Before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA — but after the buzz about that possibility began —'FanDuel and DraftKings were hardly the companies pegged to emerge as the unquestioned leaders in mobile sports betting.
Now, more than five years later — and with hindsight being what it is — their dominance seemed pre-ordained. Of course they would rise to the top. After all, they had a massive database of daily fantasy players, and it doesn't take a brain surgeon — or sharp bettor — to realize the value of a list like that.'
Clearly, FanDuel and DraftKings' lists of DFS players trumped the lists BetMGM, Caesars, and other casino-tied operators had of slot slingers and roulette wagerers.
In fact, no other large entity with a fantasy background has yet dipped its toes in the sports betting waters — but that is set to change this month when PENN Entertainment officially launches ESPN BET.