- Underdog Sports, LLC and what you can play
- Underdog age rule and identity checks
- Where Underdog Pick'em is and isn't available
- Underdog withdrawals, holds and dispute terms
- The New York settlement with Underdog
- Underdog deposit limits and playing within your means
- What Underdog's tax position means for you
- Scam messages that borrow Underdog's name
- Frequently asked questions
Underdog Fantasy is a real fantasy app: its terms name Underdog Sports, LLC as the operator, and Wikipedia says it launched in 2020. It's paid-entry, so you can lose what you enter, and it's not offered everywhere. Pick'em is ineligible in 17 states, and in 2025 Underdog agreed to leave New York and pay a 17.5 million US dollar fine, according to Legal Sports Report.
Underdog has a lot of advertising muscle, so I understand why people search for whether it's legit before they put in a first deposit. The short version is that it's a real operating company with real rules, but it has also had a very public run-in with one state regulator. I've pulled together what its own terms and help pages say, plus one named news source for the regulator story.
Underdog Sports, LLC and what you can play
Underdog's terms say the operator is Underdog Sports, LLC, doing business as Underdog Fantasy. Wikipedia describes it as an online daily fantasy sports website and app launched in 2020, offering best ball and pick'em.
Best ball is a drafting format where you pick a team and, once rosters are set, you don't make managerial moves. Pick'em is the one most people mean when they search, where you choose over or under on player stats and combine them into entries. Which of those you see depends on your state.
Underdog age rule and identity checks
The terms say users must generally be 18 or older, and some states set a higher minimum of 19 or 21. You'll need to give a valid mailing address, your date of birth and your Social Security number for identity checks. Underdog may also confirm your age and identity through a third-party provider.
That's a lot of personal detail to hand to any app, so I'd make sure you're comfortable with it before you start. The reason it exists is simple: paid-entry contests are regulated in most states, and the operator has to show it knows who's playing and their age.
Deposits may be blocked, and you may not enter contests, until verification is complete. If Underdog can't verify you, the terms say it may suspend or terminate your account and withhold funds. That's the clause I'd read twice before depositing.
Where Underdog Pick'em is and isn't available
Underdog's help article on state eligibility says your location at the time you take part decides what you can do, not where you live. Pick'em is ineligible in 17 states, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. Where it isn't available, the Pick'em tab simply doesn't appear in the app.
The state list changes, so go to the live article rather than trusting a screenshot on social media.
Underdog withdrawals, holds and dispute terms
According to the terms, Underdog aims to process withdrawal requests typically within 10 business days after receiving them. It may hold a request for anti-fraud checks and may ask you for more information first. Contest winnings are held in a segregated bank account operated by a subsidiary.
Disputes go to final, binding arbitration on an individual basis, administered by JAMS, and class actions are waived. The terms give you 30 days from accepting the agreement to opt out by email. Most users never read that part, so it's worth doing before you deposit.
| What I checked | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Operator | Underdog Sports, LLC, per its terms |
| Launched | 2020, per Wikipedia |
| Minimum age | Generally 18, 19 or 21 in some states |
| Pick'em availability | Ineligible in 17 states |
| Withdrawal target | Typically within 10 business days |
| Winnings held | Segregated bank account run by a subsidiary |
| Disputes | JAMS arbitration, 30 day opt-out |
The New York settlement with Underdog
Legal Sports Report reported in 2025 that Underdog agreed to pull all contests from New York and pay a 17.5 million US dollar fine. The New York State Gaming Commission found that Underdog's Pick'em and Draft contests fell outside the temporary licence it inherited when it acquired Synkt Games.
The same report says the commission noted that Underdog cooperated and acted in good faith, and that the settlement doesn't stop it from returning. Underdog said it was a temporary licence issue specific to New York, and that it had applied for a permanent licence. I'm not going to tell you whether the product is lawful where you live. That's a question for your state regulator.
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Underdog deposit limits and playing within your means
Underdog's help centre explains that deposit limits use a rolling 30-day window. You can adjust a daily, weekly or monthly deposit limit from the Responsible Gaming tab in the app, and the article warns that changes can't be reversed once set. Read that before you pick a number, and pick one you'll stay under.
Paid entries can lose, however good your picks feel. If you're curious about the maths of why the house usually wins, my article on which casino games have the best odds goes through it, and my guide to legitimate ways to make money online covers options that don't depend on luck.
What Underdog's tax position means for you
Any winnings are your responsibility to report. My guide to whether side hustles get taxed is a UK view, so check with a US accountant about your own situation rather than relying on an app's help page.
Scam messages that borrow Underdog's name
Underdog's help pages describe support through the app and the help centre. They don't describe a stranger on social media offering to load your account, sell you a promo or recover funds for a fee. If a message like that reaches you, treat it as a scam, don't click anything and don't share a verification code.
Frequently asked questions
Is Underdog Fantasy legit?
It's a real company: its terms name Underdog Sports, LLC as the operator. Entries are paid, so you can lose money, and it isn't available in every state.
How old do you have to be for Underdog?
Underdog's terms say users must generally be 18 or older, and some states set a higher minimum of 19 or 21.
Why isn't Underdog Pick'em in my state?
Underdog says Pick'em is ineligible in 17 states, including New York, New Jersey and Michigan. The app hides the Pick'em tab where it isn't available.
How long do Underdog withdrawals take?
The terms say Underdog aims to process requests typically within 10 business days, and it may hold them for fraud checks.
What happened with Underdog in New York?
Legal Sports Report reported that Underdog agreed to leave New York and pay a 17.5 million US dollar fine over its licence.
Can you set limits on Underdog?
Yes. The Responsible Gaming tab lets you adjust daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits, and changes can't be reversed once set.
