Draftkings Sports Betting National Championship
Covers betting expert Patrick Everson sits down with DraftKings director of sportsbook operations Johnny Avello, to discuss the inaugural Sports Betting National Championship in New Jersey this. We are regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement as an Internet gaming operator in accordance with the Casino Control Act N.J.S.A. 5:12-1 and its implementing regulations.
DraftKings Sportsbook was just two months into operations when it announced it would host the DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship featuring $2.5 million in payouts.
As the Jersey City event neared, DraftKings grew into the sports betting powerhouse of New Jersey.
The DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship will bring several lucky contestants to New Jersey to hash out a three-day sports betting frenzy. How the DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship works. Players who win entry to the championship will receive $5,000 in their sports betting accounts to use during the. Randy ‘rleejr86’ Lee, a poker dealer from New Jersey, won the first-ever DraftKings Sports Betting National Championship this past weekend, but the victory came with some controversy on the.
Now, DraftKings is in hot water.
Draftkings Sports Betting National Championship Results
A controversial ending to the NJ sports betting event staged Jan. 11-13, featured DraftKings paying out some wagers in time to bet on the final game of the weekend but not getting to others.
Also, according to the lawsuit, DraftKings rejected some wagers yet accepted others on the same events.
As a result, a class-action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey by contestant Christopher Leong, “on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated,” according to the suit.
DraftKings SBNC lawsuit in a nutshell
Seeking damages that could eclipse $1 million — including refunds of the $10,000 entry fee to all 192 contestants — the suit alleges:
“DraftKings’ “negligent, arbitrary, and capricious operation of the SBNC, while continually marketing to a national and large audience of participants, was, among other things, an unconscionable commercial practice that denied Plaintiff and the Class of the fundamental benefit underlying the opportunity to participate in the SBNC.”
“Defendant’s conduct has rendered the initial entry fee entirely or substantially worthless.”
DraftKings declined to respond as company policy prevents it from commenting on pending litigation.
A closer look at the lawsuit
Filed by attorneys William Pillsbury and Mac VerStandig, the lawsuit states that DraftKings violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
Among the complaints in the lawsuit: “The defendants …
- … arbitrary and capricious acceptance of some wagers and rejection of other similar wagers.”
- “Prompter grading of wagers for persons physically present in Jersey City.”
- “Crediting some SBNC participants with winning funds from a given sporting contest upon which bets had been placed, before crediting other SBNC participants with winnings funds from the same contests on which bets had been placed.”
- “Permitting at least one SBNC contestant to wager after the announced close of wagering in the SBNC; and general operation of the SBNC in an arbitrary, capricious and uniformly haphazard manner.”
All of these factors, per the suit, “constitute unconscionable practices in connection with the Defendant’s sale of merchandise, in contravention of N.J.S.A. 56:8-2.”
Betting limits highlighted in the case
Additionally, the lawsuit mentioned betting limits at the SBNC, specifically as they pertained to a pre-event tweet from DraftKings’ senior product manager Jon Aguiar.
Limits are complicated to answer in 280 but they shouldn't really come into play in major sports. We don't really have a market by market limit, it's a function of market size, odds, time til start, etc.
— Jon Aguiar (@JonAguiar) January 11, 2019
DraftKings allegedly rejected various wagers due to bet size, according to the filing. As such, the defendant’s actions constitute “an unconscionable commercial practice, a deception, a false pretense, a false promise, and a misrepresentation in connection with the Defendant’s sale of merchandise, in contravention of (New Jersey law).”
All wagers placed during the SBNC were made through the DraftKings Sportsbook app, to be clear.
Following the event, DraftKings issued a statement saying it did not stray from SBNC rules:
“While we must follow our contest rules, we sincerely apologize for the experience several customers had where their bets were not graded in time to allow wagering on the Saints-Eagles game. We will learn from this experience and improve upon the rules and experience for future events.”
More contestants could join the lawsuit
While Leong, who did not win any money in the event, is the only contestant with his name listed in the lawsuit, the possibility of more joining could be on the horizon.
From the suit:
“Should this Honorable Court for any reason find Mr. Leong is alone insufficient to represent the Class, at least five (5) other persons, all similarly situated, are prepared to join this case as named plaintiffs.”
