The NFL made big news Thursday by inking its first ever major sports betting partnerships with a trio of sportsbooks.
FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars are all now Official Sports Betting Partners of the league after signing multi-year agreements.
NFL all in on sports betting
The move would have been unthinkable a few short years ago, but much has changed since PASPA was struck down by SCOTUS in May 2018.
Now around 20 states have legalized sports betting and the NFL even has a franchise in Las Vegas after the Raiders moved there from Oakland.
The deals mean the trio of sportsbooks will not only be able to leverage league assets – they will also be able to engage with NFL fans via free-to-play games. FOX Bet has already activated just this type of concept with its successful Super 6 app.
FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars will in addition be able to integrate sports betting content into NFL properties and products – such as mobile apps. The NFL will reciprocate meanwhile by allowing its highlights, footage and NextGen stats content to live on platforms owned by its new partners.
NFL delighted with deals
Renie Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships, said: “As the sports betting landscape has continued to evolve in the United States, we have been thoughtful with our strategy and are excited to announce three partners who share the NFL’s vision and goals.
“Working closely with Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel, we will provide fans new and different ways of interacting and engaging with the sport they love.”
Wall Street not surprisingly reacted positively to news of the partnerships, with DraftKings stock rising by 5% in the immediate aftermath of the announcement.