• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Financedaily fantasy

Sorry ESPN, But DraftKings and FanDuel Didn’t Implode

By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 24, 2016, 4:50 PM ET

Last fall, ESPN senior writer Don Van Natta Jr. began researching a daily fantasy sports industry that was under intense legal pressure, in the midst of an NFL season in which ads for companies like DraftKings and FanDuel were ubiquitous—including on ESPN properties. The fruits of his labor landed today, with nearly 11,000 words that detail how the big industry players were founded, funded and fought—both with regulators and themselves.

Unfortunately, this compelling narrative is undercut by a promise that Van Natta Jr. is going to tell us about “the implosion of the daily fantasy industry.”

He proves utterly unable to do so. Not because he lacks skills or sources. But, rather, because the daily fantasy industry hasn’t actually imploded.

Need proof?

Well, for starters, both DraftKings and FanDuel are still in business. That seems pretty important. Plenty of tech startups have indeed imploded, including requisite site shutdowns and fire-sales of assets like intellectual property (e.g., Fab.com).

Moreover, both companies tell Fortune that their active user and gross revenue figures were significantly higher for the first half of 2016 than for the first half of 2015. DraftKings, for example, says its gross revenue bump was up a whopping 98.2% and unique paying users climbed by 136%.

But wait, says Van Natta Jr. Neither DraftKings nor FanDuel are profitable. He’s right. They aren’t. But that’s probably because they are relatively young tech startups, which almost all lose money for years. FanDuel, for example, was founded the same year as Uber, which also currently loses money. Would ESPN also argue that the ride-hailing industry is imploding?

Ride-hailing is actually a good parallel here, because it and daily fantasy share the challenges of being targeted by regulators at the state and local levels. Again, is Uber “imploding” because it faces lawsuits and unsympathetic elected officials? Of course not. In fact, a counterargument could be made that as lawmakers codify permissive rules for such industries―as has happened for daily fantasy in New York― it creates the type of certainty that businesses and their investors typically crave.

In fact, that’s a big reason why, within the past month, DraftKings managed to quietly raise a “large” round of venture capital funding led by new investor Revolution Growth (the firm led by AOL co-founder Steve Case and Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis).

Fortune has learned that the undisclosed funding comes at a substantial valuation discount to where DraftKings raised money late last summer—when it secured capital at a $2 billion post-money valuation—but is still multiples higher than what the company was valued at by investors in late 2014. So, yes, DraftKings is worth less at the start of this NFL season than at the start of the last one. But the valley between a “down-round” and an “implosion” is wide, particularly in a (slightly) more rationale venture capital market. Moreover, both companies remain valued north of $1 billion.

For the record, Van Natta Jr. said on television today that daily fantasy sports sites “can’t raise any more money… it’s almost impossible for them to raise money,” because of active grand jury investigations.

Neither DraftKings nor Revolution would comment on the new investment.

Finally, it also is worth noting that his story includes an item about how an investigation into daily fantasy by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resulted in ESPN deciding “on Oct. 6 to remove all DraftKings-sponsored elements from its shows.” Van Natta Jr. neglects to mention that the move was made because ESPN began covering the AG’s action, and has a policy against having show segments sponsored by the same entity that the segments are discussing. Moreover, DraftKings-sponsored elements returned to ESPN programs just days later, and its more traditional ads never stopped running on the network.

I certainly agree with Van Natta Jr. that this has been a very trying year for daily fantasy sports ― much of which was self-inflicted. And we will see far fewer ads for both DraftKings and FanDuel during this NFL season than during the last, as both companies have acknowledged that the barrage ultimately began to backfire. However, there are no implosions here.

Daily fantasy is a young industry that got a bit ahead of itself, as almost all young tech industries are wont to do, but which continues to serve a growing base of customers. It’s not nearly as sexy a story as an industry “imploding.” But it’s a true one.

About the Author
By Dan Primack
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

morris
CommentaryEntrepreneurship
My startup hit $200 million ARR. But first I walked away from 2.5 million YouTube subscribers and nearly went bankrupt
By Joel MorrisMay 23, 2026
60 minutes ago
Beyond the diploma: Skills that actually get graduates hired
Future of WorkWorkplace Innovation Summit
Beyond the diploma: Skills that actually get graduates hired
By Ashley LutzMay 22, 2026
15 hours ago
Sam Altman standing in a lift.
AIOpenAI
The big questions looming over OpenAI’s trillion-dollar IPO
By Beatrice NolanMay 22, 2026
15 hours ago
Walmart shoppers are filling their gas tanks with less than 10 gallons for the first time since 2022, and its CFO calls it ‘an indication of stress’
EconomyRetail
Walmart shoppers are filling their gas tanks with less than 10 gallons for the first time since 2022, and its CFO calls it ‘an indication of stress’
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 22, 2026
15 hours ago
Musk may already be a trillionaire while these SpaceX employees and investors will hit multibillion-dollar jackpots after blockbuster IPO
Startups & VentureSpaceX
Musk may already be a trillionaire while these SpaceX employees and investors will hit multibillion-dollar jackpots after blockbuster IPO
By Jason MaMay 22, 2026
16 hours ago
ta
EconomySocial Media
They created AI nudes that got millions of views online. Now they’re being charged with crimes
By Jake Offenhartz and The Associated PressMay 22, 2026
17 hours ago

Most Popular

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
Success
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
3 days ago
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
3 days ago
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
Success
Indeed chief economist says we’re entering an era of ‘great mismatch’ thanks to a generational imbalance of workers
By Emma BurleighMay 22, 2026
16 hours ago
Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
AI
Microsoft reports are exposing AI's real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
By Jake AngeloMay 22, 2026
15 hours ago
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can't explain why they pay what they pay
Workplace Culture
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can't explain why they pay what they pay
By Sydney LakeMay 20, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.