Flutter secures 100% ownership of FanDuel in deal worth £1.3bn
Takeover
Flutter takes full control of FanDuel in £1.3bn deal, strengthening its US market position.
THE owner of Paddy Power, Flutter Entertainment, has taken full ownership of US betting and gaming giant FanDuel, in a deal worth £1.3billion.
The London-listed firm said it acquired the remaining 5% stake in FanDuel from US casino operator Boyd Gaming, giving it 100% control of the business.
1
Flutter first invested in FanDuel in 2018, as US states began to relax restrictions on sports betting.
Since then, FanDuel has grown to become one of the dominant players in the American betting market.
The transaction values FanDuel at approximately £22.9bn.
Flutter also confirmed that the agreement includes an extension of FanDuel's strategic partnership with Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming.
Peter Jackson, chief executive of Flutter, said: 'Our acquisition of FanDuel in 2018 is one of the most transformational events in our group's history, with its natural competitive advantages combined with access to Flutter Edge capabilities driving impressive growth to become the well-established and clear leader in US online sports betting and iGaming.
'I am really pleased to drive future value for our shareholders by increasing our ownership of FanDuel to 100%.
'Boyd have been fantastic partners for FanDuel, and we are delighted to be extending our important strategic partnership through to 2038.'
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Monaghan 'proud' of Ireland's second-half showing
Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan says she was "really proud" of her side's second-half performance in their 47-26 defeat to Canada in their final warm-up game before the Women's Rugby World Cup, Ireland recovered from conceding five first-half tries to score three of their own after the while they ultimately lost by 21 points, Monaghan was happy with their response after a tough opening half."I think our discipline let us down in the first half, but we've been put in situations in this game that we've needed to go forward so I'm really proud of our second-half performance," Monaghan told BBC Sport NI's Orla Bannon."We needed to be more physical. We didn't have much ball in the first half, so we needed to keep it. "And again, just be really clean around the ruck and keep our discipline going forward but I think we really flipped that on it's head in the second half."Head coach Scott Bemand made 10 changes from the side that fought back to beat Scotland last weekend but there was no heroic comeback this week against the number two ranked side in the Bemand starting to mould his starting team for their opening World Cup match with Japan in two weeks' time, attention now turns to Monday's squad announcement."Everyone that's been involved has gotten us to this point," Monaghan added."I wish everyone could get on the plane, but I have to say it's a squad effort and it's tough."I think we've become really connected as a group, so it makes that a lot more tough when girls aren't on the plane but hopefully, we can do them proud over there."
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
From Hollywood royalty to music icons: Which celebrities support YOUR favourite Premier League club ahead of the new season?
When you think of a typical fan of English football, it would be fair to assume that the glamorous faces seen at the most exclusive events in Hollywood do not come to mind – but these women are proving that football fever doesn't discriminate and can grip anybody. For some supporters, they're bound to a football club for life because of the community they grew up in – ingrained in a football team for as long as they can remember, despairing over results week after week. For others all it takes is one game, or even just one individual player, to become infatuated with the sport at any age. Ask any of these women – once that bond has been forged, it's never going to be broken. Actresses, models and singers from all over the world have become smitten with these Premier League clubs over the years and some of their allegiances might surprise you – like the Oscar-winning actress who follows Fulham from the other side of the world. When the Premier League starts again, keep an eye out for the crowd; you might be surprised with who you see cheering their team on! Here, Mail Sport looks at some of the famous fans who will be supporting top flight clubs in the new campaign. Kim Kardashian – Arsenal The ' Keeping up with the Kardashians ' star was seen on a tour around European football grounds with her son Saint and some of his friends, with the highlight being a trip to The Emirates to watch Saints' beloved Arsenal. Whilst the trip was planned for the enjoyment of her son, Kardashian, 44, admitted after the game that her favourite player was Arsenal's very own Bukayo Saka, who called the reality star and her kids on FaceTime after the game. The English forward clearly made a big impression on Kardashian, despite her being labelled as a 'curse' by fans of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, who both lost the games she attended. In her documentary, Kim told sister Kylie that it was 'so fun to be, like, a sports mom'. She continued, 'I'm into it now. I love my girls, but a girl is like… steals your clothes, has an attitude, you know. There's nothing like