UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 12, 2025
DRAFTKINGS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 001-41379 | 87-2764212 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
222 Berkeley Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(617) 986-6744
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
||
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share | DKNG | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On June 12, 2025, DraftKings Inc. (“DraftKings”) issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, in response to the recent and prior sports wagering tax increases passed by the Illinois state legislature on all mobile and online sports wagers placed with licensed operators.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. This Current Report on Form 8-K will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits. | ||
Exhibit Number | Description | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated as of June 12, 2025 | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
DRAFTKINGS INC. | ||
Dated: June 12, 2025 | By: | /s/ R. Stanton Dodge |
Name: R. Stanton Dodge | ||
Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DraftKings to Introduce Transaction Fee in Illinois
BOSTON – June 12, 2025 – In response to the recent and prior sports wagering tax increases passed by the Illinois state legislature on all mobile and online sports wagers placed with licensed operators, DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) today announced that it will implement a 50-cent transaction fee on all mobile and online bets placed in Illinois through DraftKings Sportsbook, effective September 1, 2025.
“Illinois has been an important part of our growth, and we’re proud to have contributed meaningfully to the state through tax revenue, job creation, and a sustained investment in responsible gaming tools and resources,” said Jason Robins, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of DraftKings. “We are disappointed that Illinois policymakers have chosen to more than triple our tax rate over the past two years, and we are very concerned about what this will do to the legal, regulated industry. Meanwhile, Illinois continues to fuel the rapidly growing illegal industry, which pays no taxes or fees and provides none of the consumer protections that regulated operators offer.”
DraftKings continues to support collaborative policymaking that works for the state and allows for the long-term sustainability of the industry. Should the legislation be repealed, the company will immediately remove the Illinois-specific per wager transaction fee.
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About DraftKings
DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company created to be the Ultimate Host and fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming, and digital media. Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman, DraftKings is the only U.S.-based vertically integrated sports betting operator. DraftKings’ mission is to make life more exciting by responsibly creating the world’s favorite real-money games and betting experiences. DraftKings Sportsbook is live with mobile and/or retail sports betting operations pursuant to regulations in 28 states, Washington, D.C., and in Ontario, Canada. The Company operates iGaming pursuant to regulations in five states and in Ontario, Canada under its DraftKings brand and pursuant to regulations in four states under its Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand. DraftKings also owns Jackpocket, the leading digital lottery courier app in the United States. DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports product is available in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and certain Canadian provinces. DraftKings is both an official sports betting and daily fantasy partner of the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, WNBA and UFC, as well as an official daily fantasy partner of NASCAR, an official sports betting partner of the NBA and an authorized gaming operator of MLB. In addition, DraftKings owns and operates DraftKings Network a multi-platform content ecosystem. DraftKings is committed to being a responsible steward of this new era in real-money gaming by developing and promoting educational information and tools to help all players enjoy our games responsibly.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
statements about the Company and its industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, contained in this press release, including statements regarding guidance, DraftKings’ future results of operations
or financial condition, strategic plans and focus, user growth and engagement, product initiatives, and the objectives and expectations
of management for future operations (including launches in new jurisdictions and the expected timing thereof), are forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,”
“confident,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“forecast,” “going to,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “poised,” “potential,”
“predict,” “project,” “propose,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or
“would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. DraftKings cautions you that the foregoing may
not include all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release.
You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of
future events. DraftKings has based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release primarily on its current expectations
and projections about future events and trends, including the current macroeconomic environment, that it believes may affect its business,
financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance,
conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of
which are outside DraftKings’ control and that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed
in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include, but are not limited
to, DraftKings’ ability to manage growth; DraftKings’ ability to execute its business plan and meet its projections; potential
litigation involving DraftKings; changes in applicable laws or regulations, particularly with respect to gaming; general economic and
market conditions impacting demand for DraftKings’ products and services; economic and market conditions in the media, entertainment,
gaming, and software industries in the markets in which DraftKings operates; market and global conditions and economic factors, as well
as the potential impact of general economic conditions, and the potential impact of new and existing laws, regulations, or policies, including
those relating to tariffs, import/export, or trade restrictions, inflation, rising interest rates and instability in the banking system,
on DraftKings’ liquidity, operations and personnel, as well as the risks, uncertainties, and other factors described in “Risk
Factors” in DraftKings’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available on
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will be made available in other filings that DraftKings makes from time
to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs
and speak only as of the date hereof, and DraftKings makes no commitment to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking
statements in order to reflect new information or subsequent events, circumstances or changes in expectations, except as required by law.
Contacts
Media:
Media@draftkings.com
@DraftKingsNews
Investors:
Investors@draftkings.com