NFL Renews DraftKings, FanDuel Deals, Adds Fanatics The National Football League (NFL) announced on Thursday the renewal of its sportsbook partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel, while also welcoming Fanatics as a new official betting operator. The multiyear agreements grant the sportsbooks access to exclusive league data, the ability to advertise during games, and intellectual property rights for NFL and team logos and marks. These partnerships also include collaborative efforts on bet types, intelligence sharing, advocacy for responsible gambling, and efforts to combat illegal betting. The NFL explicitly opposes wagers tied to officiating decisions, player injuries, or any bets that can be easily manipulated by individuals. Renie Anderson, the NFL’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer, emphasized that game integrity remains central to the league’s approach to legalized sports betting. She noted that the official data provided by NFL partner Genius Sports is critical for enabling live betting, which allows sportsbooks to offer real-time wagers based on evolving game conditions. Anderson also highlighted the league’s requirements for advertisers, stating that participation in game broadcasts necessitates adherence to integrity standards, including the use of official data. The renewed deals follow the expiration of previous partnerships with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars Sportsbook in March. During the 2025 regular season, national TV games featured an average of two sportsbook ads per game, with higher volumes during primetime contests. iSpot.TV, a marketing analytics firm, reported that betting-related commercials during games accounted for slightly fewer minutes than beer and hard seltzer ads.#nfl #fanatics #draftkings #fanduel #genius_sports
Frank Thomas Sues White Sox, Nike, and Fanatics Over Uniform Use Hall of Famer Frank Thomas has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago White Sox, the team he played for during 16 of his 19 Major League Baseball seasons, over what he claims is the unauthorized use of his likeness on team uniforms. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County, Illinois, also names Nike and Fanatics as co-defendants. Thomas is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 and has requested a jury trial. The case centers on the White Sox’s sale of City Connect 2.0 jerseys on or around April 28, 2025, which featured Thomas’ No. 35 on the front and his name and number on the back, alongside the team’s trademarks, logos, and Nike branding. Thomas’ attorney, William T. Gibbs of Corboy & Demetrio, stated in a statement to ESPN that the complaint alleges violations of the Illinois Right to Publicity Act. Gibbs emphasized that companies cannot profit from someone’s identity without their consent, calling the filing self-explanatory. The White Sox have not commented on the litigation, while the Major League Baseball Players Association and Nike and Fanatics have declined to respond. A case management hearing is scheduled for May 21 in a Cook County Circuit Court. This is not the first instance of tension between Thomas and his former team. In 2002, when Thomas failed to make the All-Star team, finish in the top 10 in MVP voting, or win a Silver Slugger award, the White Sox and then-general manager Ken Williams invoked a “diminished skills” clause in his contract. This reduced his base salary to $250,000 and deferred $10.125 million over 10 years without interest. In 2006, Thomas sued two White Sox doctors, alleging their 2004 misdiagnosis of a broken foot worsened his injury and led to his release in 2005.#nike #chicago_white_sox #frank_thomas #william_t_gibbs #fanatics
