BOSTON & NEW YORK— Nov. 4, 2019 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and DraftKings Inc. today announced a multiyear partnership that will make DraftKings an Authorized Sports Betting Operator of the league.
Beginning with the current 2019-20 NBA season, DraftKings will have access to official NBA betting data and league marks across its mobile platform and in its sportsbooks throughout the United States.
“NBA games are among the most captivating, dramatic and widely-consumed sports entertainment products globally, and the advocacy of the league around legal sports betting further demonstrates its consistent foresight to innovate for the betterment of the fan experience,” said Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings. “The correlation between sports betting and fan engagement is proven, and we look forward to the opportunities that being an Authorized Gaming Operator of the NBA will unlock for consumers.”
“We are excited to team with DraftKings, who has established itself as one of the leaders in the sports betting landscape in the U.S. and has a passionate NBA following,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, Senior Vice President, Head of Fantasy & Gaming, NBA. “Our partnership will provide our fans with an authentic and enhanced gaming experience and help us further protect the integrity of our games.”
During the partnership, the NBA and DraftKings will work together on best-in-class practices to protect the integrity of NBA games.
Overall, the partnership positions DraftKings to further refine its NBA category, a sport that currently ranks among the most popular offerings for its customers. Live betting, a critical component of sports betting technology and the future of the industry, is more prevalent on DraftKings Sportsbook for the NBA than any other sport—over 70 percent of NBA bettors have live-wagered, while nearly 45 percent of NBA handle has come from in-play bets.
All DraftKings Sportsbook offerings, including the NBA, are available on the mobile app that is downloadable for both iOS and Android.
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About DraftKings
DraftKings is a premier, U.S.-based sports technology and entertainment company created to fuel the competitive spirits of sports fans with offerings that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming, and digital media. Founded in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman, DraftKings’ daily fantasy product boasts over 11 million registered players and is available in 8 countries internationally with 15 distinct sport categories. Launched in 2018, DraftKings Sportsbook offers mobile and retail betting for major national and global sports, and currently operates pursuant to state regulations in Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. DraftKings is the Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the NFL and PGA Tour as well as an Authorized Gaming Operator of the MLB, NBA, and NFL. Headquartered in Boston, DraftKings holds offices across the country including Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York, and San Francisco.