Talks to Watch

Daily Fantasy Sports: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

11.9M views · Nov 16, 2015 · 19:03 · 1 HN recommender · 4 mentions · discussed 2015–2021

John Oliver's Last Week Tonight segment on daily fantasy sports, arguing the sites are effectively gambling operations despite their claims. It mocks their advertising and the skill-versus-chance defence.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN uses it as the canonical link whenever daily fantasy sports comes up.

“this link (John Oliver) needs to be posted eventually when discussing anything DFS related”HN comment, 2016

What Hacker News said 4

Recommendsakerl_Dec 2015

“Probably worth checking out”

John Oliver on whether daily fantasy sports is skill or chance.

Full comment

Probably worth checking out this video The relevant point being that not everybody believes they're a "game of skill" in the "skill vs. chance" slider which is relevant to the law. While there's no question that like every game, user actions (skill) can impact the outcome, how much it can impact the outcome is what determines whether something is classified as a game of skill or chance. Perhaps it's more clear if we say "a game of primarily skill" or "primarily chance". If daily fantasy sports is primarily skill-based, they can do it. If it's primarily chance-based, it's illegal in the US. Which is why they're pushing for it to be referred to as "skill-based".

in “Top fantasy sports player uses software, analytics to reap millions” · view on HN
Cites ittrequartistaJan 2016

“Here's John Oliver's take on the daily fantasy sports industry”

John Oliver's take on the daily fantasy sports industry.

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Here's John Oliver's take on the daily fantasy sports industry - this video (probably some NSFW language)

in “How the Daily Fantasy Sports Industry Turns Fans into Suckers” · view on HN
Cites itkriroJan 2016

“this link (John Oliver) needs to be posted eventually when discussing anything DFS related”

Canonical John Oliver link for any DFS discussion.

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Some questionable processors will step in. Stuff will get shut down, money will be frozen in accounts. This is online poker all over again. I think DFS has better chances of survival because they have some strong deals with people that know how to move and shake in Washington (NFL says hi). And of course this link (John Oliver) needs to be posted eventually when discussing anything DFS related: this video

in “Payment Processor to Stop Working with Daily Fantasy Sports Clients” · view on HN
Cites itHenryBemisMar 2021

“he kinda presented it as a gateway to gambling”

John Oliver presented fantasy sports as a gateway to gambling.

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Perhaps this is something different, but I remember watching John Oliver - Last Week Tonight some years back and he kinda presented it as a gateway to gambling: this video And a video (fake) ad with some nice comedians: this video

in “Fantasy Soccer Keeps My Kids Connected and Happy” · view on HN