DraftKings’ free-to-play gaming services will soon be available to passengers through Delta’s SkyMiles rewards program.
The partnership between DraftKings and Delta will give adult SkyMiles members over the age of 21 access to free gaming products onboard Delta flights, with the gaming offering disabled for SkyMiles members under the age of 21.
The planned rollout of the gaming offering is a part of Delta’s free WiFi service for customers and also includes a tie-up with YouTube, with additional partnerships expected to be announced.
“Delta is constantly listening to our customers and evolving to meet their needs,” said Julieta McCurry, VP of in-flight entertainment and connectivity at Delta.
“We know they want an in-flight experience similar to what they have at home, including more ways to engage and stay entertained – which is why we’re excited to continue scaling Delta Sync products and bring even more to the experience soon, including expected collaborations with brands like YouTube and DraftKings.”
Delta’s gaming offering will be free-to-play at this time, in order to comply with federal and state laws, and excludes gaming of any kind using real money or miles.
Delta’s free Delta Sync Wi-Fi is currently available on more than 880 aircraft, and the new entertainment offerings are expected to be available to passengers on high-volume international routes by this summer.
This will be followed by the rollout of updated connectivity technology to aircraft operating regional routes later in the year, giving domestic passengers access to streaming-speed connectivity and personalized entertainment.
Since introducing its free WiFi service for program members two years ago, Delta has signed up more than 3.5 million new SkyMiles members, the majority of which are said to be “disproportionally younger than average base members”.
Overall, 60 per cent of all Delta Sync Wi-Fi users are under the age of 44.
Shares in DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ:DKNG) gained 0.47 per cent to close at $42.44 per share in New York Thursday.