Fantasy Football Addiction? Yes, it's real.
Author:
Zach Lutz
Published:
Jul 30, 2024
,
02:28 p.m.
ET
Updated:
Sep 12, 2024
,
03:10 p.m.
ET
What pro football fan doesn’t want the chance to play the role of general manager? While the NFL only has 32 teams, meaning there are only 32 actual GMs, traditional fantasy football allows its approximate 49.4 million participants to use their imagination and be a general manager in their own world. From drafting players, to managing injured players, to pursuing and executing trades, to making roster cuts and roster additions, traditional fantasy football is a beloved pastime for many that fosters a deeper engagement with one of the world’s most popular sports.
However, what starts as a fun activity can sometimes evolve into a dangerous addiction, blurring the lines between entertainment and compulsive behavior. And in the world of legalized sports betting, aspects of daily fantasy football and the DFS 2.0 hybrid product have more clearly resulted in fantasy football addictions.
What is Fantasy Football?
Formerly, whether we speak to traditional season-long fantasy or daily fantasy, fantasy football could generally be defined as a peer-to-peer competition in which a participant assembles an imaginary roster of real football players via draft or a salary cap format (contest) to perform against another participant’s team on the basis of statistical production of their chosen players in actual games.
Still, the traditional season-long format and daily format have many key differences, and the advent of DFS 2.0, with its unique betting-like structure, has shifted the way fantasy football can generally be defined. Below we break down the properties of all three forms of fantasy football:
Traditional Season-Long Fantasy
Traditional season-long fantasy football involves participants selecting players before the season to form a team, usually through a draft, but alternatively within a salary cap auction. These teams compete against others in leagues that can range from small, friendly groups to large tournaments with thousands of participants. Points are earned based on the real-life performance of the selected players in their actual games. The goal is to specifically outscore your opponent in each week because the participant who accumulates the most total points over the course of the season doesn’t always win the league or tournament.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Unlike traditional fantasy leagues, which last for an entire season, DFS contests allow participants to create new teams in the short-term, often limited to a single day or a week of play. Participants often pay an entry fee (or choose a free option) and compete against others, with winners determined by the points their chosen players accumulate during the contest period. This format provides a quick turnaround and the chance to try to win money frequently, contributing to its growing popularity, especially during the boom a few years ago when it seemed like every other commercial during NFL games was for either DraftKings or FanDuel.
DFS 2.0
Recently, DFS 2.0 products have emerged as a more advanced and potentially more addictive version of traditional DFS. These platforms often use an against-the-house structure, where professional oddsmakers set lines, and participants wager on multiple outcomes to form a “lineup” of predictions. This setup resembles sports betting, specifically player props, more closely than traditional fantasy sports, as it involves predictions placed on lines set by professionals. There are both “against-the-house” and “peer-to-peer” formats, and some states have prohibited the former due to its close resemblance to sports betting.
Is Fantasy Football a form of gambling?
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) classifies fantasy football as a game of skill. The use of statistical analysis and adequate roster management play into this classification because if you ignore injury news, the waiver wire (traditional fantasy), where trending players not rostered can be added to your team, or if you ignore the matchup difficulty for a given player, you will likely find yourself at a disadvantage and on the losing end.
Regardless, fantasy football shares many characteristics with gambling. In the end, while fantasy football gives a participant more control, you still often are risking money based on predictions of player performance, hoping to win a prize if the performance of real players on the field lands in your favor. This element of financial risk and reward blurs the line between fantasy sports and traditional gambling.
Can I get addicted to Fantasy Football?
Understanding the nuances between traditional fantasy sports, DFS and DFS 2.0 is crucial to recognizing the potential for addiction. Despite their differences, all these formats involve financial risk and the hope of monetary gain, which can lead to gambling addiction. The frequent opportunities to bet and win, especially with DFS and DFS 2.0, can foster addictive behaviors. The competitive nature of these games, combined with the thrill of potential financial rewards, can make it difficult for some individuals to stop playing. And if a fantasy football addiction isn’t developed, participation can run the risk of sports betting addiction, because the reality is that as recent as 2022, 81% of fantasy sports players bet on sports.
DFS 2.0 platforms, with their oddsmakers and analyst-driven lines, can be particularly addictive. These platforms offer new ways to risk money on performance predictions, at times leading to more frequent and higher-stakes wagers. The constant availability of these games means that individuals can continually engage, increasing the risk of developing addictive tendencies.
Fantasy Football addiction treatment and resources
Recognizing the growing issue of fantasy football addiction and related gambling disorders, Birches Health has developed a thorough offering of resources and treatment options to help those who may be struggling with this problem. With free educational materials and specially trained clinicians available nationwide, Birches provides support and treatment, all from the comfort of the patient’s home.
There are several ways to begin your journey with Birches Health:
You can also contact Birches Health directly by calling 833-483-3838 or emailing hello@bircheshealth.com to get started on the path to recovery.
By understanding the risks and seeking help when needed, you can aim to ensure that your engagement with these games remains fun and healthy.
