Behavioral Markers of Risky Daily Fantasy Sports Play. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiley, Rhiannon C.; Tom, Matthew A.; Edson, Timothy C.; LaPlante, Debi A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sport and social issues. Volume 44:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 356
• Page End: 371
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: daily fantasy sports -- gambling -- risk -- gaming; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 796.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0193723520919819
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0193-7235

Abstract

To understand the natural groups of daily fantasy sports (DFS) players and their associated problematic play, we obtained DFS participation records for 11, 130 DFS players from a leading provider. A cluster analysis suggested four player clusters. Cluster 4 included a single highly successful player (i.e., an outlier). Players in Cluster 1 had shorter playing durations than players in Clusters 2 and 3 and picked riskier contests than players in Cluster 3. Players in Cluster 2 picked riskier contests than players in Cluster 3 and had longer playing durations than players in Cluster 1. Players in Cluster 3 experienced greater financial DFS success than others. This suggests that measures of DFS involvement can identify natural DFS player groups with distinct problematic play experiences.