Raptors, Maple Leafs Sign 4-Year Contract With DraftKings Amidst Scandal
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs, has signed a 4-year promotion deal with Daily Fantasy Sports site DraftKings amidst a massive “insider information” scandal that threatens to take down an entire industry.
In a statement released by DraftKings, it said the deal means successful players will be able to win special experiences with MLSE’s three pro teams, such as box seats at the Air Canada Centre, a chance to go behind-the-scenes with the Maple Leafs, or court access for pre-game warm-ups at a Raptors game. DraftKings offers one-day ad one-week fantasy leagues.
But DraftKings is now under fire after it was revealed that one of its employees accessed “insider” information to player usage percentages then went on to win $350,000 at a competing website.
The deal was entered into just hours before the New York Times blew open the DraftKings story Monday morning.
DraftKings vice-president of business development Jeremy Elbaum says Canada is an untapped market for the company, and that this deal is the first in a series of planned expansions outside the United States.
"It wouldn't warrant a deal like this if we weren't already seeing some good results from people signing up in the Toronto area," he said.
It remains to be seen if this scandal will hamper such expansion plans.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
