A controversial overtime win
US-based sports betting operator DraftKings decided to refund all bets placed on Penn State on Saturday after the team lost because of a controversial call.
the ball may have hit out of bounds just before it touched the pylon
The college football game in question pitted the eighth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers clinched a 36-35 overtime victory when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was able to dive for the pylon after a desperation scramble on a two-point conversion. Instant replay showed that the ball may have hit out of bounds just before it touched the pylon, but after review, officials ruled that the play would stand as called on the field.
Although the game result remains unchanged, DraftKings confirmed with Sports Illustrated on Sunday morning that it would refund bets. It later announced on Twitter that it would return all moneyline wagers placed on Penn State after the “tough call”:
Other instances of goodwill
DraftKings is not the only US sportsbook to have refunded bets after controversial calls in sport. Most notably, FanDuel and PointsBet have also compensated bettors in the past as a gesture of goodwill.
In 2018, PointsBet CEO Johnny Aitken announced that the company had created a ‘Karma Kommittee’ with the aim of providing customers with fair payouts on unfair decisions or results. Last month, the Kommittee offered full refunds on all spread bets placed on the Tennessee Titans in their NFL game against the Denver Broncos. This was due to the poor performance of the Titans’ usually reliable placekicker.
Operator gestures of goodwill are not just restricted to the NFL. In September, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet refunded bets placed on Novak Djokovic to win the US Open tennis tournament. Djokovic was disqualified for hitting a line judge with the ball; he was trailing to Pablo Carreno Busta 6-5 beforehand.
DraftKings’ sportsbook expansion
So far in 2020, DraftKings has signed a number of partnerships with sports teams, media companies, and leagues to increase its exposure and strengthen its sportsbook offering across the US.
Earlier this month, the operator signed a new agreement with media network Turner Sports. The multiyear deal gives DraftKings exclusive sportsbook and daily fantasy sports provider rights across certain Turner Sports products, such as the Bleacher Report app and all Bleacher Report digital channels.
DraftKings also recently teamed up with the Philadelphia Eagles to serve as official sports betting and daily fantasy sports partner of the NFL team. As part of the deal, DraftKings secured exclusive naming rights to the premium club lounge Field Club at Lincoln Financial Field.