Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019 – A roundup of some of the key sports technology stories you need to know, including SportTechie’s own content and stories from around the web.
- DraftKings and the Arena Football League Launch new Fantasy Game: DraftKings and the AFL have created a new daily fantasy sports game for the 2019 Arena Football League season, which begins Friday. Users can construct lineups of six AFL players, but are restricted to a $50,000 salary cap. As part of the partnership, fans in New Jersey and Mississippi can also place bets on AFL games throughout the season via the DraftKings’ sportsbook.
- Epic Games Bans 1,200 Accounts for Cheating in Fortnite World Cup: Last week, Fornite developer Epic Games banned more than 1,200 online accounts for cheating during the Fortnite World Cup. A total of 1,163 accounts received a two-week ban for bypassing regional restrictions, while other users were punished for account sharing, teaming, and using cheat software. More than 200 users caught cheating will have to forfeit prize money they had won during the competition. The Fortnite World Cup finals will take place at the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, N.Y. from Jul. 26 to 28, with $30 million available in prize winnings.
- National Lacrosse League to Stream Games Outside North America on Fanseat: Viewers outside of North America will be able to watch NLL games streamed via Fanseat for the remainder of the current season and playoffs. The regular season ends Apr. 27, and the postseason begins the first week of May. The Fanseat service costs $8.99 per month and also provides live streaming access to various ice hockey and basketball leagues throughout Europe. “Lacrosse has grown internationally over the past decade at a rapid rate and there is global interest in our sport and League now more than ever before,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz, in a press release.
- Meadowlands Hosts Betting on Sports America Conference This Week: The Sports Betting Community will host the Betting on Sports America conference from Apr. 23 through Apr. 25 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey. The event will feature 175 speakers across 40 panels, 60 exhibitors demoing new sports betting-related products, and a keynote talk from New Jersey governor Phil Murphy. Discussion topics will include the usage of betting data, a panel on AI and innovation, and sport-specific panels on how the NBA and NFL are approaching sports betting legalization.