GITNUXREPORT 2026

Daily Fantasy Sports Statistics

Daily Fantasy Sports is booming, led by DraftKings and FanDuel, with billions in revenue.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Average DFS contest entry per player per NFL week is 14.3 in 2023 season

Statistic 2

Total NFL DFS contests offered daily averaged 45,000 across major platforms in 2023

Statistic 3

GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) contests made up 62% of total DFS entry fees in 2023

Statistic 4

Average field size in large NFL DFS GPPs was 142,000 players per contest

Statistic 5

Cash game (Head-to-Head and 50/50) participation rate was 38% of entries in 2023

Statistic 6

NBA DFS saw 28,000 average daily contests during 2023-24 regular season

Statistic 7

Entry fees for NFL Week 1 DFS contests totaled $950 million across platforms

Statistic 8

75% of DFS contests are under $10 entry fee, appealing to casual players

Statistic 9

MLB DFS contest volume peaked at 15,000 daily during summer 2023

Statistic 10

Multi-entry contests allow up to 150 lineups per player, used in 45% of GPPs

Statistic 11

Total prizes in largest NFL Sunday Million GPP averaged $5.2 million in 2023

Statistic 12

22% of players enter beginner-only contests monthly for skill-building

Statistic 13

NHL DFS contests averaged 8,500 daily during 2023 playoffs

Statistic 14

Average win rate in 50/50 cash games is 49.8% due to rake adjustments

Statistic 15

Soccer DFS (MLS/EPL) contest entries grew 18% to 1.2 million weekly in 2023

Statistic 16

12% of DFS entries are in high-stakes contests over $100 buy-in

Statistic 17

PGA DFS tournament contests saw 3,200 average daily during majors 2023

Statistic 18

DFS states legalized expanded to 45 by end of 2023, covering 98% of US population

Statistic 19

New York DFS legalization in 2021 led to $1.1 billion first-year handle

Statistic 20

15 states still ban or restrict DFS as of 2023, primarily due to gambling classification

Statistic 21

FSGA lobbying spend reached $8.5 million in 2023 to push favorable legislation

Statistic 22

Arizona DFS tax revenue to state was $45 million in FY2023 from operator fees

Statistic 23

Federal UIGEA exemption for DFS upheld in all court challenges through 2023

Statistic 24

Operator compliance audits increased 40% post-2022 FTC regulations on DFS ads

Statistic 25

Illinois DFS licenses renewed for DraftKings/FanDuel with $2 million fees each in 2023

Statistic 26

67% of US adults support DFS legalization per 2023 Harris Poll

Statistic 27

Colorado DFS player funds protection law enacted in 2022, insuring $500M+ deposits

Statistic 28

Pending DFS bills in 8 states for 2024 session focus on age verification tech

Statistic 29

EU DFS regulations vary; UK Gambling Commission oversees with 1% levy on gross

Statistic 30

DFS age minimum raised to 21 in 12 states by 2023 for alignment with sports betting

Statistic 31

Operator self-exclusion programs enrolled 150,000 DFS players in 2023

Statistic 32

The US daily fantasy sports (DFS) market revenue reached $11.1 billion in entry fees in 2023, marking a 15% year-over-year increase driven by expanded state legalizations

Statistic 33

Global DFS market size was valued at $24.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $76.2 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 17.6%

Statistic 34

DraftKings reported $3.7 billion in revenue for 2023, with DFS accounting for 45% of total handle

Statistic 35

FanDuel's DFS segment generated $4.2 billion in net gaming revenue in 2023, up 22% from 2022

Statistic 36

Total DFS entry fees in North America hit $12.4 billion in 2023, with NFL contributing 55% of volume

Statistic 37

The DFS industry paid out $10.8 billion in prizes to players in 2023 across all platforms

Statistic 38

DFS market share held by top three operators (DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog) was 85% in 2023

Statistic 39

Projected US DFS revenue growth to $15.3 billion by 2025 due to mobile adoption

Statistic 40

International DFS markets outside US/CA grew 28% to $2.1 billion in 2023, led by UK and India

Statistic 41

DFS advertising spend by operators reached $450 million in 2023, primarily on TV and digital

