FanDuel acquires eSports platform

y fantasy sports (DFS) operator FanDuel has announced the acquisition of daily fantasy eSports (DFeS) platform AlphaDraft.

AlphaDraft’s employee base will be brought in-house to create a DFS product specifically for eSports.

While DFS players build teams from selecting players in athletic sports, DFeS players select players from teams participating in eSports such as League of Legends.

Former National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern confirmed the news before an official press release announced the acquisition.

Stern also revealed himself to be an investor in a $5m financing round for AlphaDraft that was announced in May.

Stern told Forbes: “I sat with the founder [Todd Peterson]. His passion, determination and his absolute certainty that eSports was upon us in a big way [is] a certainty that I share. This was an early starter, almost a first mover, in fantasy for eSports, so I said I’m in. I was not a significant part of the $5m, I assure you, and they’ve been acquired by FanDuel.”

FanDuel co-founder and CEO Nigel Eccles said of the acquisition: “With over 200 million people globally watching eSports, AlphaDraft gives those fans a way to engage with this burgeoning entertainment product that creates an enormous opportunity for us.”

The announcement was made by FanDuel a day after fellow DFS operator DraftKings confirmed it has added eSports to its offering, where users will be able to draft a team of gamers and compete for cash prizes.