DraftKings and Major League Baseball (MLB) today announced a multi-year extension to their existing fantasy partnership, which will see DraftKings continue as the league’s exclusive official daily fantasy sports (DFS) partner.
As well as the multi-year extension, DraftKings expanded its content rights and product integration with the league and has continued permission to use MLB images and video within its DFS games.
DraftKings currently provides dozens of MLB related offerings, and fans of these will now also be able to access exclusive content surrounding each game of both the regular season and post-season.
DraftKings will gain the rights to use MLB’s logo, as well as all of the league’s individual team logos in its promotional marketing and DFS products.
The deal also includes increased integration at all-star week activities and during the MLB post-season, including new VIP experiences such as on-field viewing of batting practices or trips to the World Series.
DraftKings became an MLB-authorized gaming operator for sports wagering in 2019. Its chief business officer, Ezra Kucharz, said that both organisations “share a mutual passion and commitment to innovation and fan engagement and are excited to continue our partnership through data and technology to advance our product and broaden engagement opportunities for baseball fans.”
MLB’s executive vice president for gaming and new business ventures Kenny Gersh echoed this view.
“Fan engagement has been central to our partnership with DraftKings since we began working together almost a decade ago,” Gersh said. “Together we have continually tried to enhance baseball fans’ experiences with innovative gaming and entertainment options and we look forward to keep developing and building on those unique elements.”
The expanded partnership represents the latest in a series of sports sponsorships secured by DraftKings, having expanded its partnership with the PGA Tour to become its first official sports betting operator in July 2020.
Meanwhile last month, Intralot agreed a new deal to become an authorized gaming partner of MLB.