Statistic 42

Venture capital investment in DFS startups totaled $1.2 billion from 2015-2023

Statistic 43

DFS rake (operator fee) averaged 10-15% of entry fees industry-wide in 2023

Statistic 44

Peak DFS entry volume during NFL Super Bowl week reached $1.5 billion in 2023

Statistic 45

DFS market contraction in 2020 due to COVID was -5%, rebounding 40% in 2021

Statistic 46

Combined DraftKings-FanDuel DFS handle exceeded $8 billion in Q4 2023 alone

Statistic 47

Top 1% of DFS players win 30% of all prizes in NFL contests 2023 season

Statistic 48

Average ROI for profitable DFS players is +12.5% over 10,000+ entries in 2023

Statistic 49

NFL DFS top scorer average points per week: 250+ for optimal lineups

Statistic 50

88% of DFS entries lose money long-term due to rake and variance

Statistic 51

NBA DFS lineup hit rate for cash games averages 52% with optimal construction

Statistic 52

Sharks (top 10 players) capture 22% of GPP prizes despite 0.1% entries

Statistic 53

MLB DFS projected ownership accuracy within 5% correlates to +8% ROI

Statistic 54

Average breakeven entry volume for profitability: 5,200 contests per year

Statistic 55

NFL Week 17 Millionaire Maker had 1st place payout of $2 million to 1 player in 2023

Statistic 56

Variance in DFS GPPs requires 300+ entries for 10% win probability normalization

Statistic 57

Optimal NBA DFS stacks win 68% of cash games vs. 41% uncorrelated builds

Statistic 58

15% of players achieve positive ROI in single sport DFS over a full season

Statistic 59

Highest DFS earner in 2023 won $14.3 million across platforms

Statistic 60

Correlation between DFS success and poker background: 2.1x higher win rates

Statistic 61

PGA DFS birdie-heavy lineups outperform by 14% in majors per scoring data

Statistic 62

Long-term DFS win rate for top 100 players averages 55.2% in cash games

Statistic 63

NHL DFS goalie decisions impact lineup scores by up to 25% variance nightly

Statistic 64

US adult participation in DFS reached 62 million users in 2023, up 8% from 2022

Statistic 65

57% of DFS players are aged 25-34, making it the largest demographic segment in 2023

Statistic 66

Male users comprise 82% of the DFS player base, with females growing at 12% annually

Statistic 67

Average annual spend per DFS player was $1,250 in 2023, with 25% spending over $5,000

Statistic 68

68% of DFS users hold college degrees, higher than general gambling demographics

Statistic 69

Mobile app users account for 92% of DFS entries, with iOS holding 55% market share

Statistic 70

41% of DFS players are from California, followed by Texas at 12% in 2023

Statistic 71

Household income of DFS players averages $85,000, with 35% over $100k

Statistic 72

Retention rate for DFS players year-over-year is 72%, highest among fantasy formats

Statistic 73

29% of DFS users also participate in traditional sports betting, up from 19% in 2021

Statistic 74

Ethnicity breakdown: 72% White, 15% Hispanic, 8% Black in US DFS users 2023

Statistic 75

Average time spent per DFS user weekly is 7.2 hours across platforms

Statistic 76

54% of DFS players are parents, influencing family-friendly contest preferences

Statistic 77

Urban dwellers represent 65% of DFS users vs. 35% rural/suburban

Statistic 78

Gen Z (18-24) DFS adoption grew 35% to 22% of total users in 2023

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Imagine you placed a single daily fantasy sports bet last year and were suddenly part of an $11.1 billion tidal wave of entry fees surging through the United States.

