Delta x DraftKings In-Flight Betting Partnership & US Sports Betting State Guide

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Delta x DraftKings: In-Flight Betting? ✈️

Earlier this month Delta Air Lines announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that they are teaming up with DraftKings to 'build on' their existing portfolio of games. This partnership has turned heads in both the airline and gaming industries alike with the potential of in-flight sports betting being of particular intrigue.

In a likely related move to the announcement, on January 23rd a Connecticut lawmaker Christoper Rosario introduced House Bill 6051. HB6051 aims to legalise in-flight sports betting for flights originating or terminating in the state.

"From fantasy sports to online adventures, gaming has become a regular part of the daily lives of millions of our customers. And you shouldn't have to hit pause just because you're in the sky" - Ed Bastian Delta CEO

In-flight gambling isn't a totally novel concept, in 1981 Singapore Airlines experimented with slot machines in the upper decks of its Boeing 747s but removed them when the queues that formed became a safety risk. Ed Bastian, Delta's eighth-year CEO, will be hoping that seatback screens that feature in nearly all of Delta 'Mainline Aircraft' (used for domestic and international flights) will prove to be a more practical way of providing gambling entertainment to flyers.

Federal Blockers

Federal law stands in the way. The Gambling Devices Act of 1961 and the Gorton Amendment of 1994 are the two most daunting challenges to the dream of gambling in the sky.

One potential side step, that has been hinted at by Delta themselves, is to accept wagers in the form of SkyMiles (loyalty points). In this scenario, it would mean the house edge would become a means of reducing the number of points in circulation in effect giving with one hand and taking with the other.

A new way to beat the books?

With very limited information from Delta and not a peep from DraftKings it's hard to know enough to start speculating on how or if opportunities will arise for advantage bettors off the back of this partnership. With that being said if sports betting does get the green light down the road will established strategies work in the sky? I don't see why not. Will new opportunities present themselves? Again I don't see why not, with more variety of offering sportsbooks reel in more customers but they also widen the area of attack for advantage bettors. I have no doubt there are many crafty sharps out there who'll be keeping a keen eye on this story in the hopes of finding a cute edge.

Take off will have to wait

For the time being this partnership is likely to be very limited. You might soon see some DraftKings games added to the seatback entertainment systems but there are significant legal and regulatory hurdles to overcome before hard cash or SkyMiles for that matter are risked 30,000 feet up.

X Poll of the Week 📊

POP QUIZ: Which budget airline's CEO once pitched the idea of in-flight gambling but never followed through?

🇺🇸 Sports Betting Legalization Tracker - January 2025 Update

As of January 2025, the legal status of sports betting in the United States continues to evolve rapidly. Below is a comprehensive overview of the current status in each state, highlighting important updates and changes:

Fully Legalized and Operational

States: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wyoming

↪️ Recent Updates:

Ohio: December 2024 report shows a record $1 billion in monthly handle for the first time, signaling robust market growth.

Maryland: Launched three new online sportsbooks in January 2025, increasing competition and consumer choice.

Legalized but Not Yet Operational

States: Florida, Maine, Nebraska

↪️ Recent Updates:

Florida: After months of litigation, the Seminole Tribe resumed preparations for its sports betting platform, with a tentative launch expected by mid-2025.

Maine: Regulatory approvals are progressing slowly; operational launch pushed to Q3 2025.

Limited or Retail-Only Sports Betting

States: Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota

↪️ Recent Updates:

North Carolina: Retail-only betting expanded to include tribal casinos in January 2025. Legislation for online betting is under review in the state legislature.

South Dakota: Lawmakers introduced a bill to allow mobile betting restricted to on-site use at Deadwood casinos.

Actively Considering Legislation

States: Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont

↪️ Recent Updates:

Texas: A major push is underway as key legislators reintroduced a bipartisan sports betting bill for 2025. Governor has expressed conditional support.

Missouri: Discussions stalled in December 2024 but expected to resume during the January 2025 session.

No Active Legislation or Proposals

States: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Utah, Wisconsin

↪️ Recent Updates:

Alaska: No progress as lawmakers remain focused on other priorities.

Utah: No changes anticipated due to cultural opposition.

Notable Trends and National Developments

Federal Oversight Considerations: Discussions in Congress have emerged about establishing national standards for integrity and advertising, but states remain the primary decision-makers.

Tax Revenue Impacts: States with established markets, such as New York and New Jersey, report significant tax revenue boosts, pressuring neighboring states to act.

Technological Advancements: The use of AI in odds setting and personalized betting experiences is becoming a key differentiator among operators.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Ryanair - Michael O’Leary suggested it in 2004, but legal and tech hurdles kept it grounded!

See you next time!

That's it for today on The Steam Report ♨️!

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dylan@Pinnacleoddsdropper.com

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Author: dylan@pinnacleoddsdropper.com

P.S. BettingAnalyst, an advantage betting savant, recently posted a video on YouTube breaking down the fundamentals of the dropping odds value betting strategy.

P.P.S. Stay frosty 🕶️

Delta x DraftKings: In-Flight Betting? ✈️