NASCAR expands sports betting operations with DraftKings partnership
US sports betting giant DraftKings has revealed an agreement with NASCAR, the top-tier stock car racing series, commencing an entry into the lucrative sports betting market in the state of North Carolina.
Although regulatory approval is pending from state regulators and licensing commission, this collaboration positions DraftKings to offer sportsbook services to customers in North Carolina, marking its authorisation in the 27th US state.
The partnership encompasses a collaboration in the fantasy gaming space. DraftKings is set to become NASCAR’s official exclusive daily fantasy sports partner across the US and Canada. As an authorised gaming operator of NASCAR, DraftKings will gain access to sponsorship incentives and co-promotional deals.
“DraftKings has a proven track record of enhancing the fan experience across sports,” NASCAR Managing Director Joe Solosky stated.
“We are thrilled to continue working with DraftKings to deliver NASCAR fans more engagement opportunities and bring its leading mobile sportsbook to North Carolina.”
NASCAR has intensified its sports betting initiatives due to declining viewership, aligning with the trend of increased sports betting legalisation across various US states. In August 2023, NASCAR expanded its partnership with Sportradar, an international sports data company, for four years, encompassing betting data rights. This collaboration aims to provide NASCAR’s digital media partners with statistics and timings to boost the growth of betting on the sport.
“DraftKings and NASCAR have collaborated closely with each other over the years, sharing a like-minded commitment to enhancing the fan experience,” DraftKings North America president Matt Kalish added.
“We look forward to the next chapter in our journey together and offering our leading mobile sportsbook to fans in the state of North Carolina.”
NASCAR ventured into legal sports gambling in September 2020, starting a partnership with the American Gaming Association (AGA). The series has witnessed a substantial increase in sports betting engagement, with a reported 51.5 percent surge in the total amount of money wagered on the series in 2022 compared to the previous year.
NASCAR has existing partnerships with prominent sports betting operators, including BetMGM, Penn Entertainment, and FanDuel, the latter joining forces with the series in 2023.