Key Takeaways

The US daily fantasy sports (DFS) market revenue reached $11.1 billion in entry fees in 2023, marking a 15% year-over-year increase driven by expanded state legalizations
Global DFS market size was valued at $24.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $76.2 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 17.6%
DraftKings reported $3.7 billion in revenue for 2023, with DFS accounting for 45% of total handle
US adult participation in DFS reached 62 million users in 2023, up 8% from 2022
57% of DFS players are aged 25-34, making it the largest demographic segment in 2023
Male users comprise 82% of the DFS player base, with females growing at 12% annually
Average DFS contest entry per player per NFL week is 14.3 in 2023 season
Total NFL DFS contests offered daily averaged 45,000 across major platforms in 2023
GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) contests made up 62% of total DFS entry fees in 2023
DFS states legalized expanded to 45 by end of 2023, covering 98% of US population
New York DFS legalization in 2021 led to $1.1 billion first-year handle
15 states still ban or restrict DFS as of 2023, primarily due to gambling classification
Top 1% of DFS players win 30% of all prizes in NFL contests 2023 season
Average ROI for profitable DFS players is +12.5% over 10,000+ entries in 2023
NFL DFS top scorer average points per week: 250+ for optimal lineups

Daily Fantasy Sports is booming, led by DraftKings and FanDuel, with billions in revenue.

Contest Participation

Average DFS contest entry per player per NFL week is 14.3 in 2023 season
Total NFL DFS contests offered daily averaged 45,000 across major platforms in 2023
GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) contests made up 62% of total DFS entry fees in 2023
Average field size in large NFL DFS GPPs was 142,000 players per contest
Cash game (Head-to-Head and 50/50) participation rate was 38% of entries in 2023
NBA DFS saw 28,000 average daily contests during 2023-24 regular season
Entry fees for NFL Week 1 DFS contests totaled $950 million across platforms
75% of DFS contests are under $10 entry fee, appealing to casual players
MLB DFS contest volume peaked at 15,000 daily during summer 2023
Multi-entry contests allow up to 150 lineups per player, used in 45% of GPPs
Total prizes in largest NFL Sunday Million GPP averaged $5.2 million in 2023
22% of players enter beginner-only contests monthly for skill-building
NHL DFS contests averaged 8,500 daily during 2023 playoffs
Average win rate in 50/50 cash games is 49.8% due to rake adjustments
Soccer DFS (MLS/EPL) contest entries grew 18% to 1.2 million weekly in 2023
12% of DFS entries are in high-stakes contests over $100 buy-in
PGA DFS tournament contests saw 3,200 average daily during majors 2023

Contest Participation Interpretation

The DFS landscape is a high-volume, low-stakes carnival for the masses, cleverly financed by a small army of multi-entering hopefuls chasing a handful of massive payouts.

Legal and Regulatory

DFS states legalized expanded to 45 by end of 2023, covering 98% of US population
New York DFS legalization in 2021 led to $1.1 billion first-year handle
15 states still ban or restrict DFS as of 2023, primarily due to gambling classification
FSGA lobbying spend reached $8.5 million in 2023 to push favorable legislation
Arizona DFS tax revenue to state was $45 million in FY2023 from operator fees
Federal UIGEA exemption for DFS upheld in all court challenges through 2023
Operator compliance audits increased 40% post-2022 FTC regulations on DFS ads
Illinois DFS licenses renewed for DraftKings/FanDuel with $2 million fees each in 2023
67% of US adults support DFS legalization per 2023 Harris Poll
Colorado DFS player funds protection law enacted in 2022, insuring $500M+ deposits
Pending DFS bills in 8 states for 2024 session focus on age verification tech
EU DFS regulations vary; UK Gambling Commission oversees with 1% levy on gross
DFS age minimum raised to 21 in 12 states by 2023 for alignment with sports betting
Operator self-exclusion programs enrolled 150,000 DFS players in 2023

Legal and Regulatory Interpretation

Daily fantasy sports have galloped across the American landscape like a shrewd, well-funded cavalry, conquering 98% of the populace with a mix of lobbying might and tax revenue allure, yet they remain locked in a gritty political brawl with the ghosts of gambling stigma in 15 holdout states.

