DraftKings Removes Betting on Sports Leagues and Events in Russia and Belarus

DraftKings became the first US-based sportsbook no longer offering sports betting on sports leagues and sporting events in Russia or Belarus, such as the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), the DraftKings News Twitter account stated Thursday. 

https://twitter.com/DraftKingsNews/status/1499440417561096196

Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, Feb. 24, and has since received numerous sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Japan, in addition to multiple other nations and multinational corporations and organizations. 

The DraftKings announcement is in line with a number of other business and sporting decisions to cut ties with Russia.

FIFA and UEFA announced the suspension of all Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions following the invasion Monday, Feb. 28. The International Olympic Committee also urged sporting bodies to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events.

The International Skating Union followed suit Tuesday, March 1, by banning all Russian figure skaters from participating in the World Championships.  

"The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country," the ISU said in a released statement.

It’s worth noting 2022 Olympic gold medallist Anna Shcherbakova will obviously be unable to attend the World Championships, as a result. 

The Canadian Hockey League also announced it was canceling the long-standing Canada-Russia Series on Wednesday, March 2.

https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/status/1499139161617489922

The CHL hasn’t yet determined if Russian and Belarusian players will be banned from its upcoming international draft.

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Additionally, after initially allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, threats of withdraw and growing animosity in the Athletes Village have caused organizers to expel athletes from Russia and Belarus. 

"The war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes many governments are having an influence on our cherished event," IPC President Andrew Parsons said Thursday after announcing the ban. "We were trying to protect the Games from war."

"To Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce," Parsons added. "You are victims of your governments' actions."

It will be interesting to see if other sportsbooks follow DraftKings' lead.

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