DraftKings-Delta Partnership: In-Flight Sports Betting Closer To Takeoff?

It appears a gambling partnership between DraftKings Sportsbook and Delta Air Lines could be closer to liftoff.

In June 2025, Delta was surveying passengers about their interest in “exclusive access to sports gambling (sportsbook) opportunities.”

A screenshot of the survey was posted to Reddit. Gambling Harm spoke to the author of the post who said that his flight was out of Michigan.

The state is relevant here, as Michigan is one of the most friendly states to online sports betting. The Wolverine State is one of more than two dozen DraftKings states, and Delta has a hub in Detroit.

While in-flight gambling remains unauthorized under decades-old federal law, it’s possible states could legalize in-flight sports gambling for flights to and from their jurisdictions.

This is what a piece of legislation in Connecticut, filed in January 2025, proposes.

The federal law pertaining to in-flight gambling—the Gambling Devices Act of 1962—is considered an antiquated statute. In other words, there might be little appetite to try to apply the law to today’s mobile technology.

There is no pending Michigan bill related to in-flight sports gambling, but the state would make sense if DraftKings and Delta become more aggressive in developing the partnership.

The partnership comes as policymakers in Illinois look to siphon more money from air travelers through slots at Chicago airports. The idea is the same as in-flight gambling: air travelers are captives.

Reaction to DraftKings-Delta Gambling Deal

In January, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian announced a partnership with DraftKings at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. 

The partnership reportedly was still in its early stages.

Reaction to the partnership has largely been negative. Here are some reactions from Reddit:

• “People are already drinking before or on the flight and sleep deprived.”
• “Increase in in-flight incidents for sure. I don’t want to be diverted because the Lakers lost and someone’s mortgage payment was riding on it.”
• “I would pay money not to have access to sports gambling on my phone.”
• “Vegas but in a metal tube going 500 mph.”

For people dealing with problem gambling, including individuals in recovery, in-flight sports gambling could be extremely unpleasant to be around.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), sponsor of the SAFE Bet Act, condemned the partnership in January.

“This new partnership advances the proliferation of sports betting, further fueling a crisis of problem gambling,” Blumenthal wrote.

“Problem gambling is particularly rampant among young people,” he added. “Given that a significant number of minors fly each year, I’m especially concerned that this partnership could be advertised or available to children, enticing them to engage in betting. Delta Air Line’s family seating policy does not guarantee adjacent seats for children under thirteen and their accompanying adult, which only exacerbates these concerns.”

Evolving Partnership: “Gaming” to “Gambling”

In a Feb. 3, 2025, blog post, Delta said the “gaming” partnership was still tentative.

“While Delta and DraftKings continue to define the scope of our potential business transaction, it does not include any kind of gaming using real money or miles. Delta will not make offerings available in violation of Federal, State or local laws.”

Under the relationship, Delta said it was considering giving eligible SkyMiles members access to “free gaming” as an additional offering on Delta Sync Wi-Fi available through SkyMiles members’ personal electronic devices.

In April, another Delta blog post seemed to indicate the deal was progressing.

“For members under 21, the DraftKings offer will be excluded from the Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience,” the airline wrote.

In the post, Delta appeared to double down on the DraftKings deal, calling it “an unprecedented collaboration.”

“The Delta Sync experience does not include any real-money or mileage-based gaming,” Delta restated.

In June, Delta survey text referred to a potential offering as “gambling,” which implies real-money sports betting, not free-play games.

DraftKings Delta Promotion Market Size

Promotions tied to DraftKings gambling on Delta flights could be a substantial revenue opportunity.

In 1996, the Department of Transportation found that in-flight casino gambling (not limited to sports betting) could generate millions of dollars for airlines.

“The Department estimates that if allowed to offer gambling on their international flights, U.S. airlines could generate wagering amounting to roughly $3.3 billion on an annual basis,” the report said. The figure was the “handle”—not estimated revenue.

Still, that’s a staggering figure from nearly 30 years ago.

The U.S. sports betting market generated nearly $18 billion in total revenue (gross gaming revenue) in 2024. The revenue came from about $150 billion in wagers (handle).

It’s unclear how DraftKings and Delta would share the spoils on in-flight sports betting.

Some airline experts anticipate more momentum for the DraftKings-Delta partnership.

“I’d think we’ll see a renewed lobbying effort to legalize in-flight gambling, because there’s simply so much money at stake—that airlines are currently leaving on the table,” wrote Gary Leff, co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com.

Right now, it appears that lobbying could come at the state level—in jurisdictions that have already shown a great willingness to cater to the betting industry.

Bottom Line: Is In-Flight Gambling Legal?

Despite developments involving a DraftKings-Delta partnership, in-flight gambling products remain illegal in the United States.

Federal law on the issue is outdated, but it appears Delta Air Lines will adhere, for now, to the law and not allow real-money gambling via DraftKings.

However, things can change fast, as changes to state or federal law might give Delta the green light to promote in-flight traditional sports gambling.

Delta appears to be testing the waters by surveying customers about real-money gambling.

While in-flight sports gambling could be lucrative for Delta and DraftKings, it appears the activity could be incredibly unpopular among people not using the product.