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DraftMix : Summer 2007

On DraftMix fantasy sports fans can sign up and play pickup games against other players on the site for virtual dollars or for real money . Open games are listed in a lobby, where players can sign up in groups ranging from 4 to 10 players each paying into a prize pool. DraftMix also ponies up a nightly cash prize for a free game as well.

When a game is full, players pick their teams from active profession players. Each fantasy manager’s team is scored on their players stats in the upcoming “real world” games. Since stats are needed to find the winning team, the time it takes to finish a game varies by sport. Football fantasy games are finished weekly, since all the teams play each Sunday. Basketball can finish a bit faster since teams play daily. The manager with the most points wins the money pot, with 10% of real cash games going to DraftMix.

Now all this may sound fine playing fantasy sports for fantasy dollars, but doesn’t bringing real money into play amount to internet gambling? No, says co-founder Matt Maroon, who points the the fantasy sports exemption in the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. The act, which was a big blow to sites like PartyPoker, specifically exempts “participation in any fantasy or simulation sports game or educational game or contest”. Fantasy sports is seen as a game of skill and played for a fixed cash prize. Although a quick perusal of the exemption leaves feeling they’re at least bending the rules.

Also in the realm of fantasy sport startups are Screaming Sports and Fleaflicker.