Delta Air Lines has inked a deal with one of the largest proprietors of sports gambling on the planet: DraftKings.
On Wednesday, Delta and DraftKings announced that they’d reached a partnership agreement to offer a “new kind of sports experience” to passengers aboard Delta flights.
The in-flight offering is called “SkyPicks,” and unlike DraftKings’ main industry, it doesn’t involve gambling any real money.
SkyPicks is a “free-to-play sports knowledge contest” that allows adult passengers (21 and up) to make sports predictions and picks for the chance to win Delta gift cards.
Delta officials said this new in-flight entertainment experience has “no financial risk involved.” It doesn’t allow for betting, depositing funds, buying in, or obtaining real-world travel miles.
In a news release issued Wednesday, Delta said its passengers are always looking for sports content during their flights, with sports coverage consistently ranking among its highest performing content categories.
“That’s why Delta, in partnership with DraftKings, is bringing a new sports experience onboard, designed for the diehards and casual fans alike – one that meets you where your fandom lives,” officials stated.
Are Delta and DraftKings offering gambling during flights?
Delta describes SkyPicks as a knowledge-based form of gaming, not gambling, and compared it to another interactive game available to travelers on select flights where gift cards are a potential reward.
Available only on U.S. domestic routes, Travelers can use their laptops or mobile devices to make predictions related to real live sports matchups. Delta says the game is a contest where travelers can test their “sports knowledge and acumen,” rather than being beholden to sheer luck or gambling unpredictability.
“The contest invites customers to answer a series of sports-related questions—such as who will score first, which team will win, and a final-score tiebreaker—to compete for a spot atop the leaderboard,” the news release states. “New contests are offered several times each week, giving customers multiple opportunities to play and win throughout the month.”
SkyPicks is available for eligible SkyMiles Members right now, with Major League Baseball contests currently live and NFL matchups coming later this year.
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SkyPicks is available only to eligible players who are 21 or older. Anyone under the minimum age will not see the DraftKings experience as an option within Delta’s Sync Wi-Fi portal, officials said. Delta has 1,240 planes that offer Delta Sync Wi-Fi, according to the Points Guy.
In addition to requiring a SkyMiles Members account, those interested in playing will also need to create a DraftKings account and agree to the terms of the contest.
DraftKings officials say the partnership is about continuing the joy of watching sports (with a real stake in the outcome) to places beyond the stadium.
“At DraftKings, we believe interaction with sports shouldn’t begin and end with the game itself—it should extend to every moment fans care about,” said DraftKings Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy Elbaum. “As we continue elevating the DraftKings Sports experience, we’re also exploring new ways to bring fans closer to the action beyond the traditional settings.”
Elbaum continued by saying the partnership with Delta will give DraftKings the chance to “reimagine what sports engagement can look like while traveling.”
Regardless of how you feel about sports gambling, it’s undeniable that apps like DraftKings and FanDuel have ingratiated themselves into all areas of entertainment and sports consumerism through near-constant streams of ads and brand sponsorships. Now, not even being 40,000 feet in the air is enough to get away from the noise.
For many, this new in-flight entertainment will be a welcome one. For others, it might be just another way that these sports gambling companies have invaded our private and personal lives.
If you or someone you love are struggling with gambling addiction, you can call one of the many gambling hotlines for qualified, professional help at 1-800-MY-RESET. California residents can also contact 1-800-GAMBLER for assistance.
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