Lynnae Williams Journalist
Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioFanDuel has officially signed on as a sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, a move the operator described as building on its “Everyone’s Game” initiative, which is “helping to promote inclusivity across all sports and address the broader healthcare disparities that individuals with disabilities face in society.”
The nationwide event is set to take place from June 20–26, 2026, in Minnesota, with thousands of athletes competing in over 30 sports. As part of the partnership, FanDuel will play a direct role in athlete well-being during the competition by sponsoring the Sports Recovery Stations and the Healthy Athletes Fun Fitness zones.
In the February 5 press release, FanDuel emphasized that its collaboration with the Special Olympics is far more than sharing a logo on a banner. Its employees will be actively involved in the event as volunteers.
The company’s leadership views the investment as an important part of the company’s community-based strategy.
“We are continuing to evolve towards a more community-based impact strategy, one that prioritizes listening to communities, investing locally, and partnering with organizations that are already doing great work,” said Keita Young, Advocacy & Public Policy Vice President at FanDuel.
Kevin Quiring, Chief Development Officer of the 2026 Games, pointed out that brands like FanDuel are essential to executing an event like this: “We value all of our individual donors, of course, but without the sponsorship investment of venerable brands like FanDuel, it would be impossible to pull off something of this magnitude.”
Athlete Wellness Initiatives Extend Beyond Competition
A core component of FanDuel’s involvement with this year’s Special Olympics USA Games is The Healthy Athletes Fun Fitness areas, which provide an anxiety-free environment where athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities can receive medical screenings.
These fitness areas are designed to allow athletes to get vision, dental, and hearing exams without the stress often associated with formal visits to a doctor’s office or clinic. Athletes will also be able to take advantage of the Sports Recovery Stations, which will provide ongoing rehabilitation and fitness support to help them stay healthy throughout the week-long competition.
This partnership is part of FanDuel’s broader effort to prioritize community-based engagement and sustained support for the Special Olympics.
- Regional Fundraising: In early 2026, FanDuel plans to sponsor local Polar Plunges in Maryland, Minnesota, and Illinois to raise funds for regional chapters.
- International Support: FanDuel Canada has been a consistent supporter of the LIMITLESS Gala since 2022 and recently sponsored 11 athletes through the “Draft an Athlete” initiative.
- Targeted Outreach: The operator also recently backed the Lights and Sirens Race for Hope at Charlotte Motor Speedway, benefiting Special Olympics North Carolina.
Betting Industry’s Community Outreach Strategy
FanDuel’s partnership with the Special Olympics is the traditional, high-visibility “gold standard” of corporate social responsibility that many brands embrace to build long-term community goodwill and positive sentiment. This sponsorship also comes at a time when prediction markets are ramping up their public outreach efforts, including experimenting with more immediate, “boots-on-the-ground” community engagement.
This week, prediction market rivals Polymarket and Kalshi made headlines with a high-profile “grocery war” in New York City. On February 3, Kalshi gave away $50 in groceries to New Yorkers at Westside Market in Manhattan. The same day, Polymarket pledged $1 million to the Food Bank for New York City and announced its own initiative, “The Polymarket,” which it said was the city’s first free grocery store.
Whether through long-term sports-inclusivity efforts like FanDuel’s partnership with the Special Olympics or more immediate community-based initiatives like Polymarket’s and Kalshi’s free grocery giveaways, operators seem to be moving toward the same goal: proving they belong in the community by doing genuine good.
