Fantasy Sports
Hotwire Launches New Game to Test Fans’ Fantasy Basketball Expertise
Just in time for the basketball playoffs, Hotwire® is launching a new edition of the “Hotwire® Effect” game. This “pick ’em” style game will be entirely free to play and features guaranteed prizes totaling $25,000. The new game tiped off on May 22, 2021.
The “Hotwire Effect Pick ‘Em” game was designed by DraftKings to challenge players’ strategic approach by mirroring Hotwire’s mystery booking process that enables travelers to score incredible deals on hotels. Just like booking a hotel on Hotwire, participants will make their picks based on stats rather than player names. The actual player names will be hidden until after the games start, marking a new way to draft and a smarter, better way to travel.
Hotwire, the travel app known for its mystery Hot Rate® deals, lets travelers pick their hotel using everything from the neighborhood, to customer ratings, and even featured amenities. The name of the hotel is only revealed after booking, helping savvy travelers score a better hotel than they thought they could afford. The excitement or “Hotwire Effect” that players will experience when seeing the results of their winning selections is matched only by the thrill that travelers feel when the amazing hotel they were able to score on Hotwire is revealed.
“The Hotwire Effect is what makes Hotwire different from other travel sites. By revealing the property name after booking is complete, not only do we enable travelers to stay in amazing hotels for the same price they would have paid for a less-great hotel – we give them the satisfaction of knowing that they shopped a bit smarter than everyone else,” said Melissa Postier, Brand Director, Hotwire. “The Hotwire Effect Series seeks to give players that same rush – that their skill and intuition allowed them to be able to draft a better team than their competition.”
How to play The Hotwire Effect Series*:
There will be six player matchups for each game slate. Players will pick the player in each 1-on-1 matchup they think will outscore their opponent in fantasy points. Those players will be their lineup for the day.
For players feeling extra confident in a pick, they will be able to designate a captain in their lineup that will score them 1.5 times the points.
Once the games start and the contest begins, names are revealed, and users can see who they actually drafted, much like how the Hotwire app works when booking a hotel.
Players who come out on top against the competition will win a share of $5,000 in cash prizing.
Contest dates* are 5/22, 5/28, 6/7, 6/14 and 6/22.
*Contest dates are subject to change based on league scheduling changes. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com for details.
Prizing:
The Hotwire Effect Series has $25,000 total guaranteed in prizes ($5,000 per contest).
Top finishers will win based on which contestants have the highest score each contest.
Running five contests over the next five weeks, the “Hotwire Effect Series” offers players the opportunity to take a shot at $25,000 in total prizes. To learn more and sign-up for Hotwire Effect Pick ‘Em, please visit www.draftkings.com/hotwire.
Fantasy Sports
RotoUnderworld Closes $1.5 Million in Pre-Seed Round to Transform Fantasy Sports & iGaming with FastDraft Mobile Platform
RotoUnderworld, a technology company that analyzes statistical data for fantasy sports, announced that it has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round to build the next-generation fantasy gaming platform. The round was led by iGaming mavens and technology investors recognizing the company’s hyperactive user base and mobile development capabilities.
RotoUnderworld’s new FastDraft app is revolutionizing the iGaming sector with high-engagement fantasy contests that appeal to both low and high-volume customers. By reducing draft times, simplifying the user experience, and providing more actionable in-game data, FastDraft is accessible to a wider audience of sports fans and fantasy enthusiasts.
“RotoUnderworld is on a mission to bring knowledge and joy to sports. Soon after our sports data business ramped up, we were inundated by fantasy sports consumers eager for more mobile fantasy gaming options, especially in the rapidly growing best ball vertical. We listened and delivered,” said Matthew Kelley, founder of RotoUnderworld and gameplay architect of FastDraft.
“Our drafts finish in under 5 minutes, which is 10 times faster than traditional best ball formats. By simplifying the scoring and reducing the time to draft, FastDraft appeals to over 50 million fantasy gamers worldwide who love drafting but often feel overwhelmed by the complexity, competition and time commitment. FastDraft’s streamlined format makes it easy to engage with the app and significantly increases user spend per session,” said Kelley.
