In today’s hyperactive world, the line between reality and virtual engagement is actually losing its connection fast, especially in the sports era. For example, fantasy sports apps like DraftKings and FanDuel have made themselves a differential factor, attracting millions of fans who wish to use their sports knowledge and have a fun gaming experience. With industry leaders like FanDuel and DraftKings raising the playing standards, the fantasy sports app development niche has become the primary aspect for businesses and developers.
This blog will tell you the market size, mechanics, costs, and revenue generation models associated with fantasy sports. Although the competition and the demand for the best fantasy sports apps continue to rise this makes the fantasy sports market grow faster. So let’s get into the blog!
Market Overview of Fantasy Sports App Market
The global fantasy sports app market has witnessed its faster growth over the past decade. According to global fantasy sports market, market size was projected at $ 24,853.7 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 56,381.2 million by 2030, increasing at a CAGR of 15.2% from 2025 to 2030.
Key Growth Drivers:
- With a revenue share of more than 37% in 2024, the North American fantasy sports market is leading the world.
- In 2024, the U.S. fantasy sports market held a dominant 86% of the market.
- With a revenue share of more than 33% in 2024, the team sports sector has the major market based on sports.
- In 2024, the football/soccer segment has the biggest market share by sport.
- In 2024, North America was the largest market.
Market Size & Forecast
- Share of the Market in 2024: USD 24,853.7 Million
- Market Size Estimated for 2030: USD 56,381.2 Million
- CAGR for 2025–2030: 15.2%
- In 2024, North America will be the largest market.
- Asia Pacific: A dynamic and expanding market
As a result, fantasy sports app development services are in popular demand, specifically from businesses that want to enter this ongoing digital landscape. It is specifically for the playing enthusiasts who want to uplift their gaming experience and make the most of it. Also, various mobile app development companies are being approached to develop fantasy sports apps like DraftKings.
Meaning of Fantasy Sports App
A fantasy sports app is a platform where users can make virtual teams consisting of real-life players and develop a fun experience for themselves. The teams get points based on the actual performance of the players. Users can fight against each other and can earn rewards or monetary benefits. Although there are custom fantasy sports app development services that can help the fantasy sports app to work more effectively.
These apps have the major category of daily fantasy sports apps and seasonal leagues, depending on the duration of the game. These apps are known for fun strategic mindset, and real-world sports data to provide an interactive user experience. Fantasy sports apps like DraftKings and FanDuel have made this concept mainstream, with millions of users participating daily.
Overview of FanDuel and DraftKings
FanDuel and DraftKings are the two prominent players in the fantasy sports industry space. These apps have various fantasy contests across different sports such as NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, PGA, and more. These platforms have significantly influenced how developers develop fantasy game apps
FanDuel: FanDuel has a user-friendly interface to engage users to use their app effectively.This app has made it visible in the fantasy sports app market. It enables users to place real-time bets on their current game. In addition to it, top fantasy sports app development trends are majorly influenced by platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings.
DraftKings: DraftKings provides similar features to FanDuel. It excels in custom fantasy leagues and is a perfect mobile application, both for newbies and professionals. Apps like these have advanced analytics tools that provide users with real-time insights. It is one of the engaging fantasy sports apps in the market. Fantasy sports app development companies frequently use DraftKings as a model while providing personalized app specific requirements.
It ensures scalability and user engagement. Businesses who want to develop fantasy sports apps like fanduel and draftkings must use user-centric features.
Why Are Fantasy Sports Apps Well Liked?
Fantasy sports apps are popular for various reasons. Even for a fun fact due to its massive popularity there are various opportunities for the business owners and the job owners who want to excel in their career as fantasy sports app developer or anything related to this can actually build their vision of success in a great manner.
Interactive Entertainment: Users are not just viewing the content, they play against each other with a motive to earn in return. Fantasy sports apps like DraftKings provide a fun experience that allows users to use their strategic mindset, check player stats, and matchups to create a fun environment.
