Daily fantasy sports leader DraftKings is readying itself to enter the legal sports betting industry and has appointed a new head of sportsbook operations.
The company has named Sean Hurley as its head of sportsbook to “build, launch and drive the sports betting vertical at DraftKings.”
DraftKings CEO has said that the company was weighing its options if sports betting was made legal in the U.S. New Jersey has challenged a federal ban on sports betting and is awaiting a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard the state’s appeal of lower court rulings striking down the state’s sports betting laws. A decision could come as early as this week.
Many in the sportsbook industry are hopeful the Court will strike down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protect Act—which bans sports betting in all but four states.
“Sean brings a wealth of gaming experience to DraftKings and furthers our ability to be a leader in the sports betting market,” said co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer Matt Kalish in a press release. “Hurley will focus on preparing sportsbook as a potential new line of business for DraftKings in anticipation of the pending Supreme Court decision”
The company has also announced it will be hiring about 300 new workers and opening a new headquarters in Boston. DraftKings also announced that Hurley will be based in the company’s newly opened office in Hoboken, New Jersey.
New Jersey’s current sports betting law would restrict betting to casinos and racetracks. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement has already advised companies that want to enter the market to seek casino service licensing to be able to partner with Atlantic City casinos.
A number of other states, including Massachusetts, are also preparing sports betting legislation ahead of the Supreme Court ruling.
In a related matter, UK Bookmaker William Hill CEO Philip Bowcock recently told reporters that the company is preparing a war chest to invest in sports betting marketing should the Court strike down PASPA. William Hill is partnered with Monmouth Park Racetrack in New Jersey, where it has opened a betting lounge.
The racetrack has been at the forefront of the state’s fight to enact sports betting and would likely be the first sports betting facility in the state to go live if the Court rules in New Jersey’s favor.
