off. The closing of some poker sites just accelerated …show more content…
In any game of skill, there will be people who manage to develop skills that make them superior to other players. ‘Sharks,’ as these people are called, make their living by beating unskilled players. This was a big problem for online poker, because with sharks around, people inevitably stopped playing—they just did not like losing again and again. Normally, defeat would sometimes encourage people to try and do better. With money on the line, though, people were more likely to cut their losses. Daily fantasy sports is just like poker when it comes to sharks. If the operators do nothing, players might also give up in the long run. Another problem that surfaced for online poker is the market itself. Online poker had a giant that overshadowed everyone in the market: Pokerstars. People always signed up with the biggest poker site around and reduced the field of competition to dust. In daily fantasy sports, the two giants, which are FanDuels and DraftKings, are occupying that position. The problem with a monopoly is that people will have no other choices than the big companies, which will feed them directly to the sharks. This also contributes to a weaker player …show more content…
Integrating daily fantasy sports with Bitcoin is a possible solution. First of all, Bitcoin is not what the sharks are after. The fact that Bitcoin is still on the fringe is an advantage. Sharks want real money and Bitcoin is still difficult for them to understand. Players can expect them to focus on the big game, leaving Bitcoin fantasy sports sites alone. Secondly, Bitcoin fantasy sports sites give the market a shot in the arm. There are a lot of small Bitcoin gambling sites around and they have managed to survive quite well. This may be the same for fantasy sports sites, which gives people reasonable alternatives to the big players on the field. Take for instance the case of Bitcoin poker. Several poker sites accepting the cryptocurrency enjoy quite a sizeable following, especially with the series of poker tournaments on board. Finally, Bitcoin fantasy sports sites often give people a chance to practice their fantasy sports skills without risking money. Some Bitcoin fantasy sports sites have featured free games and tournaments like MVP Lineup. This helps players practice in peace, so that they can become skilled enough to make the game a satisfying experience. With Bitcoin, daily fantasy sports can face the challenges facing it head