SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
NBC Sports has reported that NFL owners may be forced to withdraw marketing partnerships with DFS operators FanDuel and DraftKings.
US media sources have further detailed that ownership and team interests in DFS operators will become a key agenda at the upcoming NFL franchise owners meeting scheduled for 2 December.
The NFL, a long term opponent of US sports betting, finds itself at odds with the DFS industry as the sector faces growing political, media and consumer scrutiny on whether daily DFS contests are classified as betting.
The news will come as another blow for the DFS operators who have been sanctioned by New York Attorney General Eric T Schneiderman to cease and desist their activities targeting state consumers.
The New York Post reports that franchise owners and DraftKings investors Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys) and Robert Kraft (New England Patriots) may be forced to sell their stakes in the company dependent on Schneiderman’s findings against the operators.
Unlike other US sports leagues, the NFL has resisted making an investment in DraftKings or FanDuel, a decision which was personally made by Chief Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Goodell has stated to US media sources, that despite franchise support through endorsement of products, the NFL would listen to federal concerns and policy making regarding whether DFS is a legal activity.
