In a strategic move to enhance its betting offerings, DraftKings Inc. has announced a significant agreement to acquire Simplebet Inc., recognized for its advanced in-play betting technology and dynamic micro-market solutions. The deal, revealed on August 28, 2024, is pending customary regulatory approvals and represents a major upgrade to DraftKings’ digital sports entertainment and gaming portfolio.

Strategic acquisition approved by boards:

The boards of directors at both DraftKings and Simplebet have approved this merger, setting the stage for a transformative integration within the sports betting industry. This merger is contingent upon obtaining the necessary gaming regulatory approvals and satisfying other standard closing conditions.

Simplebet’s integration promises to significantly enhance DraftKings’ platform by incorporating advanced proprietary machine learning (ML) models. These models are expected to refine the accuracy of betting opportunities throughout each game, improving the data quality, breadth, and speed across DraftKings’ operational spectrum. This strategic enhancement is aimed at providing a seamless and more efficient betting experience for customers.

“Live betting represents an area for potential growth for online sports betting, and the proposed acquisition would allow DraftKings to leverage Simplebet’s proprietary technology to create an in-play wagering experience that moves at the speed of sports,” said Corey Gottlieb, Chief Product Officer at DraftKings, in the company’s press release.

DraftKings and Simplebet have a history of collaboration, which they plan to deepen through this acquisition. Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder and CEO of Simplebet, remarked on the merger, stating, “Joining forces with our long-term collaborators at DraftKings will further the Simplebet mission to make every sports moment matter.” He added, “This transformative acquisition, upon completion, will marry our best-in-class AI and machine learning technology with the DraftKings product offering, enhancing the customer experience for a new era of real-time, in-play gaming.”

Broader implications and previous acquisitions:

This acquisition comes on the heels of DraftKings’ recent purchase of Jackpocket, a digital lottery app, indicating a broader strategy to diversify and integrate across different sectors of digital gaming and betting. This move is part of DraftKings’ ongoing efforts to expand its market reach and cross-sell its product offerings effectively.

On August 2, DraftKings reported a significant revenue increase for the second quarter of 2024, driven by robust customer engagement, effective new customer acquisitions, and the expansion of its sportsbook offerings into new markets. The acquisition of Jackpocket, which was completed on May 22, also contributed to this growth.

As PYMNTS.com reports, Jason Robins, CEO and Co-Founder of DraftKings, emphasized the company’s strong position for future growth, stating, “We will continue to capitalize on the healthy customer acquisition environment for the rest of 2024 which positions us to achieve $900 million to $1 billion of adjusted EBITDA in 2025.”