- Underdog announced first investment with idPair
- First investment through Underdog’s “GuardDog” program
- Underdog has pledged a $1 million total investment in responsible gaming
Underdog Fantasy, which will launch its first sports betting app in North Carolina next week, announced its first GuardDog grant to idPair.
Last year, Underdog Fantasy announced its new GuardDog program, an investment initiative dedicated to fostering innovation in responsible gaming. The company launched GuardDog with a $1 million investment.
According to Underdog, idPair’s technology creates a centralized view of an individual’s play and gambling activity across all applications and operators in a jurisdiction for regulators. This data can help provide for universal responsible gaming limits.
First Grant Through GuardDog
GuardDog’s mission “is to identify, invest and help grow innovative startups that help real-money operators operator responsibly and player play responsibly.”
“Most users play with more than one operator for their gaming activity. The opportunity we see with idPair is the ability to connect people and their play, and use those insights to inform enhanced responsible gaming initiatives,” said Adam Warrington, vice president, responsible gaming at Underdog, in a release. “Operators can only focus on their individual platforms. We believe that the ability to partner with regulators using idPair’s technology will create opportunities for partnerships that advance safer play.”
idPair is currently active in several jurisdictions. In addition to an investment from the GuardDog fund, the company will have access to top advisory, mentors, and investors and will be prioritized for integration into Underdog product offerings.
idPair has also partnered with several major universities to facilitate the study of anonymized transactional data by experts in the field.
The company creates a centralized repository of transactional data to analyze consumer behavior across multiple gambling platforms. By connecting data, the company can give regulators a comprehensive view of each user’s gambling activity, regardless of how many sports betting apps they use. The company can also facilitate interventions for users exhibiting high-risk behavior between regulators, operators, and consumers while prioritizing data privacy.
“We are thrilled about GuardDog’s investment and partnership with us,” said Jonathan Aiwazian, CEO of idPair, in a press release.
“By leveraging their vast network and data, we can accelerate our mission to drive collaborative information sharing among operators and regulators, ultimately fostering a safer and more sustainable environment for all. Together, we look forward to making significant leaps in consumer protection and industry innovation.”
Long List of Potential Mentors
In addition to monetary investments, idPair will also have access to advisors, mentors, and investors from a community of former regulators, experienced funders, responsible gaming experts, and other who can help grow their business.
GuardDog and Underdog Fantasy have compiled an extensive list of mentors that include Brianne Doura-Schawohl, renowned responsible gaming advocate; Adam Warrington, former vice president of Responsible Gaming at FanDuel; Chris Grove, partner at Acies Investments; Dan Hartman, former director of the Colorado Division of Gaming; and Sara Tait, former executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Underdog Fantasy was founded in 2020. UnderDog Fantasy offers its draft daily fantasy sports games in 41 states and its Pick ‘Em games in 33 states.
Underdog Fantasy, a popular daily fantasy sports platform, recently announced the launch of their inaugural Responsible Gaming Grant. This grant aims to promote responsible gaming practices and support initiatives that help prevent and address problem gambling within the fantasy sports community.
The Underdog Fantasy Awards Inaugural Responsible Gaming Grant is a significant step towards ensuring the well-being of players and fostering a safe and enjoyable gaming environment. The grant will provide financial support to organizations and programs that focus on promoting responsible gaming, educating players about the risks of problem gambling, and providing resources for those who may be struggling with addiction.
This initiative comes at a time when the issue of problem gambling in the fantasy sports industry is gaining more attention. With the rise of online gaming platforms and the increasing popularity of daily fantasy sports, it is important for companies like Underdog Fantasy to take proactive measures to address this issue and protect their players.
By offering this grant, Underdog Fantasy is demonstrating their commitment to promoting responsible gaming practices and supporting the well-being of their players. This initiative not only benefits the fantasy sports community but also sets a positive example for other companies in the industry to follow.
Overall, the Underdog Fantasy Awards Inaugural Responsible Gaming Grant is a commendable effort to address the issue of problem gambling in the fantasy sports industry. By supporting organizations and programs that promote responsible gaming practices, Underdog Fantasy is taking a proactive approach to ensure the safety and well-being of their players.
