Oregon Lottery switches to Draft Kings for sports betting operations

The Oregon Lottery Commission has switched its sports betting operator from SBTech to DraftKings as it looks to revamp its mobile sports betting app
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The Oregon Lottery Commission has switched its sports betting operator from SBTech to DraftKings as it looks to revamp its mobile sports betting app, according to a report in LegalSportsReport. 

Although the announcement has been made, there is no specific timeframe placed on the changeover, with technological complications forcing challenges. For example, all users will have to create new accounts to continue using the app once the change over is complete. As a result, OLC expects to lose customers after the initial changeover. 

The OLC last week voted overwhelmingly in favour of switching to DraftKings operation, with executive director Barry Pack explaining that the potential transition from the SBTech platform to the updated DraftKings solutions has been on the agenda since 2019. 

He was quoted in the report, saying: “There are a number of business benefits in terms of simplifying some of the structure and there are player benefits as the experience will be improved on the new platform.”

The deal comes with complications, despite DraftKings having bought out SBTech in 2020. Following the transaction, the firm began the process of updating all its systems from a Kambi sportsbook solution to a new SBTech platform. 

Despite this, Pack expects the changeover to happen as soon as possible and stressed that it will improve the customer experience. 

Pack told Legal Sports Report: “The reason I’m bringing this to you today is one of the factors we’re going to have to work on soon is how to fit a transition from one platform to the other while still heading into a busy season of professional sports, both NFL and NBA coming up here really soon.” 

So we want to make sure that we’re able to seize the right window when we have enough information to know what it’s going to take and how long it’s going to take to make the transition work.”