What’s the benefit? Football season has begun, and with it come tailgates, booked Sundays, and of course, fantasy football. The Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) offers entrepreneurs and businesses the resources they need to break into the booming fantasy sports industry, which currently includes 56.8 million players, according to FSTA’s latest report. In its publicly accessible data, you can discover the average age of fantasy players (37 years), how many have full-time employment (66 percent), and how many rank football as their favorite fantasy sport (73 percent). But if you want to know more, you have to join FSTA.

Why it works? As every budding fantasy sports entrepreneur knows, learning about the market is among the most important things you can do before launching your enterprise. FSTA’s annual report makes it much easier to do just that. Player spending habits, league and individual player trends, and niche sports markets are just a few of the topics covered in the 40-page report. It also covers an array of fantasy sports, from football and baseball to automotive racing and soccer. It’s no surprise that fantasy powerhouses like FanDuel are FSTA members.

Other benefits: In addition to market research, FSTA members have access to exclusive networking opportunities, sponsorships, and member discounts. Members are also welcome to attend FSTA events, including the upcoming 2016 winter conference in Las Vegas, where members will hear firsthand about the latest innovations in fantasy sports.

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