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Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioDraftKings CEO Jason Robins believes that in-game betting will be a significant driver of future growth in overall handle, and the company’s Q2 report revealed some positive news on that front.
Robins noted that in-game betting was propelled by baseball, and overall it rose 16% year over year to lead the way in several key markets.
Robins stated in last week’s earnings call: “There’s a ton of upside there if you look at the growth that we’re seeing, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing.”
He added: “We are the leader right now and have by far the best offering. We had over 90% uptime in all of our core live markets last quarter, which is an industry-leading number. And we have a wider offering than anyone else in the industry.
“So, I feel like we’re really playing from a position of strength in the area that’s likely to be the biggest source of growth for the handle side of the OSB market in the next few years.”
Live Betting Key in Overall Customer Acquisition Efforts
With new odds changing and being offered in real time, in-game betting is a fast-paced form of wagering that requires a reliable platform for the best user experience. There’s an obvious premium on speed compared to pre-flop bets, or wagers made before the game starts.
Robins noted the company’s goal of “delivering an experience that moves uniquely at the speed of sports.”
“This manifests in a best-in-class live betting product along with hyper-flexible merchandising and social features that allow customers to engage with the biggest sports narratives as they unfold in real time.”
In-game betting has become increasingly popular in recent years, but Robins believes that future growth in the segment will be driven by even more heightened awareness.
Robins said: “One of the things that’s good about live betting is if you miss the start of the game, you can still get a bet in, and a lot of people don’t know that. So, I think as the education around that continues, it’s going to create more efficient in-game customer acquisition for us, and it will extend the window of time that we can acquire customers.”
‘Micro Bets’ Face Scrutiny in Ohio & New Jersey
In-game betting includes “micro bets” that are offered on the next play or outcome in a game. Betting on a ball or strike is one example of a popular micro bet.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called for a ban on all prop bets in pro sports after MLB’s investigations into Cleveland Guardians pitchers over suspicious betting activity on select pitches.
Additionally, New Jersey recently introduced a bill that would ban micro bets during live sports events. Democratic Assemblyman Dan Hutchison, sponsor of the bill, commented: “The pace of micro betting is designed to keep people gambling constantly, making one impulsive bet after another with little time to think.
“This bill is a commonsense step to slow that cycle down and protect individuals from the financial and emotional harms that can come with excessive betting.”
Asked about the potential impact a ban on micro bets would have on in-game betting at DraftKings, Robins stated: “As far as microbetting in terms of size, it’s not that large for us. It’s (a) single-digit percentage of (the) live handle. … So, meaningful but not something that I would say is a huge component.”
Robins added of the bill’s potential passage in New Jersey: “I see that as very, very low likelihood. It was just a piece of legislation put out by somebody. I mean New Jersey offers online slots. I don’t know how they could possibly be looking at micro betting as the great scourge.”
