According to reports, Delta Air Lines announced the new collaboration with DraftKings at a 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) presentation in Las Vegas on January 8.

“This new partnership between Delta Air Lines and DraftKings is deeply concerning and furthers the proliferation of gambling in everyday life,” said Senator McKeon (D-Essex/Passaic). “Online gambling and sports betting have become so normalized and pervasive that anyone can now drain their pockets anytime, anywhere, with just a click of a button. As a result, gambling addiction is surging at an alarming rate. Partnerships like these should worry us all.”

Currently, federal law prohibits gambling on any US carrier airlines and any flights that begin or end within the United States.

“While in-flight gambling is currently illegal under federal law, any collaboration between an airline and a gaming company should raise eyebrows. Gambling on planes would severely harm the well-being of passengers, and it should continue to remain out of the skies,” added Senator McKeon.

Senator McKeon has introduced a slate of bills intended to strengthen protections in the gaming industry for children and chronic gamblers and to raise funds from these businesses in part to support gambling addiction treatment programs:

S-3062: Prohibits casino licensees from using non-wagering casino games to solicit future gaming. With the recent boom in online gambling, it has become increasingly common for casinos to conduct games on mobile applications that provide non-monetary rewards but simulate the act of betting.

S-3063: Permits civil liability against casinos and simulcast facilities for reckless indifference or intentional misconduct toward persons self-excluded from gaming activities.

S-3064: Increases tax on Internet casino gaming and Internet sports wagering to 30 percent.

S-3283: Establishes annual fee for sports wagering licensees; directs funds from such fees to Council on Compulsive Gambling and gambling addiction treatment programs.

S-3284: Requires sports wagering advertisements and applications to include warning of risks of gambling.

S-3344: Establishes public awareness campaign concerning risks of gambling and resources available to compulsive gamblers; appropriates $200,000.