Fantasy Sports Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Fantasy Sports Market is projected to experience substantial growth, expanding from USD 33.35 Billion in 2025 to USD 74.48 Billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 14.33%. This industry consists of digital platforms where participants assemble virtual teams of real-world athletes and compete based on the actual statistical performance of those athletes in live events. This expansion is largely underpinned by widespread high-speed internet availability, the growing penetration of smartphones, and collaborative partnerships between operators and professional sports leagues. These drivers enhance accessibility and further embed gaming into everyday sports media consumption. As evidence of this widespread engagement, the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association noted that approximately 57 million adults in the United States and Canada participated in fantasy sports in 2025, highlighting the sector's established presence in major consumer markets.

However, the market confronts significant obstacles due to intricate and divergent legal frameworks across various jurisdictions. A primary challenge is regulatory uncertainty, where the inconsistent classification of fantasy sports versus gambling imposes heavy compliance burdens that can hinder entry into new regions. Consequently, operators are forced to maneuver through a disjointed legislative landscape that demands considerable resources for management, potentially retarding global expansion efforts and discouraging investment in territories where statutory guidelines remain ambiguous.

Market Drivers

The extensive adoption of smartphones combined with high-speed internet connectivity acts as a primary engine for the Global Fantasy Sports Market. This technological infrastructure facilitates continuous user interaction, enabling participants to manage virtual rosters, monitor live statistics, and compete in real-time from any location. The transition toward mobile-first gaming has particularly hastened sector development in emerging economies where mobile data is affordable despite lower desktop penetration. According to the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports' February 2025 report, 'Beyond the Field: India's Sports Tech Revolution', the Indian fantasy sports industry generated revenues of INR 9,100 crore in FY24, demonstrating the massive economic value created by broad digital accessibility. This seamless connectivity supports high-frequency gameplay, which is essential for retaining modern digital-native consumers and fostering the growth of daily contest formats.

Furthermore, strategic alliances between fantasy platforms and professional sports associations are legitimizing and expanding the market by blending passive viewing with active gaming. By integrating directly with leagues, operators gain access to official real-time data and exclusive content, which elevates the authenticity and reliability of the user experience.

These partnerships also streamline customer acquisition by utilizing the existing fanbases of major sporting events to drive traffic to gaming apps. Illustrating the financial impact of these ecosystem ties, DraftKings Inc. reported revenue of $1.513 billion in its August 2025 'Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results', driven by robust engagement and acquisition strategies. Similarly reflecting the immense scale of this interactive sports economy, Flutter Entertainment reported that the group's global revenue for the first quarter of 2025 reached $3.665 billion.

Market Challenges

The principal hurdle impeding the Global Fantasy Sports Market is the complicated and diverse legal landscape found across different jurisdictions. As governments attempt to differentiate between skill-based fantasy sports and games of chance, operators face inconsistent regulatory classifications that result in burdensome compliance costs and strict taxation. This uncertainty forces companies to allocate significant resources toward legal management rather than product innovation, effectively stifling entry into new territories. Consequently, the unpredictability of legislative environments discourages institutional investment and hampers the strategic scalability required for international growth.

The severity of this impediment is clearly visible in major markets where regulatory tightening has directly impacted financial sustainability. For instance, the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports reported that in 2024, the industry witnessed no new investment inflows following the implementation of a rigorous tax regime that aligned fantasy gaming with gambling standards. This absence of capital infusion highlights how fragmented and punitive regulatory landscapes can freeze expansion efforts, causing operators to retreat or consolidate rather than pursuing the aggressive growth strategies necessary for a thriving global ecosystem.

Market Trends

The integration of Artificial Intelligence is fundamentally transforming user engagement by advancing beyond basic statistical projections to offer personalized, real-time decision support. Operators are utilizing generative AI to analyze immense unstructured datasets, providing participants with bespoke drafting advice and waiver wire recommendations that mimic professional coaching strategies. This technological shift empowers casual users to compete more effectively against experienced players, thereby increasing retention rates and platform stickiness. As noted in a September 2024 Sports Business Journal article titled 'ESPN, IBM unveil AI feature for ESPN Fantasy app', nearly 90% of surveyed fantasy football users regularly engaged with at least one AI-powered tool to manage their lineups, emphasizing the critical role of advanced analytics in the modern gameplay experience.

Simultaneously, rising participation among female demographics is expanding the total addressable market and diversifying the ecosystem's social dynamics. Platforms are increasingly tailoring their interfaces and marketing strategies to foster inclusive communities, leveraging the growing popularity of women's sports leagues to attract this underrepresented segment. This demographic shift is not only broadening the user base but also driving the adoption of new contest formats that prioritize social interaction over high-stakes betting. According to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association's 'Industry Demographics 2024' report from February 2024, women now constitute 35% of the total fantasy sports player base, reflecting a significant broadening of the sector's appeal beyond its traditional male-dominated audience.

Key Players Profiled in the Fantasy Sports Market

• Sporta Technologies Private Limited
• Yahoo Inc.
• CBS Broadcasting Inc.
• NFL Enterprises LLC
• NBA Media Ventures, LLC
• MLB Advanced Media, LP
• MYTEAM11 Fantasy Sports Private Limited
• SuperDraft, Inc.
• DraftKings Inc.
• Scout & Co

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Fantasy Sports Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Fantasy Sports Market, by Sports Type:

• Fantasy Football
• Fantasy Baseball
• Fantasy Basketball
• Fantasy Cricket
• Others

Fantasy Sports Market, by Platform:

• Mobile Apps
• Websites

Fantasy Sports Market, by Demographics:

• Under 25 Years
• 25 to 40 Years
• Above 40 Years

Fantasy Sports Market, by Pricing Model:

• One Time Payment
• Subscription
• Freemium

Fantasy Sports Market, by Application:

• Individual Competition
• Team Competition

Fantasy Sports Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Fantasy Sports Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.