Starting this month, the Oregon Lottery will move from the Scoreboard platform to DraftKings for sports betting. The agreement was announced on Wednesday by the company, which will become the lottery’s official sportsbook provider.
As part of the exclusive agreement, DraftKings Sportsbook will replace the current Scoreboard app, in a transition set to begin on January 18. Current Scoreboard customers will be able to create a DraftKings account and transfer their existing funds to the DraftKings Sportsbook app at that time, the company said.
“DraftKings is thrilled to embark on this journey with the Oregon Lottery as we build out a coast-to-coast presence with our top-rated online sportsbook for these fans to experience ahead of the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl,” said Paul Liberman, co-founder and President Global Technology and Product at DraftKings.
For current Scoreboard customers, the app will work as usual, until the transfer to DraftKings Sportsbook begins. After the migration, most functionality on the Scoreboard app will be removed. However, bettors will still have access to transaction histories, account information and the withdrawal facility for six months post-transition.
Get ready, Oregon. @DKSportsbook will be at your fingertips on January 18. For more information, check out the full release here: https://t.co/FhzzV7PCwW pic.twitter.com/6YNMO8THBa
— DraftKings News (@DraftKingsNews) January 12, 2022
Any open bets in Scoreboard accounts will remain until settled, DraftKings further announced. In a commitment to responsible gaming, Oregon bettors utilizing DraftKings’ product will have access to built-in tools, including deposit limits, cooldowns and other self-restriction, which are already in place in other markets where the company has a presence.
“The Oregon Lottery shares our innovative spirit as one of the most progressive organizations in the real-money gaming sector,” added Liberman. “Together we look forward to delivering the exceptional online sportsbook products that Oregonians have been anticipating.”
“We’re excited about the improved experience for our players – including the ability to make same game parlay bets. DraftKings is a premier provider in the US,” said Barry Pack, Director, Oregon Lottery. “We see benefits for Lottery too, as the shift to DraftKings means fewer third-party service providers and a simpler financial structure for player accounts.”
Matt Shelby, Senior Manager, Community & Corporate Engagement for the Oregon Lottery, described the transition to DraftKings’ platform as a big win for the state. The lottery has shown enthusiasm on the deal, describing DraftKings’ product as easier to use, while including new betting options for bettors.
“Overall, we think it’s going to cost us less money to operate the game, which means more money back to Oregon,” Shelby added, according to KXL. “We’re really excited about it. DraftKings is a big player in the U.S. market.”
Players in the state have begun receiving a letter informing them of the change in platform. According to the lottery, Oregon bettors simply need to download the DraftKings app, which will then walk them through the transition. Customers will receive a notification when the transition is officially underway.
In addition to the upcoming product launch, DraftKings has been focused on environmental campaigns in Oregon, according to a press statement on the new deal. The company has pledged to continue to leverage customer engagement “to bolster meaningful community efforts” in the state.
In conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation, the gaming giant funded the planting of 1 million trees by Earth Day 2022 to create a global impact with projects in fifteen US states and nine international countries. For Oregon specifically, the company has funded the planting of over 110,000 trees to aid in fire rehabilitation efforts.
BREAKING: @DraftKings today announced the company will launch its mobile and online sportsbook in New York on Saturday, January 8. @DKSportsbook is set to become one of the first operators to launch in the Empire State. For more details, visit: https://t.co/Nfz09Qz8NB pic.twitter.com/u47dpNs90w
— DraftKings News (@DraftKingsNews) January 6, 2022
DraftKings’ deal with the Oregon Lottery follows the launch of its online sportsbook in New York last week. It marks the second exclusive lottery agreement the company has made after inking a deal in 2019 with the New Hampshire Lottery.
The Oregon Lottery Commission unanimously approved the switch to DraftKings’ platform in August last year. “The DraftKings platform is more familiar to US bettors,” lottery director Barry Pack said at the time. “The SBTech platform is more similar to a European design.”
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2022/01/13/60936-draftkings-to-replace-scoreboard-as-oregon-lottery-39s-sportsbook-provider-starting-jan-18