Fantasy sports and sports betting provider, DraftKings Inc., recently announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) to be an official league partner.
The professional baseball organization inked a similar deal with American global hospitality and entertainment company, MGM Resorts International, in November 2018.
According to the official press release…
DraftKings’ wagering offerings, most notably live and in-game options, will be enhanced via the expanded partnership as real-time betting grows in popularity during sports and entertainment events, by allowing the company to use league marks and logos and have access to official league data within its sports betting products.
Growing business:
The Massachusetts-based company’s sportsbook is one of the largest operators in New Jersey’s burgeoning sports betting industry and is additionally responsible for both mobile and land-based retail sportsbooks at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, and at the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Mississippi. And in December last year, DraftKings announced that it had reached a licensing agreement with an affiliate of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN), the operator of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia. The agreement allows sports fans in the eastern U.S. state to access DraftKings Sportsbook, pending regulatory approvals.
Commenting on the recent tie-up, Chief Business Officer for DraftKings, Ezra Kucharz, said…
“DraftKings is proud to be designated as a Major League Baseball Authorized Gaming Operator. This deal speaks to the commitment we have to our customers and sports leagues alike while providing the safest and most entertaining American-made sportsbook. As a result of this agreement, our customers will experience enhanced live wagering offerings for all MLB games.”
Post-PASPA:
The Massachusetts-headquartered firm was one of a handful of companies that have moved quickly to capitalize on the budding legal sports betting market in the U.S. since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on single-game wagering.
Also commenting on the expanded betting partnership, MLB Executive Vice President, Gaming & New Business Ventures, Kenny Gersh, added…
“Given DraftKings’ successes in driving fan engagement and immersive experiences, we’re looking forward to an expanded partnership and further collaboration on engaging products. Buoyed by our collective commitments to drive innovation in the U.S. sports betting marketplace, the tools provided to DraftKings – including fast, rich and reliable data feeds and MLB brand marks – will be central to creating these powerful new ways to consume and connect with our sport.”
In addition to the deal with MGM Resorts International late last fall, MLB entered into a multi-year deal with global provider of sports data intelligence, Sportsradar, in February 2019.
Meanwhile, just prior to the current tie-up, DraftKings was designated as the first-ever “Official Daily Fantasy Game of the PGA TOUR.” Prior to PAPSA last year, the PGA Tour announced that it would support regulated sports betting on its golfing competitions including the annual Master’s Tournament.
Existing relationship:
The daily fantasy sports provider’s relationship with MLB dates back prior to becoming the baseball league’s official daily fantasy partner in 2015. At one point, the operator had partnerships in place with 27 of MLB’s 30 teams, with the only exceptions being the Seattle Mariners (Washington), Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays.
