NFL Confirms Fanatics Deal, Renews DraftKings & FanDuel Agreements

A few days ago, GamblingNews announced that Fanatics had reportedly joined the National Football League (NFL) as an official sportsbook partner. Yesterday, the league confirmed that agreement and also announced renewed deals with DraftKings and FanDuel. NFL Unveils Three Official Sportsbook Partners for the New Season On August 27, the NFL announced that it has reached commercial agreements with three leading sportsbooks. One of these agreements was the previously reported tie-up with Fanatics, while the remaining two saw the league renew its partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel. For reference, the NFL was left without an official sportsbook partner for almost five months after its previous arrangements with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars expired. This changed a few days ago when reports stated that a deal with Fanatics had been reached. While rumors suggested that Caesars might not renew the partnership, the fate of the DraftKings and FanDuel deals was left somewhat uncertain. As it turns out, the official sportsbook partner lineup remains roughly the same, with the sole change being Fanatics replacing Caesars. The NFL added that DraftKings will also continue to serve as the league’s official daily fantasy sports partner. The Trio of Operators Will Bring Fans Closer to the Game Under the new agreement, the NFL’s three partners will be allowed to “leverage NFL marks within the sports betting category and promote online and retail sports betting.” The operators in question will also have presence at NFL tentpole events such as the Super Bowl and NFL Draft. The agreements will also result in unique hospitality and VIP experiences and integrations across NFL-owned digital media properties. Last but not least, the three NFL partners will get access to official NFL play-by-play statistics, proprietary Next Gen Stats and BetVision through Genius Sports. As partners of the NFL, Fanatics, DraftKings, and FanDuel have vowed to comply with the league’s integrity policies, champion responsible gambling, and work to prevent sports betting fraud. The Deals Were an Exciting Development for Everyone Involved Officials commented on the renewed agreements. For its part, the league welcomed the three sports betting operators to the NFL family, with Renie Anderson, EVP and chief revenue officer of the NFL, saying: DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics share our vision for innovation and fan engagement, but most importantly, our commitment to protecting the integrity of the game. We look forward to navigating this next chapter in sports betting together. Renie Anderson, EVP & CRO, NFL Matt King, CEO of Fanatics, expressed excitement about the opportunity to become an official partner of the NFL and bring fans even closer to their favorite sport. This deal underscores our vision for Fanatics as a true digital sports platform — a single destination where fans can bet, play and engage with the NFL all in one place, making the experience of being a fan better than ever. Matt King, CEO, Fanatics Stephanie Sherman, DraftKings’ chief marketing officer, was similarly pleased with the deal, saying that working with the NFL is a huge opportunity for the operator, since it will “put the DraftKings brand alongside the biggest games of the season.” That presence is especially meaningful for DraftKings as the #1 sportsbook for live betting, giving fans more ways to engage with every drive, play and moment as it happens. We’re excited to continue bringing that experience to football fans across the country. Stephanie Sherman, CMO, DraftKings FanDuel’s president, Christian Genetski, called the NFL an “important partner” that helped the FanDuel team provide bettors with engaging, yet safe, experiences. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and look forward to continuing to find new ways for fans to engage with the games they love. Christian Genetski, president, FanDuel In other news, the NFL recently encouraged the CFTC to intervene and rein in the prediction markets space amid fraud concerns.