DraftKings hires head of sportsbook
DFS operator makes first official move into the vertical with ex-Amelco executive set up in a new office in New Jersey
DraftKings has hired its first head of sportsbook, as the DFS firm looks to expand its operations into sports betting.
Sean Hurley will take up the newly created role, with the executive boasting experience at several online gaming firms, including sports betting provider Amelco, which provides odds to Stars Group sportsbook BetStars among others.
Hurley will be based in DraftKings’ newly opened office in Hoboken, New Jersey, not coincidentally the first state in line to offer sports betting should the Supreme Court rule PASPA unconstitutional this year.
“Sean brings a wealth of gaming experience to DraftKings and furthers our ability to be a leader in the sports betting market,” said DraftKings’ chief revenue officer and co-founder, Matt Kalish.
Sean Hurley
The move into sportsbook has been well signalled by DraftKings, with CEO Jason Robins saying last year the company would “weigh options if sports gambling is legalized nationwide,” and “could become a sportsbook.”
The firm also recently announced plans to boost its staff numbers by 75% over the next 18 months inside a new Boston headquarters, with analysts suggesting the hires would predominantly be focused on sports betting.
“It makes perfect sense to pivot to sportsbook,” DFS analyst Dan Back told EGR NA recently. “Their model has always been to offer as much as possible to their customers in terms of games, sports and contests, so this is kind of a continuation of that.
“And they’ve already started down that path in a sense. They have that geolocation already built in, for example, and the amount of money bet on sports compared to fantasy is staggering.”