being a boy mom. Seriously, it's the best!' Vanessa Kirby – Chelsea Star of Marvel's new blockbuster Fantastic Four: First Steps, Kirby's profile has sky-rocketed over the last few years, stemming from her excellent portrayal of Princess Margaret in Netflix drama The Crown. Born in Wimbledon, the actress has kept quiet about her sporting loyalties – until she was asked to choose between Arsenal and Tottenham on the red carpet. Kirby gave the reporter a stern look of disapproval before saying, 'Oh, that's... Chelsea!' The moment went viral amongst the Chelsea fanbase, with supporters of The Blues more than happy to accept the BAFTA winning actress into their ranks. Although, we can't be sure about her attendance, as Kirby is yet to be spotted at Stamford Bridge. Much like the title of her latest box-office hit, Chelsea fans will be patiently waiting for Vanessa to take her first steps into the London-based stadium! Anne Hathaway – Arsenal During a press tour for her film The Idea of You in April 2024, Hathaway was unable to contain her excitement for a goal during an interview as she celebrated Leandro Trossard's strike for Arsenal against Wolves. In doing so, she exposed herself as an avid fan of The Gunners. Belgian forward Trossard then sent a video message to Hathaway, thanking her for her support and inviting the actress down to The Emirates for a game, although it doesn't seem as though the Hollywood star has taken him up on the offer yet. The star of The Devil Wears Prada did recently re-affirm her support for Arsenal, making sure there were no doubts as to where her loyalty lies with her own cover of Arsenal's iconic song North London Forever on her TikTok page. Born in Brooklyn, it's unclear how Anne Hathaway became so obsessed with Arsenal, but one thing is clear – the Interstellar actress knows her stuff about the sport, and Gooners should be keeping an eye out for her next season. Cara Delevingne - Chelsea Model and actress Cara Delevingne was in no way shy when she watched Chelsea beat Man United last year, appearing very animated in the stands. Donning a personalised Chelsea shirt with her name on the back, Delevingne cheered as English star Cole Palmer netted a hat-trick against the Red Devils, with two goals coming in added time. The West End star couldn't have picked a better game to watch her beloved Chelsea, who she has been publicly following since 2014, but in her private life, she's supported The Blues since childhood. Fans may be looking to 32-year-old Cara to introduce fellow Londoner Kirby to Stamford Bridge in the upcoming season – it wouldn't be a bad experience for her in the owners' box. Megan Fox – Manchester United The 39-year-old Transformers star is yet to come out and officially stake her loyalty towards a football club – however, Fox has been spotted in Man United gear on more than one occasion. In 2012, the actress was photographed in the Red Devils' iconic red colours, wearing the name of Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, also known as 'Chicharito', on the back. Separately, Megan wore a shirt featuring the Mexican striker again, with his face next to the logo of Manchester United and the simple message: 'CHICHARITO'S TEAM'. In fairness, it seems as though the 39-year-old from Tennessee may just be a fan of Javier Hernandez; regardless, the Manchester United fans are claiming her as one of their own. Margot Robbie – Fulham Fulham have a history of unexpected celebrity connections – first, a statue of Michael Jackson outside Craven Cottage stadium and now, the unwavering support of Australian actress Margot Robbie. 'I've pledged my allegiance to Fulham, so I want Fulham to win' said the Barbie star. Her loyalty to the London club comes from husband Tom Ackerley, with the film producer being a huge supporter of his local club. Fresh off her newfound fame from The Wolf of Wall Street, Robbie first visited Craven Cottage in 2014, when Fulham were defeated 1-0 by Millwall in the Championship. Since then, the Cottagers have been promoted to the top division and solidified their place in the Premier League; the Australian will have been delighted with the 10th place finish for Marco Silva's men last season. Angelina Jolie – Liverpool Angelina's ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton is a huge Liverpool fan, and, whilst the two have been separated for years, it is widely reported that she is still affectionate towards Liverpool FC. Two of her children, Shiloh and Maddox, are also passionate supporters of the Merseyside club who 'only want to play for Liverpool' – it's hard to imagine that their mother didn't have some sway in their love for the team. Jolie has never come out and publicly stated that she supports Liverpool, so it's unsurprising that she hasn't been seen at Anfield. However, with an ex-husband who loves the club and two boys who wear Liverpool gear head to toe; she's at least an honorary Liverpool fan, even if she won't say it herself. Dame Judi Dench – Everton Born in Yorkshire, 90-year-old Dame Judi Dench is a big fan of The Toffees and has been an honorary patron of the club's charity for over a decade. Dame Judi was introduced to the club by late husband and avid supporter Michael Williams and kept Everton in the family by taking her grandson Sam to a number of matches – he was never going to be anything except a Blue. The stage and screen star was one of several famous faces who shared some words at the end of last season, commemorating the legendary Goodison Park as The Toffees prepared to move into their new home, the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Few celebrities are as committed to their football teams as Dame Judi, a testament to her dedication and loyalty. The former James Bond star was introduced to the club by late husband and avid supporter Michael Williams Lana Del Rey – Liverpool Lana first visited Anfield in 2013, posing with captain and legend Steven Gerrard. 