Poll: Can DraftKings replicate its stateside success in the UK?

DraftKings finally completed its long-awaited UK launch on Friday, just days after announcing major sponsorship deals with Premier League football clubs Liverpool, Arsenal and Watford.

Commenting on the launch, chief international officer Jeffery Haas said there was “massive appetite” for daily fantasy sports (DFS) among UK players – “a nation of avid and knowledgeable sports fans”.

The operator is keen to replicate its stateside success in Europe, particularly after its data leak scandal resulted in growing calls for regulation, with some states even ruling DFS illegal under gambling law.

But while DraftKings remains bullish on the opportunities for DFS outside of the US, others are yet to be convinced the activity will gain much traction in markets where real-money sports betting is legal.

Questions have also been raised over DraftKings’ UK product, which is only available on mobile for the time being with no option to make credit card and debit card deposits.

Rival FanDuel has plans to enter the UK market later this year, but CEO Nigel Eccles said it will likely be with a different product tailored to the UK market.

“It may not even be a daily fantasy product,” Eccles previously said. “I told the guys, come to me with a skill-based product in the UK that you think will work.

“We think that sports is universal, but the way people engage with sports is different, and the right game for them might be different in every country.”

With that in mind, this week’s poll asks whether DraftKings can replicate its stateside success in the UK, or whether it will have to tailor its product to the market in order for it to gain traction.

Have your say on the right hand side of the page.