Fantasy Sports Firms FanDuel and DraftKings Agree To Merge Fantasy sports companies FanDuel and DraftKings agree to merge 18 November 2016 A Scottish tech firm which ended up being a major gamer in the US dream sports market is to combine with its most significant competitor. FanDuel, which was founded in Edinburgh in 2009, has actually gotten in a merger arrangement with DraftKings. The deal, which undergoes regulatory approval, is expected to close in the 2nd half of next year. FanDuel has workplaces in Edinburgh and Glasgow however moved its head office to New york city numerous years earlier. DraftKings has its head office in Boston. The business offer online fantasy contests throughout expert sports in the US, Canada and the UK. Cost savings There are an estimated 57 million dream players in the US alone. Both business have actually been dealing with regulatory and legal obstacles to their market, with regulators in some US states ruling that dream sports firms' activities amounted to illegal betting. In a joint statement on Friday, the companies said that by integrating and streamlining resources they might "speed up work with federal government authorities to continue to establish a basic regulatory structure". They likewise expect the "strategic merger of equals" to bring effectiveness and expense savings and help the combined company "accelerate its course to profitability". FanDuel president Nigel Eccles said: "Having the ability to combine DraftKings and FanDuel presents a significant chance for us to further innovate and disrupt the sports market. "While both business have accomplished much already, this transaction will develop a business that can offer a greater variety of offerings, interesting brand-new users, consisting of the 10s of countless season-long dream players that haven't yet tried our products.