26 years old at the time, she said she followed Liverpool as well as Celtic due to her then-boyfriend, however as time has passed her loyalties have focused on the Reds. 'I was introduced to Liverpool FC by my manager, Ben, whose mood is dependent on the Liverpool results. I love watching Luis Suarez play,' said the singer. 'It's actually my second time in Liverpool but my first time at Anfield. The people in Liverpool are so friendly and the stadium's really impressive.' Lana covered the famous Liverpool anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in 2020 for a documentary about the football club and returned to Anfield this summer as part of her UK and Ireland tour. Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has been a Liverpool fan since her dad bought her a shirt as a child Millie Bobby Brown – Liverpool The third and final Liverpool supporter on this list, Stranger Things superstar Millie Bobby Brown has been enchanted by the Merseyside team since her dad bought her a Liverpool shirt at a young age. Millie was in the stands with Adolescence actor Owen Cooper to watch Liverpool secure their 20th Premier League title against Tottenham last season. The Reds eased past the north London side 5-1 to ensure they lifted the title, kicking off the celebrations for the two young stars watching on. She was seen at Anfield as early as 2016 when she was catapulted to fame by her performance as Eleven in the popular Netflix show, but it wouldn't be surprising to find out she had been in attendance at Anfield long before then. At the time, when Millie was just 12 years old, she was asked if she can still watch games due to the time difference in America, which she answered with a resounding yes: 'When I'm in America, it is like 4am and we're watching the game. When we're here, it's obviously whenever the games are on. We get people over – it's an event for us,' she told Liverpool.
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao live: Viktor Gyokeres set to start in final pre-season match ahead of new Premier League campaign
Arsenal tackle Athletic Club in a pre-season friendly with Mikel Arteta desperate for momentum to inspire a Premier League title charge. Viktor Gyokeres is yet to find chemistry with his new teammates and the Swedish striker will likely start here in search of goals following his £64m move from Sporting. After defeat to Spurs in Hong Kong, Arsenal slipped up at home to Villarreal in a 3-2 loss at the Emirates, though Max Dowman has been a bright spark with the 15-year-old likely to feature this term for the Gunners. 'He [Gyokeres] is getting connections as well outside, which I think is really important with players that are going to help him to get in the position that he needs to get in,' Arteta said. 'On his fitness level, he will take another step [on Saturday] and he will be in a better condition.' It is the final preparation before next Sunday's league opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford. When is Arsenal v Athletic Bilbao? The match will take place on Saturday, 9 August at Emirates Stadium in London, with kick-off set for 5pm BST. Mike Jones9 August 2025 16:02 Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao Arsenal entertain Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season friendly before the start of the Premier League next season. Mikel Arteta's side have struggle in pre-season, suffering back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Villarreal, with the Basque side likely to reveal how ready the Gunners are to challenge champions Liverpool for the title. Arteta is desperate to guide Arsenal over the line in the title race, with the hope that their new signings will position them well to dethrone Liverpool. 'I think we've done that in the last three years and that's the next step,' Arteta said after defeat to Villarreal. 'We know what it is and we're going to be better. It's like any other team when you look at the competition, the pieces of the puzzle that they've added. They're big ones as well so we're all trying to be at our best.' Finding the right balance with a new midfield will also be key, as Martin Zubimendi takes a leading role alongside Declan Rice, with Saturday's friendly likely to show us how quickly this Arsenal side can start the new campaign next week. Mike Jones9 August 2025 16:00 Arsenal v Athletic Bilbao Hello and welcome to the Independent's coverage of Arsenal's final pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao. The Gunners have struggled in recent weeks with a north London derby defeat to Tottenham in Hong Kong and then a 3-2 loss at home to Villarreal. Viktor Gyokeres will hope to break his duck in red before next week's Premier League opener and the Basque side should provide a good test for Mikel Arteta's outfit just days out from the start of the new campaign. Jack Rathborn8 August 2025 15:11
