SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Leading daily fantasy sports operator, FanDuel, has announced that it has acquired the premier eSports platform, AlphaDraft. This is FanDuel’s first foray into the world of eSports, and another example of how the two industries of eSports and fantasy sports are merging ever closer.
Earlier this week it was revealed that DraftKings, who plan to launch in the UK in the near future, has added eSports contests to its markets. These will be available from October 1st.
The move will see AlphaDraft’s team move in-house with the aim of creating a daily fantasy product specifically for eSports.
FanDuel’s CEO and Co-Founder, Nigel Eccles, said of the news: “With over 200 million people globally watching eSports, AlphaDraft gives those fans a way to engage with this burgeoning entertainment product that creates an enormous opportunity for us.”
He continued: “This is sports for a new demographic, with very little crossover with what are considered traditional sports fans, and this acquisition gives us the ability to leverage the expertise of AlphaDraft’s team, while helping their efforts in customer acquisition and building awareness of this new industry. It’s a win-win.”
FanDuel have been investing heavily in recent times as it aims to be the biggest and best fantasy sports operator. Other recent acquisitions are Kotikan, a mobile app developer, and a next generation sports analytics platform, numberFire.
Todd Peterson, CEO of AlphaDraft, stated: “This pairing creates an incredible opportunity to drive the fantasy industry forward and create compelling products that will enhance all fan engagement.”
Current predictions estimate that the number of eSports fans will rival that of American Football by 2017.
