NCAA Bars Daily Fantasy Sites from Advertising During March Madness
By Kyle Koster
The NCAA insulated itself further from daily fantasy sports websites on Tuesday, calling off a scheduled meeting with the sites designed to smooth out differences. DraftKings and Fan Duel, the two most popular DFS companies, had been previously informed by the NCAA that they’d be barred from advertising during the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
In a letter sent to the two sites obtained by the New York Times, the association said it’s also prohibiting referees and other championship officials from participating in cash contests. Student-athletes currently face a penalty of a lost year of eligibility for sports wagering.
DraftKings and Fan Duel agreed to assist the NCAA in identifying any referee or official who participated in their contests, according to the letter.
"“The integrity of our collegiate contests are paramount,” stated the letter, which was signed by Mark Lewis, an executive vice president. … In canceling a planned meeting to discuss their position, Lewis wrote, “We believe that your product should not be offered in the college space for a variety of reasons, and we do not believe a further meeting with your organizations will change that view.” Lewis added, “As we have communicated to you previously, since your games meet the definition of sports wagering within our bylaws, the N.C.A.A. will not allow advertising of your products in connection with N.C.A.A. championships, including television broadcasts.” "
While it’s not surprising to see college athletics distance itself further from DFS, the loss of prime television real estate is a significant blow for the sites. At least it appears that way now. The landscape of the industry could look much different in five months, considering the rapid changes seen over the past few weeks.