After acquiring more than 1000 new FastDraft users in the first month, the company is preparing a seed funding round to scale the platform, introduce new contest formats and promote the brand to the millions of fantasy gamers worldwide eager to start drafting faster.
WagerWire, a sports gaming marketplace technology company serving sportsbooks and fantasy operators, announced that buying and selling is now live in their app, available in the iOS and Google Play stores. This marks the first time that fantasy players can legally buy and sell daily fantasy Pick’em entries with the tap of a button.
WagerWire users are now able to buy and sell RealTime Fantasy Sports entries on the app, with more fantasy operators to be added for trading soon. WagerWire announced their integration with RealTime Fantasy in January 2024, allowing users to sell their Pick’em lineups while in progress, including during the actual game, directly on the RTFS platform. During the NFL playoffs, the marketplace saw 12% of all DFS Pick’em lineups sell on the secondary market.
“This is a paradigm shifting moment for fantasy. This launch represents a way to bring more ownership and control over their entries. For the first time, there is a way to cash in on your lineups even if they go on to lose – by selling it to a friend or on the open market. The excitement is palpable,” said WagerWire Co-Founder and CEO Zach Doctor.
The newly launched fantasy marketplace is the latest addition to the growing technology portfolio of WagerWire’s parent company Wire Industries Inc. Their app already hosts an array of marketplace tools for both sports betting and fantasy including stat tracking, account syncing, bet value graph builders and calculator, and social features that allow users to follow how their friends, influencers, or sharps are playing.
“I’ve been playing fantasy for years, but being able to sell my DFS lineups is game-changing. I’m also loving being able to buy and sell in-game and see the progress of my picks with live price suggestions. The RT marketplace in the WagerWire app takes an already great and easy-to-use experience to the next level,” said Braiden Payne, RealTime Fantasy Sports veteran user.
WagerWire was recently shortlisted for two awards at SBC North America – Rising Star of the Year and Affiliate of the Year, in addition to EGR’s Rising Star of the Year and Hashtag Sport’s Best X Presence award.
Fantasy Sports
Canton Welcomes the Return of the Country’s Largest Fantasy Football Expo to Hall of Fame Village in August
Hall of Fame Village announced that the largest Fantasy Football Expo in the country will be making a comeback, and looks to bring thousands to Canton. Fantasy Football Expo 2024 will be hosted on the Hall of Fame Village campus at the Center for Performance from August 9 to 11, 2024. This event, in its 5th year, takes place for a second time at the Village and brings together passionate fantasy football fans and top experts from around the country for 3 days of ultimate fantasy football fun.
Fantasy Football Expo 2024 has 3 days of experiences planned, uniting enthusiastic fans and leading experts nationwide. The weekend includes a blend of fantasy drafts, networking opportunities, and expert insights, bringing together seasoned veterans and newcomers to experience all things “fantasy football” under one roof.
“Hosting the Fantasy Football Expo 2024 fits perfectly within our Company’s model of bringing sports and entertainment together, especially with fantasy and the virtual experience being such integral parts of how fans engage with sports. We are thrilled to leverage our world-class venue to enhance and elevate this extraordinary event, considering the popularity of fantasy football and our mission to inspire and entertain guests,” Michael Crawford, President & CEO at Hall of Fame Village, said.
Bob Lung, Director of the Expo, said: “I’m incredibly thankful to work with Hall of Fame Village to bring the Expo back for another fantastic year. Hall of Fame Village offers an unparalleled backdrop for the event, providing the perfect setting for fantasy football enthusiasts to come together and celebrate their passion.”
Key highlights of the event include the introduction of Sports Betting Saturday, Presented by Underdog Fantasy, offering a unique opportunity to learn strategies and techniques to help enhance your experience in the sports betting world. Expert panels and workshops will be a focal point, delivering valuable insights and strategies from esteemed names in the sports betting and fantasy football industry. Sports Betting Saturday is committed to promoting responsible gaming practices and recognizing the importance of maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants. With dedicated sessions led by experts and sports gaming representatives, attendees will gain comprehensive insights into responsible gaming measures, including strategies for setting limits, recognizing problem gambling behaviors, and accessing support resources.
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