Market and Revenue

The US daily fantasy sports (DFS) market revenue reached $11.1 billion in entry fees in 2023, marking a 15% year-over-year increase driven by expanded state legalizations
Global DFS market size was valued at $24.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $76.2 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 17.6%
DraftKings reported $3.7 billion in revenue for 2023, with DFS accounting for 45% of total handle
FanDuel's DFS segment generated $4.2 billion in net gaming revenue in 2023, up 22% from 2022
Total DFS entry fees in North America hit $12.4 billion in 2023, with NFL contributing 55% of volume
The DFS industry paid out $10.8 billion in prizes to players in 2023 across all platforms
DFS market share held by top three operators (DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog) was 85% in 2023
Projected US DFS revenue growth to $15.3 billion by 2025 due to mobile adoption
International DFS markets outside US/CA grew 28% to $2.1 billion in 2023, led by UK and India
DFS advertising spend by operators reached $450 million in 2023, primarily on TV and digital
Venture capital investment in DFS startups totaled $1.2 billion from 2015-2023
DFS rake (operator fee) averaged 10-15% of entry fees industry-wide in 2023
Peak DFS entry volume during NFL Super Bowl week reached $1.5 billion in 2023
DFS market contraction in 2020 due to COVID was -5%, rebounding 40% in 2021
Combined DraftKings-FanDuel DFS handle exceeded $8 billion in Q4 2023 alone

Market and Revenue Interpretation

While the fantasy of being a sports general manager is free, the reality of operating these digital arenas has grown into a $24.5 billion global industry where fans paid over $11 billion last year just for the privilege of proving their friends wrong.

Player Performance and Outcomes

Top 1% of DFS players win 30% of all prizes in NFL contests 2023 season
Average ROI for profitable DFS players is +12.5% over 10,000+ entries in 2023
NFL DFS top scorer average points per week: 250+ for optimal lineups
88% of DFS entries lose money long-term due to rake and variance
NBA DFS lineup hit rate for cash games averages 52% with optimal construction
Sharks (top 10 players) capture 22% of GPP prizes despite 0.1% entries
MLB DFS projected ownership accuracy within 5% correlates to +8% ROI
Average breakeven entry volume for profitability: 5,200 contests per year
NFL Week 17 Millionaire Maker had 1st place payout of $2 million to 1 player in 2023
Variance in DFS GPPs requires 300+ entries for 10% win probability normalization
Optimal NBA DFS stacks win 68% of cash games vs. 41% uncorrelated builds
15% of players achieve positive ROI in single sport DFS over a full season
Highest DFS earner in 2023 won $14.3 million across platforms
Correlation between DFS success and poker background: 2.1x higher win rates
PGA DFS birdie-heavy lineups outperform by 14% in majors per scoring data
Long-term DFS win rate for top 100 players averages 55.2% in cash games
NHL DFS goalie decisions impact lineup scores by up to 25% variance nightly

Player Performance and Outcomes Interpretation

Daily fantasy sports is a skill-driven bloodsport where a microscopic elite of relentless pros, armed with models and volume, systematically harvests the prize pools from a vast ocean of hopeful entrants who are statistically destined to subsidize them.

User Base and Demographics

US adult participation in DFS reached 62 million users in 2023, up 8% from 2022
57% of DFS players are aged 25-34, making it the largest demographic segment in 2023
Male users comprise 82% of the DFS player base, with females growing at 12% annually
Average annual spend per DFS player was $1,250 in 2023, with 25% spending over $5,000
68% of DFS users hold college degrees, higher than general gambling demographics
Mobile app users account for 92% of DFS entries, with iOS holding 55% market share
41% of DFS players are from California, followed by Texas at 12% in 2023
Household income of DFS players averages $85,000, with 35% over $100k
Retention rate for DFS players year-over-year is 72%, highest among fantasy formats
29% of DFS users also participate in traditional sports betting, up from 19% in 2021
Ethnicity breakdown: 72% White, 15% Hispanic, 8% Black in US DFS users 2023
Average time spent per DFS user weekly is 7.2 hours across platforms
54% of DFS players are parents, influencing family-friendly contest preferences
Urban dwellers represent 65% of DFS users vs. 35% rural/suburban
Gen Z (18-24) DFS adoption grew 35% to 22% of total users in 2023

User Base and Demographics Interpretation

It appears we've crafted a sophisticated digital coliseum where a young, educated, and predominantly male army of urban professionals spends its disposable income and spare hours not just watching sports, but actively constructing and betting on fantasy rosters with the strategic intensity of a second job.

Sources & References

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