Fantasy sports giant DraftKings recently acquired a UK daily fantasy sports site called TransferKings. The acquisition is a big move for DraftKings and could give them a major advantage as they move into the UK gaming market.
Though terms of the deal were not announced, both companies were eager to explain what the sale meant to them.
In an interview with iGamingBusiness.com, DraftKings chief international officer Jeffrey Haas said:
As the leader in daily fantasy sports in the UK today, we are thrilled to welcome TransferKings’ players to the big time. “We want to expand our audience in the United Kingdom, and this is an effective way to reach an even larger group of passionate fantasy football fans.
TransferKings welcomed the news with a statement on its website that read:
TransferKings has recently had its player database acquired by, and will now be directing all of its players to, DraftKings. We have proudly built a loyal following but are delighted to offer an even wider range of games with bigger prizes on the DraftKings platform, the global leader in daily fantasy sports.
The deal itself is a definite winner for both companies.
With the acquisition, DraftKings is able to establish a significant foothold in a market that’s already very comfortable with DFS-style sports betting.
For TransferKings, the deal offers its players a chance to play in real-money tournament instead of the fun money tournaments they’re currently being offered.
The big challenge for DraftKings, however, is how to position itself as a legitimate operator in the UK, while simultaneously insisting that its identical American offerings are not gambling.