The NFL has reached new multiyear commercial agreements with three major sports betting operators—DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Betting and Gaming—ahead of the 2026 season. The league announced the partnerships on Thursday, restoring official sportsbook relationships after a gap that began when prior deals expired in March.
These deals grant the operators official status, including access to official NFL data, in-game advertising rights, and use of league and team intellectual property such as logos and marks.
What the New NFL Sports Betting Deals Include
The partnerships allow DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics to advertise during NFL games and use official league data distributed by Genius Sports. This data supports live, in-game betting with real-time odds updates.
The companies will work directly with the NFL on several areas:
- Types of bets offered
- Intelligence sharing for integrity monitoring
- Advocacy for legal, regulated betting
- Responsible gambling programs
The NFL continues to prohibit certain wagers, including those tied to officiating decisions, player injuries, or outcomes that could be known in advance or easily influenced by one person.
Financial terms were not disclosed. DraftKings will remain the NFL’s official daily fantasy sports partner, a role it has held since 2019. Fanatics will serve as the official online casino marketing partner.
The NFL is limiting sportsbook advertisements to roughly one per quarter during games. Last season, betting-related commercials were slightly fewer than those for beer and hard seltzers.
Background: Why There Was a Gap in Official Partnerships
The NFL first opened official sportsbook sponsorships in 2021 after sports betting legalization expanded. Previous multiyear deals with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars expired at the end of March 2026, leaving the league without official partners for several months.
Reports indicated negotiations stalled over increased costs for official streaming data from Genius Sports, the NFL’s exclusive data distributor. The NFL holds a significant stake in Genius Sports. Without official data agreements, operators cannot sponsor the league or advertise during broadcasts.
Fanatics signed on first as a non-exclusive partner, breaking the logjam. DraftKings and FanDuel then finalized their renewals, resulting in the three-operator structure announced today.
NFL Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Renie Anderson emphasized that game integrity remains central. “In order to advertise in our game, you also have to have official data, because you have to agree to our integrity requirements,” Anderson said.
FanDuel President Christian Genetski noted the league’s role over the past five years in building a regulated industry focused on fans and game integrity.
Integrity Measures and Limits on Betting Products
The NFL is keeping its distance from prediction markets, even though DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics operate them in some states without legal sports betting. Official data and IP rights from these deals do not extend to prediction market products. Anderson stated the league is not considering commercial involvement in that space at this time.
Official data helps sportsbooks offer live betting while supporting league monitoring efforts. The partnerships include collaboration on bet offerings to avoid products the NFL views as high-risk for integrity issues.
Implications for the 2026 NFL Season and Beyond
These agreements restore official betting partnerships just before the regular season begins. They provide the operators with promotional opportunities across NFL media channels and access to premium experiences at events like the Super Bowl and NFL Draft.
For fans, the deals mean continued in-game advertising from these brands and official data-backed betting options in legal states. The league’s focus on responsible gambling initiatives and restricted bet types aims to balance commercial growth with protecting the sport’s integrity.
The NFL generated an estimated $30 billion in betting handle last season. With legal sports betting now established in many states, these official partnerships formalize the league’s approach to the industry while maintaining controls over advertising volume and data use.
The 2026 season will test how these renewed and expanded relationships perform on the field and in the marketplace. As legal betting continues to grow, the NFL’s model of official data, limited ads, and integrity collaboration will likely serve as a reference for other leagues.