DraftKings Keeps Exclusive Sports Betting Deal in New Hampshire

DraftKings will stay the only online sports betting provider in New Hampshire after getting a new extension to its deal with the New Hampshire Lottery. The new agreement means the Boston-based company holds on to its exclusive spot in the state’s regulated market, a position it has had since sports betting started there in late 2019.

DraftKings Continues as Sole New Hampshire Betting Operator

The company shared this news in a public statement, saying that the longer partnership builds on years of working together with the state lottery. DraftKings said that the relationship has allowed it to offer a regulated mobile sportsbook to residents since the market began.

New Hampshire brought in legal sports betting after lawmakers gave the green light to enabling legislation in 2019. The state picked DraftKings through a competitive bidding process. They struck a deal to split sportsbook revenue 50-50. The state’s share goes to public programs, including education funding.

When it first kicked off, state officials talked up the deal as a big chance to bring in new money while giving bettors a safe, state-regulated platform. The agreement also opened the door for both mobile betting and a few brick-and-mortar sportsbook spots, as long as local authorities gave the green light. The setup came with some limits, like no bets on in-state college teams or events happening in New Hampshire.

DraftKings Introduces Digital Payment Changes in New Hampshire

The contract extension happens as the state’s gaming scene undergoes wider shifts. Lawmakers looked again at making online casino gaming legal, though proposed laws did not move forward earlier this year. If it had gone ahead, the bill might have paved the way for multiple operators and broadened the reach of digital gambling in the state.

DraftKings has also been bringing in new payment options in some areas, including New Hampshire. The company is getting ready to launch a feature that lets customers put in cryptocurrency, which turns into US dollars right away before going into their betting accounts. While players will not be able to bet with digital money, this move shows growing interest in different ways to pay within the regulated market.

Meanwhile, DraftKings has moved to tighten some payment rules. In the past few months, the company stopped allowing credit cards for sports betting, pointing to customer safety concerns and the possible costs of cash advance fees.

With the deal renewed, DraftKings will keep running without direct online sportsbook rivals in New Hampshire. The extension strengthens the company’s long-time position in the state and keeps the current setup of its partnership with the lottery going for the near future.