Underdog Fantasy will return to Kansas under a peer-to-peer format, the company confirmed Friday in exclusive comments to Gaming Today.
The announcement marks the end of a pause that began with an internal memo from then-Kansas Racing and Gaming Commissioner Don Brownlee on Sept. 7, 2023. In the memo, Brownlee described fantasy sports sites as “illegal operations” that accepted wagers on player propositions or pools without going through the licensing and taxation process required of regulated sportsbooks.
Kansas gaming regulators then issued a cease-and-desist order in February to six fantasy apps, including Underdog Fantasy.
Brownlee now serves the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission as its Director of Security. In a Sept. 13 letter to Underdog, he confirmed the company’s peer-to-peer Underdog Champions gaming option “complies with the spirit of Kansas law.”
“We can confirm that Champions, as currently configured, will not face regulatory action by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission,” Brownlee wrote. “We can further confirm that since Underdog discontinued its Pick ’em game (against the house) in Kansas in November of 2023, that Underdog is not currently the target of any administrative, civil or criminal investigation by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.”
Under pressure in additional markets, Underdog exited North Carolina and Mississippi earlier this year, but the Pick ’em platform is finding ways to generate success across dozens of states.
Underdog Fantasy Returns With Champions Format
Stacie Stern, Underdog Fantasy’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Partnerships, navigated the company’s Kansas return.
“We work closely with the Racing and Gaming Commission, who conducted a thorough review and concluded our peer-to-peer Champions product can be offered in Kansas,” she said in a statement to Gaming Today. “The Commission has confirmed we are in good standing in the state, and we look forward to offering contests again to Kansas sports fans.”
The Underdog Fantasy website displays Kansas as available for Pick ’em and Draft contests.
Underdog Finds Winning Formula Across US
Kansas is now among 41 US markets that allow at least some form of Underdog Fantasy gameplay. It also returned to Florida with peer-to-peer gaming in April. The company adjusts its game formats to satisfy regulatory requirements whenever possible, according to Stern.
“We make sure our games meet the differing standards in every state, which is why you see different products and game types in states across the country,” she said.
Underdog Fantasy is also available in all Canadian provinces and territories, except for Ontario.
What Kansas Players Can Expect From Underdog Champions
Underdog Champions allows users to create a roster of between two and eight athletes. Players can choose between “Over” and “Under” for projected performance totals. Patrick Mahomes passing Over or Under 250.5 yards is an example.
From the Underdog Fantasy website:
“Winning depends on how all of the athletes in the roster perform based upon the participant’s projection relative to other participants’ projections for their entries,” it says. “The more selections you get right versus other participants, the more you are likely to win.”
Users see information like the entry fee, the maximum number of entries, the available prize, and scoring criteria before they enter a contest.
Since the game is player vs. player — not player vs. Underdog — the state was comfortable with the product being distinct from regulated Kansas sportsbooks.
States that allow Underdog Champions include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
New Underdog Fantasy users can claim up to $1,000 in Bonus Cash PLUS a Pick’Em Special on Deposit* with promo code GTODAY.
(*Pick’Em Special not available to users in Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.)
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