In early 2025, Delta Air Lines revealed it would partner with sports betting platform DraftKings, in order to improve inflight entertainment. There was only one problem — inflight gambling isn’t allowed in the United States, which made many of us wonder what exactly this would entail.
Roughly 18 months after the initial tease, this partnership is now live, so we have all the details. I can’t help but wonder if there might be more of a long term vision here…
In this post:
Delta & DraftKings launch SkyPicks, for sports “predicting”
Delta and DraftKings have announced plans to introduce SkyPicks, which is described as a first-of-its-kind collaboration, intended to bring a new sports experience onboard Delta flights, allowing SkyMiles members to win Delta gift cards (the amounts haven’t been disclosed). While DraftKings is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company, the opportunities here are limited, given restrictions on inflight gambling.
The idea is that the new SkyPicks platform allows SkyMiles members who are 21 years of ago and up to use their laptop or mobile device (but not seat back screens) to make predictions tied to real sports matches. This is available starting today, and it’s a completely free-to-play sports contest, which is solely an entertainment experience.
In order to use this, SkyMiles members can connect to the Delta Sync network onboard flights, and then sign into their DraftKings account. Travelers can then choose their league, to unlock a set of questions about a single game, or a predefined group of games. SkyPicks is launching with Major League Baseball contests, with NFL matchups coming later this year, as the season gets underway.
SkyMiles members can make their picks by answering a series of questions, which are a mix of player head-to-heads (“who will have more points?”) and game-winner picks (“which team will win?”). Prizes will then be awarded to the top performers in individual contests and monthly leaderboards. Contests run twice per week, and while onboard, SkyMiles members can always enter the next upcoming contest.
Is there an ulterior motive to this partnership, or…?
It’s certainly a bit unusual to see a major airline partner with a betting platform, given that under current federal laws, inflight gambling in the United States is illegal. Of course it’s legal to gamble at some airports, like in Las Vegas, and that’s a big revenue opportunity for those places.
Bigger picture, I can’t help but wonder what the real motive here is. I suppose one could argue that this as simple as introducing a new form of inflight entertainment. However, given for how long this has been in the works and the way this was announced, I have to imagine there’s a bigger strategy here:
- Is this about driving sign-ups to the Delta SkyMiles program, and/or is it about getting people to register for DraftKings, and Delta getting a cut on new sign-ups?
- If inflight gambling were allowed on US carriers, it could become a very lucrative industry, so one can’t help but wonder if this is the first step toward trying to convince regulators to update those rules
It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out. For now, it’s just a fun way to potentially earn Delta gift cards, and there’s not much downside. However, I suspect there’s a bit more going on here than meets the eye.
Bottom line
Delta is launching a partnership with DraftKings. While that’s ordinarily a sports betting platform, inflight gambling is illegal. So the idea is that SkyMiles members who are 21+ years old can “predict” the outcomes of games, and then win Delta gift cards.
I suppose that’s a fun way to engage travelers, though I have to imagine there’s a bigger revenue opportunity here, and I’m curious what exactly it is.
What do you make of Delta’s new DraftKings partnership?
Would it be legal to let you gamble SkyPesos to win SkyPesos? (Genuine question)
I assumed the benefit for DraftKings would be that they get lots of people to try for free, decide they like it, and open real-money accounts on the ground.
They pay Delta for the equivalent of more-than-usually-effective advertising.
A smart airline would do kalshi or polymarket no?
Inflight gambling + Leo. What could possibly go wrong?
with respect to Delta
they won't have LEO for years based on an unproven and non-existent LEO network ;)
I give Delta the benefit of the doubt that they know they'll have the worst internet soon so why not provide inflight gambling to pass the time?
So we should expect to be hit with commercials for this across their inflight entertainment and web portals.
I don’t fly Delta, but now it’s fallen further down my consideration list.
Have you seen this Lucky?
“Trump announces $22bn plan to rebuild Dulles international airport”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/29/trump-dulles-airport-22-billion-dollar-plan
Don’t forget folks, DL plays 4d chess!
There’s absolutely a premium angle here that will generate billions in profit.
