FanDuel, one of America’s preeminent online sports betting platforms, donated a check to Next 18, a support group for military veterans and first responders, at the John Deere Classic PGA tournament.
Giving Back to the Vets
FanDuel, a partner of the PGA Tour, recently donated $100,000 to Next 18, a support group that assists with the physical and mental health of military veterans and first responders through golf. The check was presented by FanDuel’s Vice President of Community Impact, Keita Young, at a putting clinic during the PGA’s John Deere Classic and will support programs designed to rehabilitate veterans and first responders in need.
Next 18 was founded by U.S. Army veteran Matt McDonell, and the group relies on donations to assist military veterans through golf clinics and life skills training that have helped countless veterans and first responders transition back to civilian life and become productive members of society in a different capacity.
“What a historic day for our organization,” said McDonell. “This is the single largest donation we’ve received, which will now enable us to do so much more for the veterans and first responders who need support. We are so grateful to FanDuel for this generous contribution; it validates the hard work we’ve put in to building an organization committed to helping our nation’s heroes heal and thrive.”
The John Deere Classic is an annual event on the PGA Tour and has been held at TPC Deere Run in the Quad Cities community of Silvis, Illinois, since 2000. It is the annual precursor to the British Open, usually played a week later. To attract major names to the tournament, it sponsors a charter flight on the final evening of the tournament to Britain in preparation for The Open.
FanDuel’s Keita Young said, “FanDuel is committed to making a positive impact in the communities in which we operate, and we recognize the vital role military families, veterans, and first responders play in communities across the country. We are proud to support Next 18 as it delivers critical programs that promote long-term well-being after service and empowers veterans and first responders through sports.”
FanDuel Shutters Phoenix Sportsbook
FanDuel has been a partner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns since 2021 and subsequently decided it would be prudent to place a 7,400-square-foot retail sportsbook inside the Footprint Center, home of the Suns. However, mobile sports betting has become so popular in the Grand Canyon State that the retail sportsbook has become more of an albatross than a boon to its sports betting revenue.
The retail sportsbook accounts for approximately 1% of FanDuel’s handle and will close for good as a retail sportsbook on July 24th, paving the way for a sports bar that will continue to carry FanDuel’s brand logos, while the company will continue to furnish Suns’ patrons with sports betting promos during the games.
And in other company news, FanDuel has launched a new campaign, “Calling All Thrillionaires,” that will highlight unique FanDuel experiences.
“At FanDuel Casino, we believe the real magic lies in the thrill of possibility,” said Daniele Phillips, Vice President of Marketing at FanDuel Casino. “Our newest campaign, ‘Calling All Thrillionaires,’ celebrates the enjoyment of anticipation within our new FanDuel Jackpots experience. The campaign builds upon our key brand values to always provide our players with fun, responsible, and exciting experiences on FanDuel Casino.”
