As the tech world turned its gaze to Nevada for CES 2025, Delta Air Lines and DraftKings had more than just cutting-edge consumer electronics to showcase. In a move that has stirred mixed reactions, Delta Air's CEO teased a new partnership with DraftKings to bring mobile games from the sportsbook to the airline’s in-flight entertainment experience.
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta made this known during his keynote speech to a mammoth crowd at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
“Since we’re here in Las Vegas – the gaming capital of the world – it’s only fitting to announce a collaboration with DraftKings,” Bastain said.
“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…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 and his team have developed over the past decade.”
Although both companies have yet to reveal specific details about the scope of the collaboration, there have been talks about how the partnership would operate and possible regulatory concerns.
Initial reports suggest that the deal between both companies will see the sports betting operator build on Delta’s existing in-flight games catalog. According to Bastian, customers will soon be able to use Delta Sync, the airline’s free Wi-Fi to play games developed by DraftKings.
Currently, travelers can enjoy regular games like Wordle by New York Times and Sky Hopper, Delta’s exclusive retro-style game mid-air. Using Delta Sync, SkyMiles loyalty members also stand a chance to win up to $400 worth of gift cards from the US airline when they play.
However, for now, players will not yet be able to wager on casino games or access sports betting.
"While specific details on the agreement and the type of DraftKings offerings coming to Delta Sync will be shared when they’re finalized, the ability to gamble is not currently part of that exploration," a spokesperson for Delta revealed in a press statement.
Nevertheless, Tim Mapes, Delta’s Chief Communication Officer has hinted at a potential development in the future where customers could gamble using SkyMiles.
"The DraftKings announcement we made: If you played that forward — and I'm not saying this is where we're going — but if you played that forward, international flights could have gambling. International flights could gamble with SkyMiles as a currency," Mapes told reporters.
"You have a currency in SkyMiles, and you have all these different means to accumulate, redeem, find new ways of valuing that currency or elevating the utility of that currency in ways that people really enjoy. Whatever that is where we will go, because it will be the customers' preference that guide us."
After the announcement by Bastian, several lawmakers immediately kicked against the partnership, despite both companies confirming that gambling is not yet a part of their collaboration. First to take issue was Senator John McKeon (D-Essex/Passaic). The lawmaker stressed that the partnership had the potential to worsen gambling addiction in the country.
“This new partnership between Delta Air Lines and DraftKings is deeply concerning and furthers the proliferation of gambling in everyday life,” said Senator McKeon. “Online gambling and sports betting have become so normalized and pervasive that anyone can now drain their pockets anytime, anywhere, with just a click of a button. As a result, gambling addiction is surging at an alarming rate. Partnerships like these should worry us all.”
“While in-flight gambling is currently illegal under federal law, any collaboration between an airline and a gaming company should raise eyebrows. Gambling on planes would severely harm the well-being of passengers, and it should continue to remain out of the skies,” McKeon added.
In-flight gambling has remained banned since 1962, despite numerous efforts by commercial airlines to collaborate with gambling companies. Back in 1981, Singapore Airlines introduced slot machines to passengers flying from Singapore to San Francisco, although this didn’t last for more than two months.
Exactly one decade later, cruise ships registered in the US were allowed to obtain gambling permits, triggering Northwest Airlines and other commercial airlines to clamor for wagering rights, albeit unsuccessfully. Virgin Atlantic and Irish-owned Ryanair also toyed with the idea of in-flight gambling briefly but did not make so much progress.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) also decried the partnership, stressing the possible impact that the arrangement between DraftKings and Delta may have on gambling addiction.
"This partnership seems to be aimed at enticing the flying public ... to engage in a high-risk activity from their seatbacks, while in the air and unable to walk away," Senator Blumenthal commented.
"Betting companies have leveraged data collected on consumers to entice them through bonuses and promotions to hook them on this addictive product – resulting in a public health crisis that is producing huge costs in addiction, financial ruin, family disruption and much more."
In the final analysis, it is very unlikely that the Delta-DraftKings partnership will guarantee in-flight gambling, now or in the future. This is especially so considering that the activity is expressly illegal in the US. Nevertheless, there are several other attractive options open to both parties to explore, such as sportsbook bonuses to loyalty members and non-wagering games.