• Loading stock data...
Friday, November 22, 2024

Drone Racing League Joins FanDuel as Fans Clamor for Live Event Betting

  • DRL SIM Tryouts has drawn more than 2 million streams since it started in late February.
  • The new free-to-play fantasy game carries a prize of $3,000 FanDuel credits. “It’s a sport that’s naturally suited to it, with short, repetitive races with lots of statistics.”

As sports betting operators scramble to find unique offerings to keep bettors engaged, they’ve turned to Belarusian soccer, ping-pong, virtual NASCAR or any other live activity during the coronavirus shutdown.

Enter the Drone Racing League, which has signed a new partnership with FanDuel ahead of the DRL’s SIM Tryouts Championship. 

FOS REPORT: 54.5% of industry executives believe that it would be at least 60 days before leagues resume play.

The new free-to-play fantasy game is an extension of an already experimental approach by the DRL. 

“We have always been excited about the potential of fantasy sports and sports betting,” Nicholas Horbaczewski, DRL founder and CEO, said. “It’s a sport that’s naturally suited to it, with short, repetitive races with lots of statistics.” 

The first offering will have $3,000 in FanDuel credits up for grabs, but Horbaczewski said it’s just the beginning for the sport’s betting offerings. 

The expected influx of new viewers comes at a good time for DRL, which is already seeing a significant increase in viewership. Since the DRL SIM Tryouts started at the end of February, the organization has had more than 2 million streams. 

Those views are coming at an exponential rate week-over-week as well, with the March event drawing twice as many viewers as the week before. 

“It’s a continued trend as more and more people are put into social distancing restrictions, they’re still looking for great sporting content,” Horbaczewski said. “The word is getting out to more people, and more are excited about it.”

The SIM Tryout Championship will pit the 12 finalists from the series – a virtual version of the racing league that will reward the winner with a pro contract for the 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season. Tryout participation included pilots from 75 countries and jumped 90% since last year.

Now, with the FanDuel partnership, DRL will be presented in front of 8.5 million users within the fantasy platform. 

“We remain as committed as ever to our fans, and we’re currently working to develop new and entertaining games for them to engage with,” FanDuel President Kip Levin said. “Partnering up with the Drone Racing League allows us to collaborate with an innovative league as we give our fantasy customers more ways to play.”

The fantasy partnership with FanDuel is far from the first betting experiment DRL has offered. Horbaczewski said at the very first event, a small event, a spectator wanted to bet the person next to them $5 after the first race. At a 2017 event in London, there was live gambling, and at an event in Phoenix last year, the league allowed fans to vote for the pilot they thought would win.

This first effort will be just for FanDuel credits, and money-based betting on the sport will depend on regulatory approval down the line. But Horbaczewski sees this as a step in the direction the league, and its fans, want to go.

“We know our fans want to engage with the sports gamification of it,” Horbaczewski said. “The road to full money-based betting is a long road, we’ve been thinking about it and eager to continue down the road.”

READ MORE: Drone Racing League’s Virtual Approach Helping Spur Growth

The timing to engage with bettors, and potentially new fans, is likely beneficial in the short-term for DRL. But as DRL and the other beneficiaries from the hiatus of stick and ball sports are looking at ways to ensure the new fans stick. 

“This pause in sports obviously has its drawbacks,” Horbaczewski said. “But also with any challenge comes opportunity and sports will be redefined a bit in a way that fans are discovering other ways to engage with sports.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.

Roaring to the Top: Lions Become Super Bowl Favorites for First Time

This is the first time in franchise history Detroit is favored to win the Super Bowl.

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

What’s Next for Hapless Jets?

0:00

Featured Today

Nov 16, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) celebrates after defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit:

The Washington Spirit’s Business Makeover Carried Them to the Finals

The team’s return to the NWSL championship looks a lot different from 2021.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

How Women’s Sports Could Change in the Next Trump Era

Under the president-elect, Title IX could change drastically.
The stands at the Solheim Cup

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.
manfred_at_microphone
August 19, 2021

MLB Owners Propose $100M Salary Floor

Major League Baseball owners have proposed a $100 million payroll minimum for MLB’s 30 teams and a lower luxury tax threshold.