The lawsuit concludes that DraftKings’ conduct “was carried out with a lack of good faith, honesty in fact, and observance of fair dealing.”
“As a consequence of Defendant’s conduct, Plaintiff has suffered an ascertainable loss. Specifically, Defendant’s conduct, as set forth above, has rendered the benefits of Plaintiff and proposed Class members’ entry fee valueless or of minimal value.”
The 2020 Pro Football Pick 'Em National Championship has ended. Come back soon to find more information on the 2021 Series!
Dallas vs Baltimore Delayed
Due to COVID-19 delays, Dallas vs Baltimore will be played Tuesday night. Remember to check out our game cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions.
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Terms & ConditionsDraftkings Sports Betting National Championship Leaderboard
Terms & Conditions
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE REGARDING CONTEST RULES OF DRAFTKINGS
IMPORTANT! PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THESE CONTEST RULES (hereinafter, 'Contest Rules') BEFORE ENTERING THE DRAFTKINGS FOOTBALL PICK’EM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST AS THESE RULES AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS.
CONTEST DESCRIPTION
DraftKings is pleased to announce an exciting new contest, the DraftKings Pro Football Pick’em National Championship Contest (hereinafter, the 'Contest' and entrants in said Contest “Contestants”), exclusively for DraftKings players. Contestants will have the opportunity to win the Grand Prize (defined below).
To enter the Contest, DraftKings players must officially register at https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/pools or on the DraftKings mobile app. The registration period will begin on July 12th 2020 and close at 10:00am EST on the Sunday of the first regular season NFL game (tentatively scheduled for September 13). Registration must be made via an existing DraftKings Sportsbook account. This Contest has an entry fee of $1500. Contestants register by joining the “DraftKings Pro Football Pick’em National Championship”, posted in DraftKings’ Pools Lobby. Contestants can make up to three (3) entries. These entries will be treated independently from one another. Each Contestant shall be subject to these Contest Rules.
The Contest begins at the kickoff of the first Thursday NFL game and concludes at the end of NFL Week 16 (the “Contest Period”). NFL Week 17 and the NFL playoffs are not included in the contest. Contestants shall earn points by making picks against the spread for NFL games. Contestants must make exactly seventy (70) picks over the duration of the Contest; five (5) picks per week with two (2) weeks off. Any picks over the seventy (70) threshold or more than five (5) per week shall not be counted. Contestants who enter fewer than seventy (70) picks shall not be disqualified, but shall receive zero (0) points for unpicked games.
Picks can be made and modified until the start time of the game being picked for Thursday, Friday & Saturday games. For all games starting after 1pm EST on Sunday, selections will lock at 10am EST. If the start time of a game is officially changed, that change will be reflected in the pool, but picks for that game will still be locked at the 10am EST lock time. The only way to submit picks is to use the DraftKings website or mobile app. Picks cannot be submitted by email, phone, or in person. Picks for an entry cannot be made by any individual other than the owner of the DraftKings account that registered for the Contest (i.e., no proxy play allowed), and all picks must be made by 10am EST on Sunday. DraftKings will provide a public contest leaderboard and record of all picks made by each Contestant for the Contest. Picks for a game will not be added to the public record until after that lock time. Your username shall be posted to the leaderboard. Spreads will normally be released on Wednesday morning and will not change once they are posted. The exact time the spreads are posted may fluctuate from week to week and may occur earlier than Wednesday in a given week.
Prizes (defined below) will be paid according to finishing position, with users ranked from most points to least points. Contestants receive 1 point for a correct pick, and 0 points for an incorrect pick. All posted lines will have half-point spreads, so there will be no ties. If a game is officially postponed, it must be completed on or before the Tuesday following the postponement for points from that game to count towards the Contest. If the game is not completed within that time and it is selected by a user, it will count as a loss.Prizes will be paid according to finishing position, with users ranked from highest to lowest score based on the Contestant’s cumulative total across all games in the Contest.
