League Expands Commercial Agreements Featuring Official Data Access, Tentpole Event Presence, and Rigorous Game Integrity Commitments
The National Football League has officially announced multi-year commercial agreements with three leading sports betting operators ahead of the 2026 season. Longstanding category partners DraftKings and FanDuel have each signed multi-year extensions, while Fanatics Betting and Gaming has also secured a multi-year agreement, significantly expanding an existing relationship with the league that spans official merchandise and collectibles.
Expanded Rights and Official Data Integration
Under the terms of these multi-year contracts, all three operating partners gain the authorization to leverage official NFL intellectual property and marks within the sports betting category, alongside promotional rights for online and retail sports betting operations. Furthermore, the partners secure a prominent brand presence at major NFL tentpole events, including the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft, alongside unique hospitality packages, VIP fan experiences, and deep digital integrations across league-owned properties.
To power their platforms, the operators will utilize real-time, official play-by-play statistics, proprietary Next Gen Stats, and BetVision through Genius Sports, which serves as the league’s exclusive official data distribution partner.
Additional category-specific designations accompany the renewals: DraftKings continues its role as the Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner of the NFL, a collaboration active since 2019 featuring exclusive rights to league IP, while Fanatics steps into the role of an Official Online Casino Marketing Partner of the NFL.
Commitment to Game Integrity and Responsible Gambling
A foundational element of the renewed partnerships is a shared dedication to core game integrity policies. All three operators have agreed to collaborate closely with the league on intelligence sharing, advocacy campaigns, and proactive responsible gambling initiatives. This cooperative framework includes working together to restrict and prohibit specific wagers deemed objectionable by the league, such as bets tied directly to game officiating, player injuries, or outcomes that can be easily manipulated by a single individual or known in advance.
The NFL maintains a multi-layered game integrity program encompassing policy education, strict enforcement, intelligence sharing, and continuous betting pattern monitoring in coordination with law enforcement agencies, state regulators, and Genius Sports. Additionally, every NFL club is assigned a dedicated Integrity Representative, frequently a senior law enforcement officer or retired FBI agent, to oversee local compliance. Mandatory annual training on the league’s Gambling Policy is required for all players, coaches, officials, and staff members, who must sign and formally acknowledge the rules each year.
Complementing these integrity measures, the NFL continues its extensive responsible gambling outreach. Having launched the first-ever professional sports league responsible betting campaign in 2021 alongside the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), backed by record-setting grants totaling $6.2 million in 2021 and $6.4 million in 2024, the league supports educational and prevention programs. Additional partnerships with the Responsible Gambling Council and the International Center for Responsible Gaming further bolster player protection initiatives, alongside the continued airing of the “Stick to Your Game Plan, Always Bet Responsibly” television campaign.
Executive Perspectives
Renie Anderson, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at the NFL, shared her perspective on the renewals:
“We are thrilled to have three world-class partners in the sports betting category. DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics share our vision for innovation and fan engagement, but most importantly, our commitment to protecting the integrity of the game. We look forward to navigating this next chapter in sports betting together.”
Stephanie Sherman, Chief Marketing Officer at DraftKings, noted:
“Nothing compares to football season for DraftKings and our millions of customers. Working with the NFL allows us to put the DraftKings brand alongside the biggest games of the season, from Kickoff through the Super Bowl. That presence is especially meaningful for DraftKings as the #1 sportsbook for live betting, giving fans more ways to engage with every drive, play and moment as it happens. We’re excited to continue bringing that experience to football fans across the country.”
Christian Genetski, President at FanDuel, added:
“For the last five years, the NFL has been an important partner in helping build a legal and regulated sports betting industry that puts fans and the integrity of the game at the center. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and look forward to continuing to find new ways for fans to engage with the games they love.”
Matt King, Chief Executive Officer of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, stated:
“We are thrilled to expand Fanatics’ partnership with the NFL to include Fanatics Sportsbook and Fanatics Casino, bringing fans even closer to the game they love. This deal underscores our vision for Fanatics as a true digital sports platform — a single destination where fans can bet, play and engage with the NFL all in one place, making the experience of being a fan better than ever.”
