The fantasy sports company Underdog announced an investment in idPair, a responsible gaming cross-platform technology company. The investment was made by GuardDog, Underdog’s responsible gaming innovation fund. idPair offers a unique view of an individual’s gambling activity. It can monitor activity across multiple operators within a jurisdiction.
“Most users play with more than one operator for their gaming activity. The opportunity we see with idPair is the ability to connect people and their play and use those insights to inform enhanced responsible gaming initiatives,” said Adam Warrington, Vice President of Responsible Gaming at Underdog.
Underdog sees this as a valuable tool for regulators. “Operators can only focus on their individual platforms,” Warrington said. “We believe that the ability to partner with regulators using idPair’s technology will create opportunities for partnerships that advance safer play.”
Underdog Adapts to Changing Regulations
Underdog has been working hard to navigate the changing US regulatory landscape. For instance, North Carolina is currently revisiting the legality of fantasy sports. Ahead of any decision from the Tar Heel State, however, Underdog withdrew its fee-based contests from the state’s offerings.
It also recently reached a settlement with New York State regulators. Underdog is actively seeking operating licenses in both North Carolina and New York. Underdog recently partnered with McConnel Golf. McConnel Golf’s Sedgefield Country Club is the host of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship. North Carolina requires that any operator looking for an online sports betting license must partner with a sports team, league, or venue. So, Underdog meets that requirement with its McConnel partnership.
Aside from its pending license applications, Underdog is showing regulators that it takes responsible gaming seriously. The company’s investment in idPair is just one more demonstration of its commitment. Beyond its financial investment in idPair, Underdog has also given the company access to advisors and mentors, and it will prioritize idPair for integration into the company’s product offerings.
“We are thrilled about GuardDog’s investment and partnership with us,” said idPair’s CEO Jonathan Aiwazian. “By leveraging their vast network and data, we can accelerate our mission to drive collaborative information sharing among operators and regulators, ultimately fostering a safer and more sustainable environment for all.”
