You'd never call yourself a bettor. You just make a couple of picks before the games. More or less on a guard's points, more or less on a quarterback's yards. Then it's every night, and the entries keep getting bigger.
Pick'em apps like PrizePicks and Underdog are hugely popular, especially with younger fans. You pick whether players will go over or under a stat line, and if your picks hit, you win a multiple of your entry. Plenty of people who use them every day don't think of it as betting at all.
How PrizePicks and other pick'em apps work
You choose two or more player stats, like a quarterback's passing yards or a guard's points, and pick more or less than the line. All your picks usually have to hit to win the full payout. If that sounds a lot like a parlay of player props to you, you're not alone.
Is PrizePicks gambling?
The companies call their contests daily fantasy sports, a competition based on skill. But several state regulators have pushed back on "against-the-house" pick'em. They argue it works like sports betting and should be regulated that way. New York banned prop-style pick'em contests in 2023, and PrizePicks reached a $15 million settlement with New York regulators in 2024. California's attorney general issued an opinion in 2025 concluding that daily fantasy contests violate state gambling law. In some states, the apps have switched to "peer-to-peer" versions instead.
So the legal answer depends on where you live. If you're trying to quit, though, it's close enough to betting that it can hook you the same way.
Why pick'em apps are so easy to get hooked on
- It doesn't feel like betting, so it's easy to tell yourself it doesn't count.
- Most states let you play at 18, younger than the usual 21 for sportsbooks.
- Multi-pick entries work like parlays. Every pick has to hit, and a near miss feels like you almost won.
- Promos and bonuses work the same way sportsbook offers do.
Signs pick'em has become a problem
- You're entering picks every day, or for games you don't care about.
- You chase losses with bigger entries.
- You hide how much you're putting in.
- You've moved from pick'em to sportsbooks, or you bounce back and forth.
If this sounds familiar, take the 9 signs self-check.
How to quit PrizePicks, Underdog and other pick'em apps
- Self-exclude or close your account in each app's responsible gaming settings, or ask support in writing.
- Don't count on sportsbook self-exclusion alone. Your state's sportsbook program may not cover fantasy apps, so exclude yourself in each app too.
- Block the apps with a gambling blocker and your phone's settings. Follow How to Block Sports Betting Apps step by step.
FAQ
Is PrizePicks the same as sports betting?
Legally, that depends on your state. In how it feels and how it can hook you, it's very close.
If I quit sportsbooks, should I quit pick'em too?
You should. For a lot of people, pick'em turns into the back door to betting.
Sources: Stokastic; Gambling Insider; Wikipedia: PrizePicks; Saturday Down South; ATS.io. Rules vary by state and change often. Unbettable isn't affiliated with any fantasy or betting app.
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