Underdog Fantasy NY quick facts
| Operator | Underdog Sports, Inc.; NY permit held by Synkt Games, Inc. d/b/a Underdog |
| NY status | Live, draft contests only, since around May 15, 2025 |
| Formats in NY | Best Ball tournaments, daily snake drafts |
| Pick’em | Not available in New York |
| Welcome offer | No sign-up offer in NY right now |
| Promo Code | None, as there’s no current offer |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| App rating (iOS) | 4.8 (327,000 ratings) |
Best Ball and snake drafts: what Underdog offers New Yorkers
Underdog is one of the 13 operators on the NY State Gaming Commission’s permitted fantasy list, but in New York it’s a draft app, nothing more.
Best Ball. You draft a roster before or early in the season and never touch it again. Each week your highest-scoring players count automatically, and your season total is compared with the rest of your draft room and, in tournaments, thousands of other teams. No waivers, no lineup setting. It suits NFL fans who love draft night and hate Sunday-morning lineup decisions.
Daily snake drafts. The same idea over a single slate. You join a small room, draft in snake order, and the highest score wins. It’s faster than salary-cap DFS and more social, because you’re reacting to what the person before you took.
Both formats pass New York’s test because the result depends on a team you built, not on one athlete beating a stat line.
Off the table: Underdog pick’em
Underdog’s best-known product elsewhere is pick’em: choose whether players go higher or lower than a projected stat. That’s exactly what New York banned.
On Oct. 3, 2023, the NYSGC adopted rules that fantasy contests “shall not be based on proposition betting or contests that have the effect of mimicking proposition betting.” Neither Underdog’s house-banked pick’em nor its peer-to-peer version is offered here. If you see a pick’em screen in an ad, it isn’t for New York. Our NY gambling laws guide sets out what is and isn’t legal by vertical.
For player-stat contests, PrizePicks is the one legal option. It came back in February 2026 with peer-to-peer Player Picks only.
Underdog’s $17.5 million settlement with the NYSGC
On March 14, 2025, the NYSGC announced a settlement with Underdog over what it described as unpermitted contests in the state. Underdog agreed to pay $17.5 million, according to SBC Americas and Vixio, and to stop offering certain contest types in New York unless they’re permitted under state law.
The background: Underdog held its New York permit through Synkt Games, which it bought in December 2022. The commission said some contests fell outside the terms of that temporary permit. Underdog also agreed to pay back taxes on fantasy revenue Synkt hadn’t paid.
Underdog paused all New York operations after the deal. Around May 15, 2025, it relaunched with draft-style contests only.
That puts it alongside PrizePicks, which paid New York $15 million in February 2024 over contests the commission treated as sports wagers. Between them, the two pick’em leaders paid $32.5 million.
No Underdog welcome offer in New York right now
There’s no Underdog sign-up offer for New York players at the moment. The bonus in Underdog’s App Store listing is built around pick’em, which isn’t available here, so don’t count on it.
That’s a real gap. DraftKings Fantasy offers a 20% first deposit match up to $1,000 in DK Dollars and FanDuel Fantasy a 100% first deposit bonus up to $100, both with No Promo Code needed.
Underdog app: 4.8 stars and a new name
Underdog’s iOS app holds 4.8 stars from 327,000 ratings. It has been renamed “Underdog: Sports, Games & Rips” as the company has added products, and underdogfantasy.com now redirects to underdogsports.com.
Drafts are where Underdog built its name, and they remain the core of the app in New York. Expect to see other products advertised that you can’t use from here.
Prediction markets, and why New York is wary of Underdog
In September 2026, Underdog shut down drafts in seven states (Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio) to protect its prediction-market platform. New York wasn’t affected, and drafts continue here.
Prediction markets are a live legal fight in New York. The state’s position is that sports event contracts are illegal unlicensed gambling, and it has sued Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase and Gemini. Our prediction markets guide follows the cases.
Underdog upsides and downsides
Pros – Strong Best Ball and snake-draft product – Legal at 18 in New York – 4.8-star app with 327,000 iOS ratings – NY drafts survived Underdog’s seven-state shutdown
Cons – No pick’em in New York – No sign-up offer in NY right now – $17.5 million settlement history
Our 7.2 rating reflects a top-quality draft product held back by a narrow New York menu and no welcome offer.
Underdog vs. other fantasy apps for NY players
| App | NY formats | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|
| Underdog | Best Ball, snake drafts | No sign-up offer in NY right now |
| DraftKings Fantasy | Salary cap, Showdown, tournaments | 20% first deposit match up to $1,000 in DK Dollars |
| FanDuel Fantasy | Salary cap, Best Ball, snake drafts | 100% first deposit bonus up to $100 |
| PrizePicks | Peer-to-peer Player Picks | Play $5, get $150 in Bonus Lineups if you win |
If you want Best Ball with a welcome offer, FanDuel also runs Best Ball and snake drafts. For big salary-cap tournaments, DraftKings is the pick. Every legal app is compared in our NY daily fantasy guide.
Fantasy drafts in NY: Underdog FAQ
Is Underdog legal in New York?
Yes, for draft contests. Underdog’s permit is held by Synkt Games, Inc. d/b/a Underdog, and it offers Best Ball and daily snake drafts to players 18 and over.
Can you play Underdog pick’em in New York?
No. New York’s 2023 rules ban fantasy contests that mimic prop betting, and Underdog’s pick’em isn’t offered in the state.
Why did Underdog leave New York?
It settled with the NY State Gaming Commission on March 14, 2025, for $17.5 million over unpermitted contests, and paused. It returned with drafts only around May 15, 2025.
Is there an Underdog promo code for New York?
No. There’s no Underdog sign-up offer for New York players right now.
How old do you have to be to play Underdog in New York?
18, the minimum age for paid fantasy contests under New York law.
18+ and physically in New York. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-877-8-HOPENY (467369).