How does ESPN get away with charging for fantasy football?

[jesusphreak]

I was looking at ESPN's fantasy football leagues, and I noticed that they have both free leagues, and also leagues that you pay a set amount for. The leagues that you pay for give you a chance to win a prize at the end of the season.

How is ESPN able to do that? I thought it was considered gambling if you paid a small amount of money with the chance of winning a large amount of money?

Does anyone know what is legal and illegal when it comes to charging/prizes when it comes to fantasy football, survivor pools, etc?

Thanks for any info.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I was looking at ESPN's fantasy football leagues, and I noticed that they have both free leagues, and also leagues that you pay a set amount for. The leagues that you pay for give you a chance to win a prize at the end of the season.

How is ESPN able to do that? I thought it was considered gambling if you paid a small amount of money with the chance of winning a large amount of money?

Does anyone know what is legal and illegal when it comes to charging/prizes when it comes to fantasy football, survivor pools, etc?

Thanks for any info.

I guess all lotteries are illegal as well. Including scratch off tickets. What about buying raffle tickets for a chance to win a drawing.

I don't know how they separate what is or is not illegal but there are different things out there that seem like they could fit in specific categories but don't seem to when it comes to the law.

We have enough lawyers on the site that maybe they can explain it...that is if you trust those shady fellows. :

 

[Mavs Man]

Fantasy sports are not considered gambling, so it is not a question of legal or illegal.

Really, when you think about it there's not much difference between a fantasy football league and a poker game, but one is legal and the other isn't (except in designated places).

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

After thinking about it...I bet it comes down to actually reporting the money transfer in some way for tax purposes.

Gambling is usually done under the table with bookies and neither you or they are paying taxes except in some legal gambling areas.

Now that is just a guess.

On a side note I would ask people not to get into a political debate because the word "tax" was used in my post.

 

[jesusphreak]

Fantasy sports are not considered gambling, so it is not a question of legal or illegal.

Really, when you think about it there's not much difference between a fantasy football league and a poker game, but one is legal and the other isn't (except in designated places).

Exactly. That's why I'm surprised it isn't illegal.

Are picker pools/survivor pools the same way?