DraftKings enters the UK market

In August last year, the company DraftKings received a license to launch its services in the U.K. market. Initially, the organization planned to integrate their product until October 2015. However, in November 2015 the company’s representatives have confirmed that they have postponed the launch of its proposals until 2016 but did not disclose the true reasons for their decision.

Such US states as Illinois, New York, Hawaii and Texas among others challenged the legality of daily fantasy sports, while they were declared gambling operations in Nevada and require licensing.

In the UK, DraftKings fantasy plans to offer a variety of competitions for 11 sports that are currently available in North America, including the NFL, NHL, NBA, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Major League Soccer, UFC, golf, NASCAR, and eSports. Starting DraftKings content in the UK is now inevitable, as the company has entered into a long-term partnership with three Premier League clubs – Arsenal Football Club, Liverpool FC, and Watford Football Club – for the global integration of their products to the UK market.

Fans of English football clubs will have an opportunity to win a lot of prizes such as tickets for matches or club paraphernalia. The only way to deposit and withdraw funds is the payment system PayPal, which is uncomfortable for many players.

Jason Robbins, the founder and CEO of DraftKings, said, “Our company will provide a whole new gaming experience for all football fans, especially the fans of Arsenal, Liverpool and Watford. We offer our players the opportunity to try their hand at fantasy football competitions. Our goal is to provide the best product for users. To accomplish this task, DraftKings is going to cooperate with many famous sports organizations and clubs.”

Robins said that in the future the company is planning to enter the markets of Latin America, Asia, and Australia. His goal is to attract international audience faster than their competitors like FanDuel or Yahoo (which partnered with the company Mondogoal) that already have the UK licenses. While focusing mainly on soccer, they will also make accessible such products as NFL, NBA, NHL, and other sports. The nearest intentions of the company include the development of fantasy Cricket and Rugby events – the most popular sports in the UK.