Blumenthal Demands Details on DraftKings and Delta Air Lines In-Flight Gaming Partnership

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote today to DraftKings and Delta Air Lines urging the companies to pause implementation of a recently announced partnership to offer in-flight gaming to passengers. In a letter to DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and Delta CEO Ed Bastian, Blumenthal pointed to the Gambling Devices Act of 1961, which outlawed gambling on commercial aircraft, and sought answers from the companies about safeguards they are considering to protect the flying public, including minors, from enticements that can hook them on an addictive product.

“This new partnership advances the proliferation of sports betting, further fueling a crisis of problem gambling. Betting companies have leveraged data collected on consumers to entice them through bonuses and promotions to hook them on this addictive product – resulting in a public health crisis that is producing huge costs in addiction, financial ruin, family disruption and much more,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal continued, “Problem gambling is particularly rampant among young people. Given that a significant number of minors fly each year, I am 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.”

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Mr. Robins and Mr. Bastian,

I write with significant concerns regarding the recently announced partnership between Delta Air Lines and DraftKings to offer in-flight gaming to passengers.[1] As you know, under the Gambling Devices Act of 1962, gambling is illegal on commercial aircraft.[2]

This new partnership advances the proliferation of sports betting, further fueling a crisis of problem gambling. Betting companies have leveraged data collected on consumers to entice them through bonuses and promotions to hook them on this addictive product – resulting in a public health crisis that is producing huge costs in addiction, financial ruin, family disruption and much more. This partnership seems to be aimed at enticing the flying public – many of them possibly problem gamblers or recovering problem gamblers – to engage in a high-risk activity from their seatbacks, while in the air and unable to walk away.

Problem gambling is particularly rampant among young people. Given that a significant number of minors fly each year, I am 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.

I call on you to pause the implementation of this partnership immediately and please provide a written response to this letter with details on this agreement and any protections you may have included to protect the flying public, including minors, by no later than January 28, 2025.

Sincerely,

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