American daily fantasy sports company DraftKings has announced that it will begin offering daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests to Australian punters in Q2 2018.

The company confirmed that it has been granted a government licence by the Northern Territory Racing Commission, under which it is permitted to offer DFS contests in Australia.

Announcing the licence award, DraftKings CEO, Jason Robins said: “Australia is an important market for DraftKings, as it combines devoted sports fans with sophisticated, tech-savvy consumers – exactly the kind of people who love competing on DraftKings.”

Australia is the first country outside of North America and Europe where DraftKings has expanded operations, with DFS games available to consumers in seven other countries.

Expansion seems to be the name of the game for DraftKings, which has been heavily linked with expansion into US sports betting over recent months, following the creation of a US-facing sportbook department, the appointment of Sean Hurley as Head of Sportsbook and the opening of a new office in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Robins added: “Within the last few years, Australia’s burgeoning fantasy sports market has dramatically evolved, adding a variety of daily fantasy sports platforms, feeding the appetite of the many passionate sports fans who love getting closer to the teams, athletes and sports they love.”