FuboTV will soon let you bet on live sports. Some users can wager with real money, while everyone can participate in free competitions.
From June 19, all FuboTV users will be able to predict the outcome of live games. Before certain games start, users can choose which team they think will win. This earns them points – not real money – that earn them a place on a leaderboard, allowing them to compete against friends and other FuboTV users. FuboTV calls this game Perfect Pick’ems and says it plans to launch other leagues in the future.
But users in Iowa and Arizona can bet on winning teams for real money. If a user thinks they have picked the winning pick, they can scan a QR code that will appear on FuboTV’s platform. This will redirect them to Fubo Sportsbook (FuboTV’s betting app) to place a cash-based bet. FuboTV previously allowed users to place bets through the Sportsbook app as the live games progressed, but bets were never integrated into the streaming service’s TV interface.
“Our mission is to transform the TV experience into streaming video through interactive engagement, including free gaming and real money betting,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of FuboTV, in a statement.
Just like live betting features offered by other services such as DAZN and garland, FuboTV’s betting features face one major but fading obstacle: legality. In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned a law that makes sports gambling illegal, meaning individual states are free to choose whether to make sports gambling and its various forms legal. As states ease restrictions, other major services will no doubt provide a way for users to get into gambling, with Disney even exploring ways to integrate gambling with ESPN.