FanDuel Presidential Pick’em Contest: It’s Not Election Betting But Close Enough

Even though it’s illegal for US gambling companies to take bets on political elections, a new presidential pick’em game is completely legal and available to Oregonians.

FanDuel is accepting entries ahead of Tuesday night’s 2020 presidential debate between President Donald Trump and presidential nominee Joe Biden.

It’s not only completely free to play, it’s 100% legal.

Why it’s legal to play FanDuel’s Presidential Pick’em

Playing FanDuel’s Presidential Pick’em online game, you can win a share of $50,000 in real cash prizes. So, why is that legal when betting on the election is illegal?

It’s simply because you don’t have to pay to play. Because you aren’t wagering cash to participate in the game, it isn’t gambling technically.

It’s no different than being a contestant on a game show or putting your name in a drawing for a cash prize at another business. If you’ve ever played daily fantasy sports (DFS) games on the FanDuel app or website, you’re ready to go.

If you’re a new FanDuel customer, you can register for free quickly. The first pick’em game for Tuesday night’s debate is live now.

How to get in on the game for Tuesday’s debate

The first presidential debate is at 6 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Most major news networks will broadcast it or you can stream it live on YouTube.

FanDuel’s game for the debate contains a series of questions. You must fill out your entry card before the debate begins. Examples of the 10 questions include:

1. What issue will the first topic address?
2. Which candidate will be asked to respond first in the debate?
3. What color tie will Trump wear?
4. Will Trump refer to Biden as “Sleepy Joe?”
5. Will Biden and/or the moderator mention Trump’s Twitter activity?
6. How will the candidates greet each other?
7. Will Biden mention “Scranton?”
8. Which candidate will be the first to be cut off by the moderator because they are over time?
9. Will Biden play a song on his phone during the debate?
10. Will Trump mention “fake news?”

How much you could win playing Presidential Pick’em

For each correct response, FanDuel credits your entry with points. If you have the most points after the event, you will win part of $10,000 in cash. How many shares FanDuel awards depends on how many people finish with the top number of points.

The same contest will be available for the vice presidential debate between Republican Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris on Oct. 7, and the other two presidential debates on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

If you don’t finish on top any of those nights, there are still other opportunities to cash in.

FanDuel will keep a running total of your points across all four events. If you finish at the top of the overall leaderboard after all four debates, you can share in a separate $10,000 pot for that placement.

Finally, FanDuel will start a pool on Oct. 21 for the general election. The format of that game will be similar and FanDuel will release details on the questions closer.

These contests represent legal ways to win some cash for your play in Oregon. Get your picks in, tune into the debates and enjoy your prize if you finish at the top.