Deals with three NBA franchises
Daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings has signed multiyear deals with three National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises: the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
the deal between Boston-based DraftKings and the Celtics is only for fantasy sports
With Pennsylvania and Indiana having legal sports betting, the deals with the 76ers and the Pacers will cover both sports betting and fantasy sports. As sports betting still hasn’t been legalized in Massachusetts, the deal between Boston-based DraftKings and the Celtics is only for fantasy sports.
Breakdown of these deals
DraftKings branding will now be on display at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse arena in Indiana. It will also feature heavily during postgame shows when the Pacers play.
DraftKings will be the sole daily fantasy sports partner of the 76ers. It will also be an online casino and sports betting partner for the team. The 76ers already are working with FOX Bet to promote its mobile sportsbook.
Finally, as the daily fantasy sports partner of the Boston Celtics, DraftKings parties will be hosted when the team plays at home. DraftKings will also benefit from exposure through the Celtics social media posts when the starting lineups are confirmed before the start of their games.
NBA embracing sports betting
The NBA has been the major sports league in the US that has been embracing sports betting the most. It lists DraftKings, William Hill, The Stars Group, MGM Resorts, Tabcorp, FanDuel, and theScore as some of its official gaming partners.
These relationships grant operators access to exclusive league data and allow them to feature the NBA logo in their marketing materials. In return, the NBA receives a slice of the action and benefits from receiving help with their integrity monitoring systems.
The league also sells its exclusive league data to sportsbooks to help them set odds and offer accurate markets during NBA games.