Delta Air Lines is collaborating with DraftKings in an agreement that has numerous industry observers – from both gambling and transportation sectors – perplexed. 

Delta CEO Ed Bastian made the announcement during a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Wednesday, which is presently in full swing in Las Vegas. Bastian's address at the Sphere centered on how technology was enhancing the passenger's inflight experience, and halfway through he made the following announcement. 

“Since we’re here in Las Vegas, the gaming capital of the world, it’s only fitting to announce a collaboration with DraftKings, one of the world’s leading online gaming platforms, for the Delta Sync experience,” Bastian said.

"From fantasy sports to online adventures, gaming has become a regular part of the daily lives of many of our customers, and they shouldn’t have to hit pause just because they’re in the sky. Our partnership with DraftKings will build on the games portfolio that we already offer today…”

He can't possibly be referring to gambling during the flight, can he? 

Section 41311 of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act declares: “An air carrier or foreign air carrier is prohibited from installing, transporting, operating, or allowing the use of any gambling device within an aircraft during foreign air transportation.” 

This means that gambling is banned not just on any US airline at any location, but also on every flight that starts or finishes in the United States. 

Cards in the Atmosphere? 

Bastian may intentionally be unclear about the specifics of this agreement, which has not been formally revealed by DraftKings, even though the company’s CEO, Jason Robbins, was present and nodding in agreement. 

It seems that, at present, the deal includes a form of cross promotion that allows passengers to sign up for DraftKings during their flight to participate in play-money games. Perhaps they can also accumulate airmiles via the DraftKings rewards program. 

This also indicates that if inflight gambling is legalized soon, all preparations will be ready for a swift and possibly highly profitable launch. 

In 1996, research conducted by the US Department of Transportation found that airlines could earn $1 million annually for each aircraft (approximately $2 million in today's currency) through gambling, which totals $1.3 billion yearly for an airline with 800 planes (Delta operates nearly 1,000). 

These numbers were impressive enough at the time to ignite a united push by a group of global airlines to persuade Congress to lift the prohibition on gambling. Is a new lobbying effort on the horizon, possibly from Delta and DraftKings? 

Casino.org has reached out to DraftKings and Delta Air Lines for a statement. 

Possible Disturbance 

The initial tests with in-flight gambling started in 1981 when Singapore Airlines set up slot machines on its Boeing 747s. They were stopped due to causing egress and service problems, as too many passengers crowded around the machines in the rear cabin, as stated by the airline blog View From the Wing. 

Currently, in the UK, where mid-air gambling is not banned, Ryanair and various low-cost airlines offer instant-win scratchcards as a profitable side venture but have refrained from implementing complete inflight gambling. 

This is due to the fact that gambling is recognized as a "mood enhancer," and there’s a chance that those who lose might act aggressively, endangering the crew and fellow passengers.