DraftKings eyes Ireland launch
DFS operator to continue European expansion even as rival firm FanDuel quits the UK
DraftKings is planning to continue its European expansion by launching in Ireland before the end of the year, according to the firm’s CIO Jeffrey Haas.
The firm aims to go live under its Malta skill games licence which it also used to launch in Germany and Malta earlier this year.
Haas told Irish new site Fora the forthcoming launch had been prompted by the high level of demand from the market.
“Irish sports fans are incredibly passionate and they make themselves known wherever they are found,” he said.
“If you do a search on Twitter for ‘DraftKings’ and ‘Ireland’, you will see dozens of request from players asking when we’re coming. There’s clearly pent-up demand that already exists.”
Haas said the expansion would be backed by existing partnerships with football clubs like Liverpool FC, while the operator would also be looking cut new deals with local media and technology firms.
“We’re looking for a range of companies who may have existing databases of (potential) Irish players that would be interested in helping inform them about DraftKings,” Haas said.
As part of the expansion plans, Haas has written to the country’s Department of Finance, which is conducting a review of gambling taxes, suggesting games of skill should be treated differently to gambling and taxed at 4-5% of GGR.
The planned launch indicates DraftKings’ continued commitment to international expansion at a time when FanDuel has cut its UK product in order to focus its resources on the US and the upcoming NFL season.
DraftKings also recently signed a sponsorship deal with Euroleague Basketball and EGR understand that regions where the league is popular, namely Spain and Eastern Europe could be among DraftKings’ next launch targets.