DraftKings boosts MLB presence with series of new deals

Daily fantasy sports company DraftKings has moved to expand its presence in Major League Baseball by entering into partnerships with 27 of the North American league’s 30 teams.

The 27 franchises include reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants as well as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

The deal excludes Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, who play in states that prohibit daily fantasy games as a form of gambling, as well as Canadian team the Toronto Blue Jays.

The new deals will enable fans to access baseball-related contests and special experiences with their favourite teams, as well as exclusive content on the DraftKings official mobile application.

The series of new deals will build on DraftKings’ existing partnership with MLB, which was renewed under a multi-year extension in April. Through the partnership, the company has developed and now operates the league’s official daily fantasy baseball game.

Jason Robins, chief executive of DraftKings, said: “Baseball is one of the fastest-growing categories in daily fantasy sports and our MLB partnerships ensure that we will continue to offer the sport’s most engaging fantasy games and experiences.”