Social Engagement: These apps include chat features, private leagues, and forums that build community interaction. Fantasy sports apps like DraftKings are famous for their social interaction. It allows players to give challenges to friends, chat with loved ones to enhance the communal vibe.
Skill-Based Gaming: Unlike pure luck-based games, fantasy sports provide knowledge, research, and strategy to the users. Fantasy sports apps like DraftKings and FanDuel are the best platforms where users can use their expertise in player selection and team management. Success on these platforms depends on the deep understanding of the game, making it a basic pursuit rather than random chance.
Monetary Incentives: Platforms like FanDuel sports provide various cash prizes. It makes the experience engaging. Whether you’re using fantasy sports apps like fanduel or other similar apps, the significance of high-value rewards adds an exciting element to every game.
General Tip
- Fantasy sports apps like DraftKings and FanDuel showcase the best excellence in fantasy app development to ensure that users can enjoy their experiences and live updates anytime, anywhere.
- The fantasy sports app like DraftKings boosts the overall mobile experience by keeping users engaged through different features such as fast data feeds, and smooth interfaces.
- Daily fantasy sports apps have also increased the urge of engagement and profitability to encourage frequent user participation and interaction.
- The integration of mobile application development and real-time sports data boosts the user experience.
How FanDuel and DraftKings Are Changing the Sports World?
FanDuel sports apps and DraftKings are not just playing apps, they are cultural phenomena in the fantasy sports world.
- Increased Fan Engagement: Fans are more inclined in playing games, even those that don’t have their favorite teams.
- New Revenue Streams: Teams and leagues now earn from partnerships, sponsorships, and affiliate programs with these platforms.
- Data-Driven Users: Users are motivated to analyze player statistics, making viewership more authentic and interactive.
These companies are creating innovation in mobile app development, integrating features like live updates, predictive analytics, and AI-driven recommendations. Sports betting app development and fantasy sports app development now overlap as fan preferences emerge.
Some exciting facts about fantasy sports industry:
- The female segment is expected to rise in the fantasy sports world in the future.
- Across the USA and Canada, there are 59 million people approx who are big playing enthusiasts.
- There is a sudden urge in millions of people to play fantasy sports to get the fun gaming experience.
Explore More: Top Fantasy Sports App Development Companies In The World
How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App Like FanDuel and DraftKings?
There are numerous factors which determine how much it costs to develop fantasy sports apps. Given below are some questions that you can overlook in this scenario.
- Which iOS or Android platform can you use to create your fantasy sports app?
- What features would you like to include?
- The type of UI/UX elements you are including
- Which kind of team are you working with to develop apps?
The above mentioned elements significantly affect how much it costs to develop an app. Generally, it can cost anything from $10,000 on average. Although creating a fantasy game app like FanDuel or DraftKings involves different cost factors:
1. App Design and Structure
The apps like draftkings and FanDuel include UI/UX design for a simple, fun experience across various devices. The fantasy sports app costs are based on features (simple/complex), animation effects, and custom features. Overall, a user-friendly interface improves user engagement.
2. Platform
Cross-platform development tools can minimize cost. However, native apps provide better performance and can impact the cost significantly. These types of decisions can be on target user devices and budget. Every platform has its own compliance, testing, and publishing ways.
3. App Features
The app features involve user profiles, team developing, scoring systems, real-time updates, leaderboards, and payment gateways. The complex and real-time data of these systems will increase its development costs. The quality backend logic ensures easy gameplay and compliance with fantasy sports rules and laws.
4. Third-Party API
Fantasy apps are based on third-party APIs for real-time sports data, analytics, and payments. Reliable providers take licensing or usage fees. There are integration costs such as developer time and testing to provide authenticity, speed, and security.
5. Backend Infrastructure
A secure backend supports user management, game logic, and live data processing. The cloud services (e.g., AWS, Firebase) are mainly used. The ongoing maintenance and monitoring are also needed to ensure uptime.
