Dueling with Kings

High Stakes, Killer Sharks, and the Get-Rich Promise of Daily Fantasy Sports

De: Daniel Barbarisi, Daniel Barbarisi - introduction

Narrado por: Jonathan Todd Ross

In the spirit of Bringing Down the House and The Wolf of Wall Street, “an engrossing and often hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the characters, compulsions, and chaos inside the fantasy sports gold rush. It’s the perfect meld of a sports and business book, engagingly written like a fun, page-turning novel” (The Wall Street Journal).

Daniel Barbarisi quit his job as a New York Yankees beat writer and began a quest to join the top one percent of Daily Fantasy Sports (“DFS”) players, the so-called “sharks,” in hopes to discover the secrets behind this phenomenon—and potentially make some money along the way.

DFS is fantasy sports on steroids. It’s the domain of bitter rivals FanDuel and DraftKings, online juggernauts who turned a legal loophole into a billion-dollar industry by allowing sports fans to bet piles of cash constructing fantasy teams.

Yet as Barbarisi quickly realizes, what should have been a fun companion to casual sports viewing was instead a ferocious environment infested with sharks, a top tier of pros wielding complex algorithms, drafting hundreds of lineups, and wagering six figures daily as they bludgeon unsuspecting amateur “fish.” Barbarisi embeds himself inside the world of DFS, befriending and joining its rogue’s gallery as he tries to beat them at their own game.

In a work equal parts adventure and rigorously reported investigation, Barbarisi wades into this chaotic industry at the very moment its existence is threatened by lawmakers sick of its Wild West atmosphere and pushy advertising. All their money made FanDuel and DraftKings seem invincible; but, as Barbarisi reports, they made plenty of dubious—perhaps even scandalous—moves as they vied for market supremacy.

In Dueling with Kings, Barbarisi uncovers the tumultuous inside story of DFS, all while capturing its peculiar cast of characters, from wide-eyed newly minted millionaires, to sun-starved math geeks, to bros living an endless frat party of keggers and Playboy Bunnies. Can he outwit them all and make it to the top?

Great view of the DFS industry

What did you love best about Dueling with Kings?

The performance and the story was compelling. A lot of books on DFS tend to be a little dry. Although was not heavily strategy focused, the story and performance kept me interested. Great ending too.

What did you like best about this story?

That the writer goes through a lot of the same feelings that every DFS player that started off in this industry has felt, and gives great insight to some of the personalities and the DFS scene and community.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not to spoil it, but the ending is great. It is very well written.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Either "Beep, Beep, I'm a Jeep", "The story behind the Draftkings commercial that annoys everyone so much", or "Your average sucker can win in DFS if they have the right connections"

Any additional comments?

Just a very entertaining book with great story telling, a little light on the strategy portion, but gives good background and insight on DFS.

Great Fantasy Sports Story!

Loved the book! I like how it told the history of Fantasy Sports as well as the authors journey of playing in the events.

Great history and overview of the birth of DFS!

The story told gives you great insight to the life of a DFS player and where the industry was born.

A fun listen!

I enjoyed this history of DFS success stories. It was entertaining and inspiring to listen to these people getting rich playing a game.

A one day listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES YES YES

What did you like best about this story?

wow how it broke down the whole Fan Duel daily fantasy sports world.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

#littleguygoespro

Any additional comments?

the fact that vegas made him the favorite in the NHL contest at the end was incredible I loved this book