Drone Race Betting Soars Into Tennessee at DraftKings

Posted on January 12, 2021

Given the chance, hungry bettors will wager on just about anything.

First table tennis, now drone race betting?

And the operator bringing this unique betting market to Tennessee is no stranger to out-of-the-box wagering events.

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DraftKings permits Drone Race betting in certain states

National sportsbook DraftKings announced a partnership with Drone Racing League (DRL) last week, allowing drone race betting in select states.

Bettors in Tennessee as well as Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey and West Virginia can now place wagers on the sport.

Upon regulatory approval, drone race betting will soon make its way to every state where DraftKings operates a sportsbook.

DRL’s proprietary technology combined with high-speed action makes drone racing an ever-growing sport among millennials.

Pilots race their drones at full speed through dimly lit, elaborate obstacle courses for a chance to win top prizes.

In the past, drone racers have competed for up to $100,000 in prize money. Now, DRL fans can also get in on the action.

DRL President Rachel Jacobson said,

“The sky is now the limit for DRL fans to get skin in the game, and we’re thrilled to partner with DraftKings to transform our high-speed race competition into the ultimate sport to bet on.”

DRL’s short but prolific history

DRL was launched in 2015. Now, it’s in its fifth season of competition.

Each drone is custom-made by DRL and valued at around $2,000.

Drone crashes and technological issues can come at a moment’s notice during these big events. In preparation for such instances, DRL brings more than 600 drones to each competition.

These high-intensity events are thrilling for both participants and fans alike.

To increase interest and engagement, DRL and DraftKings have also teamed up to host special pre-flight shows prior to the live competitions.

DRL events can be viewed exclusively through NBC Sports and Sky Sports, and all pre-flight events can be streamed through Twitter.

DraftKings initially presented DRL wagering last November through a free-to-play pool that welcomed over 150,000 entrants.

The first DRL race available to wager on was a level 14 event that took place this past Saturday as part of the 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season.

Next up is a championship finale event scheduled for an undisclosed date later this year, leaving bettors plenty of time to study up on the sport before placing a wager.

DraftKings keeps it unique with offbeat events

This isn’t the first time unconventional events have appeared on DraftKings. In fact, the sportsbook is making quite a name for itself in that regard.

DraftKings partnered with Major League Eating (MLE) back in July 2020 to offer wagering on the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Joey Chestnut opened as the heavy favorite at -835 odds, ultimately securing his 14th consecutive contest title.

In October of last year, DraftKings paired up with MLE once again to present the Halloween Candy Bowl. Bettors could wager on which contestant would consume the most candy within a six-minute timeframe.

Chestnut was once again favored with -110 odds, but fourth-ranked Matt Stonie pulled out a win. With his +1400 odds, Stonie quickly became a rewarding value pick for players.

As for DraftKing’s next fringe sporting league partnership, the opportunities are endless.

Photo by Associated Press
Alec Cunningham Avatar
Written by
Alec Cunningham

As a college athlete, Alec Cunningham played Division II golf at Tusculum University. She graduated in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Professional Writing. She then returned to her love of written word in 2000 after working in the music industry as a concert promoter, tour manager and artist developer. As a journalist, she's covered a variety of topics and currently specializes in Tennessee online sports betting and Virginia casino news. She served as a panelist at this year's All American Sports Betting Summit, discussing the ever-evolving role of women in the gambling industry.

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