6. Legal Compliance
Fantasy sports are regulated by state or country laws. The legal costs generally consist of obtaining licenses, creating user agreements, privacy policies, and compliance with gambling laws.Also in case of failure it can lead to shutdowns or fines, making legal oversight an vital investment previously.
7. Security
The security costs include data encryption, secure authentication (e.g., 2FA), fraud detection, and regular audits. Strong security improves user trust, and is important for brand credibility but involves the breach of conduct risk.
8. Marketing and User Acquisition
After launch, targeting users through paid ads, influencer marketing, or partnerships needs a good budget. Cost per acquisition can be way more in the fantasy sports space. The ongoing campaigns are necessary to maintain users, increase engagement, and build a loyal fan base.
Also by partnering with an experienced fantasy sports mobile app development company can help in cost optimization without lowering the basic standard of developing an app. These companies have expertise in custom fantasy sports app development and bring best experience in mobile application development.
How Does Fantasy Sports Apps Make Money?
User interaction models of DraftKings and FanDuel ensures their users participate in daily or weekly contests to get more involved in the game usually. It increases user engagement and creates revenue as well. Moreover, fantasy sports apps involves various monetization options:
- Entry Fees & Contests: In apps like Draftkings users pay to join premium contests and win cash prizes. It is one of the primal ways that an app can make money. It is kind of a basic way to generate money by holding multiple contests and more.
- In-App Purchases: Special features, player insights, or advanced analytics can be charged as a fee. It is a premium or a medium way to make money because when a user opts for this option they get the required return for it.
- Advertisements: Display ads, video ads, and sponsorships are common revenue channels. By continuously providing ads or any sponsorship programs to the users can help your reach to wider audience thus by which a significant money can be generated.
- Subscriptions: Premium features like ad-free experience or exclusive leagues can be an option for mode of money generation. It is a long term money generation model for the users to have a long term experience with exclusive features and for businesses to get their money seamlessly.
- Partnerships & Licensing: Collaborations with sports leagues and broadcasters. It is a revenue model that includes collaboration with big companies or people who have a designated position to advertise the app on a bigger level.
The above monetization models of fantasy sports apps is an attractive business opportunity. Companies that develop fantasy sports app like FanDuel often use multiple monetization strategies to increase ROI.
Key to your success: Develop Fantasy Sports App with Helpful Insight!
Fantasy sports apps have changed how fans interact with their favorite sports.The success of fantasy sports app like DraftKings and FanDuel has opened different possibilities for entrepreneurs, investors, and developers. By reading the above blog you must have understood how fantasy sports apps like DraftKings and FanDuel changed the sports industry. With increasing demand for custom fantasy sports app development, now is the perfect time to invest in an engaging platform.
Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise you can hire dedicated developer and can use expert fantasy sports software development services as it can be a prime factor to develop a successful product in this booming market.
As mobile app development space continues to emerge with new technologies like AI, blockchain, and AR/VR, the future of fantasy sports apps promises even more personalized experiences. Now is the time to turn your fantasy gaming experience into a profitable vision with us because as a fantasy sports mobile app development company in USA we believe in what our users want and how we can help in creating that.
FAQs
These apps have increased fan engagement by making users participate in daily fantasy sports (DFS) games. Fans can engage with games through real-time fantasy contests. These apps provide a better and interactive experience. This has made watching sports more exciting and happening.
Apps like DraftKings and FanDuel have used different revenue models for sports leagues and teams. They earn through partnerships, sponsorships, and advertising, while players can play fantasy contests. This creates an additional layer of financial involvement, making sports a niche specific industry for all stakeholders.
These platforms rely on data analytics, transforming how sports performance and trends are analyzed. DraftKings and FanDuel provide proper statistics that help fantasy players to make proper strategic decisions. This shift has led to data-driven strategies within professional sports and fantasy sports communities.
DraftKings and FanDuel have been vital players in the legalization and expansion of the sports industry. They’ve the wide acceptance of legal sports wagering in the U.S., making fantasy sports apps from a niche activity into a mainstream and regulated industry, which brings new opportunities and challenges.
