[Hman]

Gloves Off As DraftKings, William Hill US CEOs Engage In Verbal Spat At Sports Betting Conference

Dustin Gouker Updated on Mar 28, 2019

The nascent US sports betting industry has mostly been a civil affair in public among gambling operators over the first year of its expansion outside of Nevada.

But a little bit of the tension that exists as everyone competes for a slice of an ever-growing pie was on display Thursday at the American Gaming Association’s Sports Betting Executive Summit.

DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and William Hill US CEO Joe Asher got into it during what was likely envisioned as a rather calm panel. But things got a little heated on stage.

At one point, Robins said, “That’s the problem with the industry, people like you,” while pointing at Asher.


Rival sports betting companies

In one corner, there’s Will Hill. Asher represents a company with a big footprint in the UK and Nevada. William Hill also has been aggressive in securing sports betting partnerships and is in some states the only active operator. It’s in seven of the eight states that have legal sports wagering.

In the other, there’s DraftKings. The daily fantasy sports turned sports betting operator has been a market leader in New Jersey and has a small presence in Mississippi. It has big plans for sports gambling beyond that with its DraftKings Sportsbook brand.

The two companies are clearly going to be rivals as sports betting shakes out across the US. There’s also a history of bad blood between them.

Asher has always referred to DFS as a form of gambling, dating back to 2015 when Nevada declared that DraftKings and FanDuel needed a license to conduct contests in the state. DraftKings has not served Nevada as a DFS operator since then.

The bad blood between Robins and Asher can also be traced to a hearing in which DFS operators hoped to find a way back into Nevada. No compromise was found then, and it came up in the following heated exchange.


What the two sports betting CEOs said

Here’s a partial transcript of some of their exchange:

Robins: I agree with (MGM Resorts CEO) Jim Murren on creating a good environment means not trying to restrict competitors. Part of what’s caused a lack of innovation, lack of opportunity, in the gaming industry has been in-fighting. …

Robins: You asked me about Nevada, I said it was a tricky state it’d because of guys like Joe running around telling people that we’re bad and need to be shut out.

Asher: I never said that.

Robins: Well you testified about it in Nevada.

Asher: I said it was gambling, DFS was gambling.

Robins: Either way 19 other states are for it. The point is, Joe, that’s not really your motivation. Your motivation is you don’t want us to compete with you. Which is totally understandable. I get it, you’re not able to keep up with us. That’s the problem with the industry, people like you. (Points to Joe)


The sports betting in-fighting will continue

The tension on display above belies everyone playing nice publicly in the sports betting realm. While the stakes are high, the immediate opportunity is still small until more states approve sports betting, and until mobile wagering is available more broadly.

But that’s going to change quickly as more states legalize sports gambling. The gap between winners and losers could accelerate.

DraftKings and FanDuel comprise more than two-thirds of the NJ sports betting market. Companies like William Hill — as well as some existing casino companies — are likely less than thrilled at the prospect of that happening in other states.

(The dynamic was even on display in an Illinois legislative hearing this morning as well, as some people were advocating for keeping the likes of DK and FD throttled in their potential market.)

The sports betting industry isn’t just DraftKings vs. William Hill. And in the end, the gaming industry should be working together to get good laws passed, instead of fighting each other, at least in the early days. And that has been happening, to some extend.

But if the claws continue to come out, who knows what the future holds for US sports betting.

[Hman]

What the two sports betting CEOs said

Here’s a partial transcript of some of their exchange:

Robins: I agree with (MGM Resorts CEO) Jim Murren on creating a good environment means not trying to restrict competitors. Part of what’s caused a lack of innovation, lack of opportunity, in the gaming industry has been in-fighting. …

Robins: You asked me about Nevada, I said it was a tricky state it’d because of guys like Joe running around telling people that we’re bad and need to be shut out.

Asher: I never said that.

Robins: Well you testified about it in Nevada.

Asher: I said it was gambling, DFS was gambling.

