DraftKings leaves the UK after 8 years
DraftKings closed its UK daily fantasy offerings after operating in the country for eight years.
DraftKings Inc. is an American gambling company. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, it offers sportsbook and daily fantasy sports services. The company made its UK debut in February 2016 to introduce a fresh and American approach to daily fantasy sports.
After receiving license approval from the Gambling Commission, DraftKings secured a sponsorship deal with Liverpool Football Club, marking a significant entry into the market.
Jeffrey Haas, the former DraftKings chief international officer, commented at the time:
“We want to expand our audience in the United Kingdom and this is an effective way to reach an even larger group of passionate fantasy football fans.”
However, on October 4, DraftKings sent emails to its users announcing that they could no longer deposit into their DraftKings accounts from the UK.
DraftKings’ email said:
“Hi! We are reaching out to let you know that effective immediately, we will no longer be offering Draftkings daily fantasy sports contests for customers physically located in Great Britain. Since DraftKings’ launch in Great Britain, we have been proud to be a part of the country’s passionate sports and daily fantasy sports fanbases. You can no longer deposit into your Draftkings account or enter fantasy sports contests while physically located in Great Britain. You will still be able to withdraw funds for eight months (until 23:59 GMT on 3 June 2025) (see “Your Funds” below) and DraftKings will be converting your Crowns, DK Dollars, Contest Tickets and Achievements to U.S. dollars (“USD”) by 4 October 2024. Below are details on how you can withdraw any funds in your customer account; how we will handle any contests you may have entered; and how we will handle any Crowns, DK Dollars, Contest Tickets and Achievements you may have.”
The UK platform aimed to give fantasy sports enthusiasts a chance to compete in tournaments that featured not just the NFL but also various North American sports leagues, together with UK football, the NBA, and golf.