Underdog to Shutter NC Sportsbook in Favor of Predictions

Underdog Fantasy sportsbook is done trying to compete in the regulated sports betting industry.

The DFS giant announced it will be pulling its sportsbook out of North Carolina. The state was the only market in which Underdog’s sportsbook was active, meaning it will no longer be available anywhere in the US. The platform will officially shut down on December 17.

The good news for Underdog Sportsbook customers is that there is no rush to withdraw funds from their accounts. All accounts will remain active as a part of the operator’s fantasy platform, which will remain active in the state.

Underdog will also offer maximum payouts for any bets, including parlays, that will settle after December 18. They will also change any outstanding bonuses into withdrawable funds, helping to keep customers happy amid the closure.

The move doesn’t come as a surprise, given Underdog’s new focus on sports prediction markets. The operator pulled out of Missouri shortly before their market went live, citing its shift in focus. 

By exiting the North Carolina sports betting market, that shift is now complete.

Underdog Pushes to Keep Customers

While the sportsbook may be closing, Underdog will still offer a DFS platform. The operator remains one of the country’s largest fantasy platforms, and wants to ensure bettors using the platform won’t leave after the sportsbook’s closure.

While DFS may be the immediate focus, Underdog’s customer-friendly offers are likely an attempt to win over future prediction market customers. The operator isn’t offering its platform in North Carolina, but it seems likely that was an attempt to protect their sportsbook license. With that no longer an issue, there isn’t anything to stop them from expanding into the market.

The surprise launch of a new Fanatics Prediction platform may have also played a role in Underdog’s effort to keep customers happy. 

The sports betting giant has been growing rapidly, establishing itself as the third-most popular option in more markets. That’s bad news for Underdog, which offered sports bettors a more familiar experience in a new industry. Fanatics’ surprise launch ends that advantage and could cause a massive hit to the platform’s user base.