DraftKings has obtained a controlled skill games license from the Malta Gaming Authority, a move that will allow it to introduce daily fantasy games in Germany and advance its European expansion plans. The company gained a U.K. license in ’15, and the new Malta-based permission allows it to operate in other European countries such as Germany that do not require an additional local gaming license. “This is another big step for us,” said DraftKings Chief Int'l Officer Jeffrey Haas. "Germany is a large and vibrant market, 80 million people, and we’re going to learn a lot, just as we have in the U.K.” DraftKings intends to begin offering contests in Malta and Germany by the end of the current quarter, but has not outlined plans for any additional European countries. DraftKings’ Malta license specifically designates daily fantasy as a game of skill, unlike its U.K. license from the U.K. Gambling Commission that does not make the same type of designation. DraftKings’ application for the Malta license long predates its pending merger with FanDuel, and at present, applies only to DraftKings.
