While Sweepstakes Sweat, Splash Sports Makes It Rain With $14.5M for Skill Gaming Expansion

The Skill Game Boom

Social gaming start-up Splash Sports just pulled off a major win — a $14.5 million Series B raise to scale its skill-based, peer-to-peer contests across North America.

The round was led by Dream Ventures, with backing from Boston Seed, Velvet Sea Ventures, Green Wave, and Evolution Partners.

But the real flex here is EP Golf Ventures, is a partnership between the PGA of America and Elysian Park Ventures —  the private investment arm linked to the LA Dodgers. That kind of sports pedigree doesn’t just bring cash; it brings credibility.

So while sweepstakes operators are dodging bans, tax bills, and cease-and-desist letters, Splash is cashing checks from golf’s biggest backers.

Fans Take the Wheel

Splash’s pitch is simple: make fantasy social again.

The platform lets fans run real-money contests like Survivor, Pick’Em, and Tiers across 44 U.S. states, D.C., and Canada.

It’s legal, skill-based, and unlike sweeps, it doesn’t depend on legal gray zones.

CEO TJ Ross says the model gives fans a front-row seat to engagement:

“Our games allow every fan to be their own commissioner… while helping media partners develop deeper audiences.”

And the growth is wild, with over $6.4 million in guaranteed contests for this year’s NFL season, a 500% jump from 2024.

Who’s Betting on Splash

Investors are lining up for the “skill, not chance” revolution.

• Dream Ventures led the round.
• Boston Seed, Velvet Sea, Green Wave, Evolution Partners all bought in.
• EP Golf Ventures — backed by the PGA of America and the LA Dodgers’ investment arm — joined in too. That’s a validation few sweepstakes casinos could ever dream of.

Dream’s Richard Blankenship summed it up:

“Splash is carving out a powerful niche in the sports gaming market. They’re building for the modern fan — social, competitive, and community-first.”

It turns out that skill-based gaming isn’t just safer, it’s the new “safe bet.”

Sweeps vs. Splash

It’s not subtle — the money, media, and momentum are all on the skill side.

Why Sweeps Operators Should Pay Attention

This isn’t just another funding headline — it’s a vibe check for the whole industry.

• Lawmakers see Splash as proof you can make money without hiding in loopholes.
• Suppliers like Playtech and Pragmatic Play, already skittish about sweeps, might start warming up to skill platforms instead.
• Players chasing quick payouts and real competition might jump ship and go to where the action feels safer and more legit.
• And investors? They’ve made up their minds: gray zones don’t scale, skill games do.

Every dollar going to Splash is one less dollar being spent on dual-currency casinos.

But Even Skill Has Its Limits

Splash might be on the right side of the hype, but it’s still walking a legal tightrope. “Skill” means something different in every state, and adding Canada into the mix just multiplies the compliance headaches.

For sweepstakes operators, that should feel familiar. The difference here is that Splash is winning trust by being transparent, while many sweeps brands still hide behind the old “no purchase necessary” shield.

If skill platforms like Splash are voluntarily raising their compliance bar, regulators will expect sweepstakes to do the same, or get out of the game entirely.

Bottom Line

Splash Sports just proved there’s big money in social gaming — as long as you stay on the right side of the law.

While sweepstakes casinos are dodging bans, lawsuits, and supplier exits, skill-based startups are cashing checks from the PGA and the Dodgers.

The message is loud and clear: investors want transparency, not loopholes.

The future of “social gaming” isn’t gray — it’s skill-based, compliant, and fully funded.