Robins: Either way 19 other states are for it. The point is, Joe, that’s not really your motivation. Your motivation is you don’t want us to compete with you. Which is totally understandable. I get it, you’re not able to keep up with us. That’s the problem with the industry, people like you. (Points to Joe)

And he's right, it is gambling (Fantasy Sports)

Keep your mouth shut DraftKings, you're rookies in all of this!

[Snowball]

And he's right, it is gambling (Fantasy Sports)

Keep your mouth shut DraftKings, you're rookies in all of this!

[swordsandtequila]

Screw William Hill, competition benefits the gambler. The more options the better.

[magpie878]

I've knocked DK many times due to bad juice and an app that crashed a lot (it hasn't crashed once on my new phone, knock on wood).... but having just come back from Vegas and opening a William Hill account out there, it was night and day on what was available.

WH was very bare bones, which might be how all Nevada apps are, I don't know. A decent variety of sports, but some very limited in selections, minimal props and the like, and lack of info displayed.

Just a small example of something SIMPLE that I find very helpful is choosing the bet, DK (and other NJ apps) bring up quick-wager amounts like $1, $5, plus an empty manual box. When you start entering the wager amount, it shows you the payout and odds. Very helpful when doing in-game flipping/hedging. WH UFC had the prelims, ML only, then the main card, the only things outside of ML I saw were the OU 2.5 round bets.

My Vegas friend loves the WH app, says it's the best for in-game betting out there. I just found it to be pretty empty compared to what I'm used to. I have NOT tried to WH NJ app, as their promos are near nonexistent. Just some info.

[USCPHILLYGUY]

Hman why isn’t SBR reporting live from this

[RudyRuetigger]

draftkings got a loophole and now are big timers

i dont give a fukk who wins since i know and they know that they are all used car salesmen

[USCPHILLYGUY]

I opened both last week on new player promos. DK hands down better app. WH even had me send in DL & utility bill then had customer service issues and didn’t approve the the account until the next day. I never even opened the account after all that BS. Already commented on DK free bet promo and 15 minute withdraw process.

[RudyRuetigger]

I opened both last week on new player promos. DK hands down better app. WH even had me send in DL & utility bill then had customer service issues and didn’t approve the the account until the next day. I never even opened the account after all that BS. Already commented on DK free bet promo and 15 minute withdraw process.

thats because they are insiders and developed the platform

they bought draftstreet and others KNOWING this would happen

that would be my guess

i think they will become the bovada of usa sports betting

bad lines for sharps, easy cashouts for squares

[Hman]

Hman why isn’t SBR reporting live from this

Maybe in the future huh?

[jjgold]

nobody wants Wiliam Hill...why??

A terrible product

[USCPHILLYGUY]

Maybe in the future huh?

Sign me up Hman

[Hman]

I just don't like DraftKings.

Huge hypocrites.

For years distanced themselves from sports betting as if it were the plague.

Then it's legalized and look who comes running to capitalize.

[RudyRuetigger]

I just don't like DraftKings.

Huge hypocrites.

For years distanced themselves from sports betting as if it were the plague.

Then it's legalized and look who comes running to capitalize.

exactly

[USCPHILLYGUY]

I just don't like DraftKings.

Huge hypocrites.

For years distanced themselves from sports betting as if it were the plague.

Then it's legalized and look who comes running to capitalize.

They’re running a business. What would you expect them to do?

[eaglesfan371]

Trust me, you don’t want William hill being the example book in the United States. You think limiting is bad online? Get ready for getting banned QUICK if WH takes over.

Ever been to the UK or Ireland? Trust me, you don’t want bookie odds there. -115/-115 is the STANDARD juice in bookie shops and on websites there with William hill. You’re lucky if you find -120/-105 or -110/-115 on a side.

[jjgold]

William Hills getting squeezed out USA and I love it

[Optional]

NHL just announced a deal with Will Hill to be official betting partner.

[KVB]

lol

It's the wild wild west out here in the US sports betting landscape.

Everyone wants to stake a claim.

It might not a bad time to be a bettor, in my opinion, as competition like this can benefit consumers.