Fantasy Sports Market By Sport Type (Football (Soccer), Cricket, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Esports, Others); By Platform (Mobile Applications, Websites); By Mode of Play (Daily Fantasy Sports, Seasonal Fantasy Sports); By End-User (Individual Players, Corporate Users (Workplace Leagues)); By Geography, Segment revenue estimation, Forecast, 2024–2032.

The global fantasy sports market was USD 22 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 48 billion from 2024 to 2030 at a CAGR of 11.8%.

 

The Fantasy Sports Market may be defined as an internet-based playing system in which people use real sports players to assemble their teams, and the points scored by these players in actual games are used to determine winners. The market has expanded in the last years due to tech evolutions, the growth of sports spectators, and the continuous improvement of mobile internet access. Fantasy sports include sports that compel interest and interaction from sports fans, thus becoming sources of income for sports teams and brands to advertise.

 

Market Drivers

Rising Popularity of Sports Leagues: The growing number of people watching leagues like the NFL, NBA, IPL, EPL, and Place UEFA Champions League has greatly boosted fantasy sports. Sports fans require more than watching their preferred sports leagues or other fantasy outlets to help with this. Example: The IPL 2023 opened a new market with more than 20 million users who began using platforms with fantasy cricket in India.

 

Advancements in Mobile Technology: The widespread availability of smartphones and faster internet connections are major factors contributing to the increasing number of people participating in fantasy sports. Mobile apps provide users with more convenient solutions that are easy to manage, offering better response options and timely policy updates. Example: Mobile fantasy sports in the United States were convenient and easy to access through applications, and therefore, they controlled 65% of total fantasy sports revenue in 2023.

 

Increasing Adoption of Gamification: B2C players use game design elements, including rewards, badges, and leaderboards, to popularize their platforms for fantasy sports. Using gamification elements brings more benefits to these platforms for casual and active users. For example, a fantasy hockey platform in Canada implemented the tiered reward system in 2023 to enhance user engagement by 30% during the NHL season.

 

Market Opportunities

Integration of Emerging Technologies: Advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, and AR enhance the user experience in fantasy sports applications. For example, a fantasy esports platform was launched in South Korea in 2023 that used AI to predict outcomes for the teams, steadily gaining more than 500,000 clients in the first quarter of the year.

 

Expansion in Emerging Markets: Asia-Pacific, Latin American, and African countries have attractive growth potential because of the wise use of smartphones, popular sports, and growing digital payments. For example, the fantasy football market in Brazil expanded to 18% in 2023 due to its football leagues and increased internet capabilities.

 

Rise of Fantasy Esports: Expanding esports means fresh opportunities to address fans of games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and CS: GO. Immersive Virtual Reality utilizes virtual reality technology to let consumers draft actual video gamers and get paid based on their performance. Example: An esports fantasy in China also found that during the 2023 League of Legends World Championship, user participation grew by 25%.

 

Market Restraints

Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Currently, the legality and regulation of fantasy sports mainly depend on the geography of operations, especially in terms of gambling laws and taxation policies. This leads to risks for the platform operators and thus hinders market growth. Example: For instance, a fantasy football platform in Germany in 2023 shut down due to strict Federal State regulations that banned activities considered equal to gambling.

 

Concerns About Data Privacy: Playground applicants submit delicate individual and monetary data on fantasy stages, which might trigger the vulnerability of data tussles and break-ins. Example: A data breach of a fantasy cricket platform in the year 2023 exposed more than 1 million users in India, which is why cybersecurity has become the need of the hour.

 

Market Segmentation

By Sport Type

• Football (Soccer)

• Cricket

• Basketball

• Baseball

• Hockey

• Esports

• Others

 

By Platform

• Mobile Applications

• Websites

 

By Mode of Play

• Daily Fantasy Sports

• Seasonal Fantasy Sports

 

By End-User

• Individual Players

• Corporate Users (Workplace Leagues)

 

By Region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia-Pacific

• Latin America

• Middle East & Africa

 

Segment Analysis of the Fantasy Sports Market

By Sport Type:

Leading Segment: Football (Soccer)

Football (Soccer) is the leading segment in the fantasy sports market, holding the largest market share. The global popularity of soccer, especially in regions like Europe, Latin America & Asia, drives its dominance in the fantasy sports industry. Fantasy football attracts millions of players globally, with major leagues like the English Premier League, La Liga, and the FIFA World Cup contributing significantly to its growth. The market share of fantasy football in the sports segment is approximately 35-40% of the total market. Fantasy leagues in soccer, supported by prominent platforms such as FanDuel & DraftKings, continue to lead the charge, drawing massive audiences every season.

Fastest-Growing Segment: Esports

Esports is the fastest-growing segment in the fantasy sports market, with a projected CAGR of 20-22% over the next few years. The rise of competitive gaming & the massive audience it attracts, especially among younger demographics, is fueling this growth. Fantasy esports, which revolves around popular games like League of Legends, Dota 2 & Counter-Strike, is becoming increasingly integrated into mainstream sports platforms. With online gaming leagues attracting sponsorships & viewership on platforms like Twitch & YouTube, the segment is poised to expand rapidly.

