New York City-headquartered sports-tech entertainment company, FanDuel Group, and Major League Baseball (MLB), announced Thursday that they had entered into a multi-year partnership deal making the daily fantasy sports (DFS) provider an Authorized Gaming Operator of the professional baseball organization.

The landmark deal marks FanDuel’s first partnership with the professional sports league or one of its 30 teams.

“With an enhanced betting experience, sports fans are watching more baseball as they have a stake in the game.”

According to the press release…

…the new collaboration gives the New York-based operator access to official MLB data, in addition to league and team logos and marks, across FanDuel’s retail sportsbook locations and online sports betting products.

National pastime:

Commenting on the recent tie-up, President and Chief Operating Officer for FanDuel Group, Kip Levin, said…

“Fantasy sports and sports betting have become a national pastime in their own right, so it’s natural to join forces with Major League Baseball. MLB clearly understands how working together can be beneficial for baseball fans and both companies alike.”

Also commenting, Executive Vice President, gaming & New Business Ventures for MLB, Kenny Gersh, stated…

“FanDuel has proven itself to be a leader in the sports betting space and has shifted a step ahead again through its commitment to, and recognition of, the value in being an authorized gaming operator. Now having access to our official sports betting data feeds and MLB brands, we’re looking forward to the creative sports betting and fan experience innovations FanDuel will develop.”

“Baseball is one of the most popular sports to bet on and partnering with MLB allows us to make the betting experience even better for our customers. With an enhanced betting experience, sports fans are watching more baseball as they have a stake in the game,” added Levin.

In-play wagering:

A strategic move, a major part of the sports betting experience is in-play wagering, which, according to the press release, accounts for over 50 percent of FanDuel Sportsbook’s total business. The combining of forces enables what is the second biggest DFS operator in terms of users as guaranteed prize pools, behind DraftKings, to heighten the in-play and overall experience and sports wagering.

Boyd Gaming tie-up:

The multi-year agreement comes on the heels of the launch of the FanDuel Sportsbook in Pennsylvania. The partnership with Boyd Gaming and Valley Forge Casino Resort allows Sports fans in PA to place wagers across football, basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, and tennis. Along with the Keystone State, New Jersey is the second state where the FanDuel Sportsbook online and mobile platform is available. since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May last year.

Last month, the company also announced the grand opening of its first retail sportsbook in New York State, located at Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols, New York.

DraftKings went there too:

Meanwhile, in late July, after signing a similar deal with MGM Resorts International, in November 2018, DraftKings Inc.,  announced that it had entered into a multi-year agreement with MLB to become “Authorized Gaming Operator,” giving it similar accesses as its East Coast counterpart.

The Massachusetts-headquartered firm was one of a handful of companies that have moved quickly to capitalize on the budding legal sports betting market in the U.S. post PASPA. since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on single-game wagering.

The daily fantasy sports provider’s relationship with MLB dates back prior to becoming the baseball league’s official daily fantasy partner in 2015. At one point, the operator had partnerships in place with 27 of 30 teams, with the only exceptions being the Seattle Mariners (Washington), Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays.