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In a move that’s sending shockwaves across both the aviation and gaming worlds, Delta Air Lines has announced a partnership with DraftKings, one of the world’s largest sports betting platforms. The collaboration was announced at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, promising to raise the bar on gaming for Delta passengers-but exactly what this partnership will look like remains anyone’s guess.
The Current State of In-Flight Betting
For now, one thing is clear: in-flight betting is illegal under U.S. law courtesy of the Gambling Devices Act of 1962. In other words, while Delta and DraftKings can contemplate all manner of gaming options, real-money betting on flights is off the table for the time being. It has not stopped speculation, however, about future legislative changes that could clear a path to in-flight gambling.
What We Know So Far
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, referred to the growth of gaming into today’s lifestyle and added that their ambition was “to bring DraftKings’ leading platform and expertise into an in-flight entertainment experience that our customers will love-having something at their fingertips without having to “hit pause” on the thing they enjoy on the ground: gaming.” Thus, this venture will let guests enjoy activities onboard in flight.
Where It Can Head
While details are few and far between, some ways this might look include:
- Gamified experiences would be a simple doubling down on what was most clearly described by Delta. In that world, it integrates fantasy sports and online gaming into the inflight entertainment. That would keep Delta well within the letter of the law and create some interactive experiences for customers.
- Earning rewards: These could include rewards such as Delta SkyMiles to passengers for engaging in DraftKings activities on a plane. These incentivise passengers to use the platform without breaking any current gambling laws.
- Lobbying for Change: There is also speculation that Delta and DraftKings might be lobbying for legislative changes that would allow in-flight betting. If successful, this could open up a lucrative new revenue stream for airlines.
Legal Landscape
For years, it has been lawful for some foreign airlines flying in and out of the United States to offer in-flight gambling; however, none of these programs have endured. The existing U.S. legal climate would appear to require significant future changes in the statutory laws regulating gambling before this form of gaming develops appreciatively.
If in-flight betting were to become legal, the potential financial benefits are huge: an airline the size of Delta could reap more than $1 billion annually from such activities. This figure underlines the significant economic incentive for airlines to seek legislative changes.
The relationship between DraftKings and Delta, though, is only just beginning. For now, the move puts Delta on the bleeding edge of in-flight entertainment and perhaps in a very good position in case of some future adjustment in the laws pertaining to gambling. And as the growth of sports betting continues to snowball, it’s partnerships such as these that may eventually give rise to the dawn of an era in in-flight entertainment.
Source: igamingbusiness.com