 

By Platform:

Leading Segment: Mobile Applications

Mobile applications dominate the fantasy sports market as the leading platform. With smartphones becoming ubiquitous, fantasy sports apps offer users a convenient & immersive experience for managing teams, tracking scores, and participating in contests on the go. The mobile application segment holds around 60-65% of the total market share. Platforms like ESPN Fantasy, Yahoo Fantasy & FanDuel, which are optimized for mobile use, contribute significantly to this growth.

Fastest-Growing Segment: Websites

Websites are the fastest-growing platform segment in the fantasy sports market, with a CAGR of 15-18%. Although mobile applications have a larger share, websites are seeing increasing use due to their more extensive features & larger displays, which are particularly appealing to fantasy sports enthusiasts who manage multiple leagues and engage in deeper statistical analysis. Many major platforms are optimizing their websites to provide a seamless experience, encouraging more users to participate via browsers.

 

By Mode of Play:

Leading Segment: Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is the leading mode of play in the fantasy sports market, contributing a significant portion to the total revenue. DFS offers players the chance to participate in short-term competitions, typically lasting a day or week, which is appealing to users who seek quick, action-packed experiences. This mode is particularly popular in sports like football, basketball & esports. The DFS segment is projected to have 50-55% of the total market share. Major DFS platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel & FantasyDraft are key players in this segment.

Fastest-Growing Segment: Seasonal Fantasy Sports

Seasonal Fantasy Sports is the fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 18-20%. Seasonal leagues, where participants build teams that span an entire sports season, continue to attract dedicated fans. The increase in online & mobile platforms supporting seasonal leagues and the widespread adoption of fantasy football during the NFL season are driving this growth. As users increasingly seek long-term engagement with fantasy sports, seasonal formats are expected to see robust expansion in the coming years.

 

By End-User:

Leading Segment: Individual Players

Individual players constitute the largest end-user segment in the fantasy sports market. These players participate in fantasy leagues independently, managing their teams & engaging in competitions to win prizes or bragging rights. The individual player segment makes up approximately 70-75% of the total end-user market. The massive scale of participation from casual players & fantasy sports enthusiasts is the primary reason for this segment's dominance.

Fastest-Growing Segment: Corporate Users (Workplace Leagues)

Corporate users, particularly workplace leagues, represent the fastest-growing segment in the fantasy sports market, with a CAGR of 22-25%. Fantasy sports leagues are increasingly being adopted in workplaces as team-building exercises & employee engagement activities. These leagues help enhance camaraderie among colleagues, making corporate leagues an attractive proposition for companies seeking to foster a fun, competitive environment. The growing number of corporate fantasy sports leagues and the rise of platforms that cater to this segment contribute to its rapid expansion.

 

By Region:

Leading Region: North America

North America is the leading region in the fantasy sports market, holding a dominant share due to the strong presence of fantasy sports platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings, as well as the widespread popularity of sports like American football, basketball, and baseball. The market in North America accounts for approximately 40-45% of the global fantasy sports market. The high penetration of fantasy sports in the United States & Canada, combined with a favorable regulatory environment, makes North America the largest market.

Fastest-Growing Region: Asia-Pacific

The APAC region is the fastest-growing market for fantasy sports, with a CAGR of 18-20%. This growth is driven by the increasing popularity of sports like cricket in countries such as India & Australia, as well as the growing esports sector in countries like China & South Korea. With rising internet penetration, smartphone adoption, and disposable income, the APAC region is quickly becoming a major player in the global fantasy sports market. Platforms like Dream11 in India have seen a surge in users, further contributing to the region’s rapid expansion.

 

Key Players

• DraftKings Inc.

• FanDuel Group

• Dream11

• MyTeam11

• Yahoo Fantasy Sports

• ESPN Fantasy Sports

• Boom Fantasy

• RotoGrinders

• Hattrick

• Sleeper

 

Fantasy Sports Market Report Coverage

Report Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2023 – 2030
Market Size Value in 2023	USD 22 billion
Revenue Forecast in 2030	USD 48 billion
Overall Growth Rate	CAGR of 11.8%
Base Year for Estimation	2022
Historical Data	2017 – 2021
Unit	USD Billion, CAGR (2023 - 2030)
Segmentation	By Sport Type, By Platform, By Mode of Play, By End-User, By Region
By Sport Type	Football (Soccer), Cricket, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Esports, Others
By Platform	Mobile Applications, Websites
By Mode of Play	Daily Fantasy Sports, Seasonal Fantasy Sports
By End-User	Individual Players, Corporate Users (Workplace Leagues)
By Region	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa
Country Scope	US, Canada, Germany, UK, France, China, Japan, India, etc.
Key Market Drivers	Rising popularity of sports leagues, advancements in mobile technology, and increasing adoption of gamification elements in platforms.
Pricing and Purchase Options	Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs.

 

Future Outlook

With technological advancements, a growing interest in sports, and a diversifying customer base, the Fantasy Sports Market has great potential for growth. New markets of Asia-Pacific and Latin America will command the industry's destiny.

 

By 2030, advanced solutions like AR-based live drafts, AI-generated analytics, and blockchain-integrated reward systems will reshape the market and provide engaging and differentiated content to fantasy sports fans worldwide. As more opportunities open up in esports, female viewership, and new and developing nations, the fantasy sports market will remain an anchor for sports fans.