Legality

Course No. UG 102

If you want to know if sports betting online is legal in the US, our sister site Lineups has the latest insight on the laws and regulation.

Disclaimer: We are not lawyers and can't give legal advice. This is not to be construed as legal advice. If you have concerns, consult an attorney and research the laws in your state before playing fantasy sports for money.

Playing daily fantasy for money is legal by federal law in the United States, and also legal in Canada. Fantasy sports are, according to federal law, a game of skill, therefore they are not gambling. The law declaring fantasy sports are legal was first introduced in 1999 and the last action on it took place in 2006. The title of the law is the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. The Act can be read here. Those looking for the cliff notes version specifically referencing fantasy sports can read below:

While online casino games, such as poker, are deemed games of luck, fantasy sports, including daily fantasy, are declared games of skill. This distinction is the crux of what makes fantasy sports legal, while online casino games and online lotteries are not.

DraftKings State Eligibility Map

FanDuel State Eligibility Map


Yahoo State Eligibility Map

Daily Fantasy Website Guide

Don't know which site to use? These review & promo code pages will help you make the right choice.

DraftKings Review

FanDuel Review

FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code

DraftKings Promo Code

Monkey Knife Fight Promo Code

Fantasy Draft Promo Code

In lieu of the recent events impacting daily fantasy sports, DFS sites have been more conservative in the states they serve and most of the sites have different policies regarding each state. This doesn't necessary mean that DFS has been proven illegal in the states in question; it does mean that there is murky legal waters in which some sites aren't willing to swim. The state laws prevent various state residents from playing. Each DFS site gauges the risk differently, so check above for the latest maps. Historically, the following states have been the toughest and the major DFS sites don't allow cash players: Montana, Louisiana, Washington, Iowa, Nevada, and Arizona.Residents of Puerto Rico are also unable to risk their cash in daily fantasy sports games. Residents of some of these states and Puerto Rico, may be able to play in Freeroll contests and other free games since they aren't risking their own cash. However, these policies are changing more frequently. Check with the DFS site on which you are playing prior to registering. Additionally, some sites will not allow you to register from these states.