DraftKings will enter the North Carolina sports betting market thanks to a deal with NASCAR. The two companies have also announced that DraftKings will be NASCAR’s exclusive daily fantasy sports partner in the United States.
Under the terms of this new deal, NASCAR will apply for a sports betting operator license in North Carolina on behalf of DraftKings Sportsbook. N.C. sports betting will launch before June 14, 2024.
“DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports,” said Joe Solosky, NASCAR Managing Director, in an announcement of the deal.
The evolution of daily fantasy sports
In many important ways, DraftKings helped invent daily fantasy sports. The company was founded in Boston in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish, and Paul Liberman. The first product DraftKings offered was a fantasy football league for the NFL season. Leagues for MLB, NHL, NBA, and many other sports followed. The company noticed an abundance of fans who wanted to play fantasy sports without the commitment of a full season. Daily fantasy sports rapidly evolved from that demand, primarily helped by the popularity of DK Fantasy Sports.
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports is now available in 44 states, including North Carolina.
NASCAR as a daily fantasy sports partner
NASCAR is one of North Carolina’s most popular sporting events. Naturally, auto racing daily fantasy is popular in the Tar Heel State. Under terms of this new partnership, NASCAR will tout DraftKings as its official exclusive daily fantasy sports partner.
In daily fantasy sports, customers can select new drivers (for NASCAR, for example) for every race, renewing their chances of being a winner. Drivers win points for their fantasy owners based on how they finish that week’s race. Players can also select driving teams if they desire.
NASCAR schedules two marquee races in North Carolina each year: the Coca-Cola 600, held in May, and the Bank of America Roval 400, in October. NASCAR sanctions several racing events in the U.S., including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. There are also four international NASCAR race series.
NASCAR maintains an office in Charlotte, where NASCAR.COM staff and other personnel are employed. The city also is the site of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The organization has been proactive in its approach to gambling. In 2020, NASCAR became the first major sports association to partner with the American Gaming Association (AGA) on Responsible Gambling initiatives.
Image Credit: Gerry Broome / AP Images
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