DraftKings Books A Flight With Delta, But Don’t Bet On In-Air Gambling Yet

What we know: DraftKings has entered into a deal with Delta Airlines, as announced Wednesday at CES 2025 by Delta CEO Ed Bastian. 

“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,” he said. “Our partnership with DraftKings will build on the games portfolio we already offer today via Delta Sync and our seatback screens while using the deep expertise that Jason [Robins, DraftKings co-founder and CEO] and his team have developed over the past decade.”

Cool.

Here’s what else we know: It’s illegal to gamble on airplanes. This is broken down in detail over at ViewFromTheWing.com, but let the record show: According to the article, The Gambling Devices Act of 1962 prohibits gambling over the friendly skies. (Is that Delta’s tagline? Stand by. Nope. That’s United. Nevermind.) Anyway … that’s that. There’s a law prohibiting it.

Which leads us to …

What we don’t know

What, exactly, do Delta and DraftKings have planned? I called around and got as far as this from someone with knowledge of the plans: There ain’t no plans yet. 

Exact words, from this person in the know: “They are still working to firm up plans.”

So what could it be? The fine folks at VFTW floated a pair of reasonable ideas.

For starters, Delta and DraftKings could petition a former casino owner — fella by the name of Donald Trump — to lean on some lawmakers to see about permitting in-flight gambling.

The other, more reasonable idea: some kind of system where you can turn gambling “winnings” into SkyMiles or something of the sort. VFTW points to BetMGM’s deal where you can get Marriott Bonvoy points for simply opening a BetMGM account.

Of course, it might be neither, both, or something else. Maybe DraftKings is just going to power some new offerings that have nothing to do with actual gambling. Just games to play, to while away the hours between Dubuque and Des Moines. (Well, bad example, as (a) there are no direct flights and (b) it’s just a three-hour drive, but you get the point.)

Truth is, we don’t know what DraftKings and Delta have in store.

But I’m on board for it, pun very much intended.

Why not?

Worst case, it just gives me something else to do while stuck on an airplane. 

Best case, I’m taking the Rams and the points.

I’m sure there will be hand-wringing over this, and probably someone will come up with a clever use of an Airplane! gif — I submit “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit betting 16-leg parlays” for your consideration — but all things considered? Whatever. Let’s wait and see.

I will say this, though: For the second time this week, I’m applauding DraftKings for its out-of-the-box thinking. (The first time was the company’s $20 subscription fee in New York for better parlay odds.)

This online gambling space is getting crowded, and quick. It’s hard to keep up with sweepstakes this and crypto that and social over here and everything else.

DraftKings, as a market leader, could be burying its head in the sand, hoping the storm passes. Instead, it’s actively seeking out ways to stay front and center. Can’t fault DK for that.

Now, if they could just figure out a way for me to build DFS lineups while I sleep, we’d really be in business.