Prizing will fluctuate based on the number of Contestants who enter the Contest, provided, this Contest has a guaranteed prize pool (“Prize Pool”) of no less than TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000). The Prize Pool consists of all Contestant entry fees, less $90 per entry for administrative fees (6% of entry fee). If the collected Prize Pool exceeds the guaranteed amount, the additional money will be added to the payout structure below. The number of places paid out, and the percentage paid out to each place will not change, regardless of the total Prize Pool.The winner of the Contest shall receive FIFTY PERCENT (50%) of the entire Prize Pool (the “Grand Prize”). Contestants shall be eligible for secondary prizing (“Prize(s)”) as outlined below:
Additionally, each week a contestant gets all five of their picks correctly, they will receive a $100 free bet.
These Contest Rules, in conjunction with the DraftKings' Sportsbook Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, shall govern the player eligibility, contest conduct, and rules of play of the Contest. A Contestant who wins any amount in connection with the Contest may be taxed on the Bonus, Prize, Grand Prize, and or other prizes’ fair market value depending on applicable law, and all such tax liability is the responsibility of the player.
TIEBREAKERS
If there is a tie for 1st place, the entry with most correct picks in your final week of selections in the Contest Period, wins the tie (bye weeks removed.). If that does not break the tie, the entry that had the most correct picks in their 2nd to last week of selection wins, and so on. If the tie cannot be broken by this method, the prize will be split evenly among the tied positions. All tiebreaks for other places will be calculated by evenly splitting the prize among the tied positions.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES
Contestants may not enter the Contest more than three (3) times.
RULES OF PLAY
Except as otherwise stated in or modified by these Contest Rules, the Contest shall be governed by the DraftKings Sportsbook Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
ELIGIBILITY
Players must be 21+ years of age or older if playing from West Virginia or New Jersey. Players must be 18+ years of age or older if playing from New Hampshire. Contestants must be located in the state of West Virginia, New Hampshire or New Jersey to enter the contest, make picks, and edit picks.
CONDITIONS ON CLAIMING PRIZE
The Prize-winners of the Contest, in order to claim either the Prize or the Grand Prize (“Prize Winners”), or both as the case may be, must: Agree to be bound by and adhere to all rules and codes of conduct as required by the terms and conditions during your participation in the Contest; Consent to the release of certain personal information to the DraftKings for purposes related to participation and eligibility for your participation in the Contest; Execute other documents as DraftKings may reasonably request;
Respond in a timely manner to DraftKings’ reasonable requests to facilitate Prize awards;
At all times conduct him/herself in a professional manner, and shall not be involved in any conduct or activity that may bring the winner into disrepute, or harm the finalist or winner's name or reputation.
(hereinafter, collectively, the 'Requirements').
In the event a Prize Winner is not able to meet the Requirements for claiming the Prize or grand prize, such Prize Winner, shall not be entitled to the Prize, the Grand Prize, or any other prize, compensation or monetary value whatsoever, and DraftKings will have no further obligation to the Prize Winner. The DraftKings player explicitly agrees that by entering the Contest, the sole prize for becoming a Prize Winner in the Contest is the Prize with the opportunity to win the Grand Prize. The Prize Winner who wins both the Prize and the Grand Prize, as applicable, must be able to fulfill the Requirements. A Prize Winner's failure to fulfill the Requirements shall constitute a disclaimer by the Prize Winner of the Prize, the Grand Prize, or any other prize, compensation, or monetary value of any nature whatsoever associated with or otherwise related to the Contest.
EFFECT OF CONTEST RULES ON TERMS OF USE
The Terms of Use and DraftKings pools rules on the DraftKings Website (www.sportsbook.draftkings.com) shall apply to the Contest and to these Contest Rules, and are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These Contest Rules are intended to be a supplement to the Terms of Use and should not be determined to be a substitute or replacement for, or otherwise render inapplicable, the Terms of Use or any part thereof unless otherwise indicated herein. In no way other than a provision of these Contest Rules that explicitly conflicts with a provision in the Terms of Use or DraftKings pools rules shall these Contest rules to be deemed to replace or nullify any provision contained in the Terms of Use or DraftKings pools rules.