UA is definitely now cooked lol
DL not only said a year and a half ago that it would be pursuing this deal and has followed through on it.
I am certain that Draftkings is writing a very handsome sized check to DL that will find its way to the bottom line
Gamblers are stupid .
I don't do it but plenty of people do.
You can make your own moral decisions about what you purchase -as will I - but it is legal in many states now, just not onboard aircraft to/from/over the US
"but it is legal in many states now, just not onboard aircraft to/from/over the US"
minor detail there for an airline ;)
pretty ignorant by delta and that's leaving aside the complete lack of ethics by Delta
You know what, if DL wants to earn a few extra bucks on literally a scourge on our current society that is doing incredible amounts of financial harm to young men (who are losing money they could've potentially spent on flights / vacations but instead losing their life savigns), then I say good on DL for chasing every dollar possible.
And I will say the same about UNited if they go and sign a deal...
You know what, if DL wants to earn a few extra bucks on literally a scourge on our current society that is doing incredible amounts of financial harm to young men (who are losing money they could've potentially spent on flights / vacations but instead losing their life savigns), then I say good on DL for chasing every dollar possible.
And I will say the same about UNited if they go and sign a deal with Caesers tomorrow.
The unbridled legalization of gambling is one of the great harms of the modern day world.
there are plenty of people who legitimately think that alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and porn are very harmful but they are legal in many states
I don't disagree and I don't intend to gamble in the air because I don't on the ground but I don't say that any corporation is doing something wrong by offering a legal service which some want to buy.
Ben - you’ve missed an important nuance here. While gambling is illegal in flight (and on the ground in many states for that matter), *prediction markets* circumvent these rules entirely. This is also how DraftKings is able to offer a real money version of their app in all 50 states now. To the end customer it looks just like sports betting, but it’s regulated federally by the CFTC and should be fully permissible in flight.
Swissair offered in-flight gambling on their IFE system all the way back in 1997. They followed federal regulations by not allowing it to be used on flights to the US. Tragically faulty IFE wiring caused the Swissair 111 crash in 1998.
In today’s episode of The Twilight Zone, all of this is normal now and no one bats an eye. The end.
Will DL or UA be the first to sell Trump Bibles and crypto coins? Maybe this was the partnership that Scott wanted when he called Ed.
Partnering with a sleazy online betting agency isn't very premium.
Totally agree. I'm disgusted by it. Maybe Delta can pay sleazy Kevin Hart to push this and further erode American wealth.
I've got $50 that says our taxi at ORD will take more than 15 minutes. Who wants in on this action?
Gambling on planes is a great idea. There are still a few working class Americans out there that actually have some disposable income. This is a great way for them to quickly give it over to a corporation so they'll never again have any sort of financial freedom, and will have to work until their 70s to pay their mortgage, rent to Black Rock, and support healthcare conglomerates like United.
Nailed it.
Now we wait until some hole comes along to spout "PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!"
Or some people to come along. Point out that BlackRock is a passive index fund provider and that you don’t seem to know what you’re talking about
BlackRock is an index fund provider. How are you going to pay them rent? It doesn’t make any sense. What a bunch of nonsense
Blackrock directly finances build-to-rent housing developments. They have an extensive portfolio of alternative investments.
Im guessing they meant Blackstone….financial literacy is not a strong point for most OMAAT subscribers.
"working class" - I thought all Americans with jobs were labelled "middle class" ?
So smart. Quite the bad but I bet it'll pay off.
Ugh, they really should not be doing this. Even if it were legal, it's not a great look.
I can see it now…the interiors of the planes will be covered with DraftKings, MGM, etc gambling advertisements. Wonderful.
Did AA ground all flights yesterday due to systems failures, after slashing 5k + USA based positions and outsourcing IT to India?
*crickets chirping*
I guess not
https://www.reddit.com/r/americanairlines/comments/1onl8jf/rumors_of_layoffs_today/?sort=new
oh well it's on Reddit... it must be true
*rolls eyes* at the ignorance
Thank you - the reddit link is discussing the layoffs.
You could google for yourself (Example, https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/28/us/american-airlines-flights-halted)
But hooray for the cheapshot!
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