Boom Fantasy shakes up DFS sector with new in-play platform
Stanford-based start-up receives backing from Zynga CEO Mark Pincus
Boom Fantasy is hoping to shakeup the daily fantasy sports (DFS) sector after flicking the switch on its in-play real-money gaming product. [private]
The Stanford-based firm has entered the sector with what it believes is an innovative in-play game format; instead of picking lineups players compete in 10-minute leagues centred around live TV events.
Players answer questions such as âWill LeBron James score more than eight points this quarter?â and âWill Adam Vinatieri make this 50-yard field goalâ during live sports events.
The firm said all real-money tournaments incorporate multiple events but are centred on a primary game where players compete against each other by answering between 7-50 questions.
Boom Fantasy has received backing from angel investor and Zynga CEO Mark Pincus, who led a $1.4m round that included investment from the Stanford-StartX Fund and Rubicon Venture Capital.
âJust as DraftKings and FanDuel improved upon the old fantasy sports model, we are doing the same with daily fantasy sports,â Boom Fantasy CEO Stephen Murphy said.
âAt Boom, we cater to real fans who actually want to watch the games â not necessarily the number-crunchers who use complicated algorithms to outperform other lineups.â
The Boom Fantasy team has several decades of experience in real-money gaming and technology, having previously worked at MGM Resorts, Google and High 5 Games.
The operator has launched its site in 12 US states including California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and will enter additional markets later in the year.