DraftKings has announced a new deal with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) – operators of the Foxwoods Resorts Casino in Connecticut, which positions them to be a major player in the East Coast regulated sports betting market. But what the deal accomplishes today is merely an opening act for a much bigger move down the line.
Under the terms of the “multi-channel deal”, DraftKings will become the official daily fantasy sports partner of the Foxwood Resorts Casino. But that DFS deal (who plays DFS at a casino anyways?) is merely the first step towards a much bigger – becoming the official sports betting partner of the Foxwoods Resort Casino. After all that’s where the real money is these days.
The only problem is that the State of Connecticut has yet to approve sports betting for Indian casinos. State lawmakers are currently debating the subject and there’s a decent chance that one of the state’s Indian tribes could go rogue and offer it anyways (since tribal law is under federal jurisdiction anyways).
None of the controversy is enough to slow down the enthusiasm of Foxwoods Resorts Casino executives like interim CEO and president Jason Guyot, from crowing about the deal in a recent DraftKings press release. “DraftKings is a pioneer in the U.S. digital sports entertainment and gaming market. Offering daily fantasy sports allows us to bring a new type of compelling and interactive online experience to our passionate sport fans By combining Foxwoods’ 29-year gaming legacy with DraftKings’ deep digital expertise, we’re well positioned to continue leading gaming advancements in the region and beyond,” he said.
Foxwoods and DraftKings should have their DFS operation up and running by December 13.