The sports betting industry has been active in recent weeks, particularly at the end of August, which is typically a quieter time in sports. Operators are making strategic hires to bolster their teams amid the evolving regulatory environment.
DraftKings recently announced the addition of Ryan Whelpley as its new corporate counsel for gaming regulations. Joining this month, Whelpley brings expertise from his previous role at Morse, a firm based in Waltham that specializes in technology ventures. A graduate of Albany Law School in 2019, Whelpley will focus on navigating the complexities of state and federal regulations impacting DraftKings, a Boston-based company involved in iGaming, online sports betting, and lotteries, among other gaming sectors.
In other industry news, UK-based iGaming brand Midnite has appointed Dale Tang, a former executive from FanDuel Canada, to lead its expansion into the Canadian market. Tang expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, "The chance to build something new in Canada doesn’t come around often – so I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Midnite to lead its launch into the Canadian market," via his LinkedIn post. Midnite, which launched an online sportsbook in 2018 and expanded to include online casino offerings in 2023, has yet to reveal specifics regarding its plans for provinces such as Ontario or Alberta.
Additionally, USA Today has hired sports betting analyst Adam Kaufman to enhance its coverage in this domain. Kaufman announced via Twitter his excitement about leading USA Today Sports’ sports betting efforts. His diverse background includes significant tenures at various sports media outlets, including a 12-year stint at iHeartRadio as well as positions at NESN, VSIN, DraftKings, and Action Network. Kaufman aims to establish a distinct and authoritative voice in sports betting with the new initiative marked by the launch of "The Weekly Lineup," a betting and fantasy newsletter.