EFFECT OF CONTEST RULES ON PRIVACY POLICY
The Privacy Policy on the DraftKings Website (www.sportsbook.draftkings.com) shall apply to the Contest and to these Contest Rules, and are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These Contest Rules are intended to be a supplement to the Privacy Policy, and should not be determined to be a substitute or replacement for, or otherwise render inapplicable, the Privacy Policy. In no way other than a provision of these Contest Rules that explicitly conflicts with a provision in the Privacy Policy shall these Contest rules to be deemed to replace or nullify any provision contained in the Privacy Policy.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The limitation of liability contained in the Terms of Use shall be deemed to apply to your participation in the Contest and your travel to and from, and attendance at the Contest, and by entering the Contest you agree to be bound, in addition to all other terms and conditions as described and contained herein and in the Terms of Use, by the provisions thereof.
MARKETING DISCLAIMER
By entering the Contest, each Contestant agrees to receive communications from DraftKings, subject to opting out in accordance with the instructions in the Terms of Use or in any such communications from DraftKings.
CONSENT OF USE
Each Contestant hereby agrees and consents, without further authorization, compensation or remuneration of any kind, to the editing, modification, replication, publication and/or other use of the names, likenesses, photographs, videos, voices, entries and the like of the Contestant in any medium, whether now known or hereafter developed, including without limitation, any and all advertising, promotions, and other publicity conducted by DraftKings. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each Contestant further assigns any and all rights he or she may have over his or her entry(ies) to DraftKings without further authorization, compensation or remuneration of any kind.
MISCELLANEOUS
As used herein, a 'Force Majeure' event shall mean the interruption of or material interference with DraftKings' ability to grant any Prize or Grand Prize, or any other compensation, consideration, or any other thing of value to the Prize Winners by any cause or occurrence not within DraftKings' reasonable control, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, hurricane, terrorist threat or activity, public health emergency (e.g., COVID-19 or SARS), act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), or any federal, state or local government law, order or regulation, or order of any court. In the event of a Force Majeure, DraftKings may reschedule the Contest, or may cancel the Contest altogether.
DraftKings reserves the right to alter these rules and event at any time in DraftKings' sole discretion upon reasonable notice to you. DraftKings may exclude any individual(s) from participation, if it determines at is sole discretion there are any irregularities or abuses occurring in connection with the Contest.
By participating in the Contest, the Contestant agrees to be bound by the terms of these Contest Rules, and the Terms of Use, and hereby agrees to disclose all applicable information to DraftKings, such information subject to the Privacy Policy.
Employees of DraftKings may not participate in DraftKings Pro Football Pick’em National Championship. Entries cannot be transferred or refunded. All Sportsbook.DraftKings.com house rules apply unless in conflict with a Contest rule, or otherwise indicated. Winnings will be subject to IRS reporting of winnings based on applicable laws and IRS regulations. DraftKings is not responsible for any website performance issue that results in a delay or prevention of submission of picks, participation in the contest, or other negative impact to the contestant in conjunction with the Contest. If the NFL regular season is shortened to eleven (11) weeks or fewer DraftKings will refund all entries and no prizes will be paid. If the length of the season is modified but continues for twelve (12) weeks or greater, the Contest will be adjudicated based on Contestants’ point totals at the end of the official season. Contestants acknowledge that under this shortened NFL regular season scenario, it is possible for the season to end before a Contestant has reached the picks threshold, and thus Contestants must weigh this possibility when determining when and how to space their weeks off apart. Contestants may be disqualified and forfeit their entry fee and winnings if they violate the terms of this Contest or the DraftKings.com website Terms of Use.
CANCELLATION
This contest will be made up of 16 weeks in the NFL Season (Weeks 1-16). Any adaptions to the NFL schedule will have impact on the Pro Football Pick’em National Championship contest. Below are potential outcomes for Pro Football Pick’em National Championship:
1) If the NFL cancels their season after twelve (12) weeks, the final standings for the contest will be paid out according to % of picks correct. Users should be aware of what weeks they choose to take off as it will impact standings to this point.
2) If the NFL cancels their season before twelve (12) weeks are played out, all contestants will be refunded their entry fee, $1500.
3) If the NFL delays any portion of their season, the contest will be delayed to reflect the NFL schedule delay.
a. If the delay exceeds six (6) months from the last football game, the Pro Football Pick’em National Championship contest will enact scenario one (1) or two (2) stated above.
b. Plays less games instead of a date…