Answered by Mufti Yusuf Mullan
I have a question regarding the conditions of gambling. I am in a fantasy sports league, where team success is based on the success of our individual players we have chosen. Some of my friends have decided to each put some money, and at the end of the season the winner will collect the sum of the money. Is this considered gambling? The team which makes the smartest moves and makes the best deals and works hardest on his team will most likely win? I am not sure and am leaning toward it being considered gambling and feel as if I should refrain from it, yet some of my other Muslim friends in the league feel it is not gambling. Please let me know your opinion on this matter.
Wa alaikum salaam,
Yes. This is definitely gambling. Any contract transacted upon an grossly unknown outcome is gambling and thus unlawful. Here money is being pooled together, but the outcome for any given team whether they will receive a return is unknown.
And Allah alone gives success.
Yusuf Mullan