DraftKings DK Replay Game Brings Debuts Historical Pitch Betting in Oregon

^{DraftKings is testing new ground in Oregon with DK Replay, a pitch-by-pitch historical baseball betting game. (Photo:  Piotr Swat / Alamy)}

DraftKings has launched a new historical pitch-by-pitch baseball game called DK Replay in Oregon, bringing a similar concept to historical horse racing (HHR) to the online sports betting space.

The game, which was approved by the Oregon Lottery, is available in the DraftKings sports betting app in the state.

While the idea of using historic results is similar to what is seen in HHR games and the historical NASCAR game offered by Hard Rock Bet in Florida, DK Replay has one major difference. The game has players directly betting on the outcome of a given pitch, rather than engaging in offer slots-like gameplay based on previous results.

Bettors Wager on Pitcher/Batter Matchups

When players open the game, they are presented with anonymized information about a specific historical pitcher vs. batter matchup. To ensure players can’t know the specific at-bat in question, users only see players rated as “gold,” “silver,” or “bronze” based on their real-life stats at the time, rather than seeing names or specific numbers.

Bettors can then wager on whether the next pitch will result in a ball, a strike, or a ball put in play. The user can continue betting on the rest of the same at-bat or allow the pitch clock to run out. Either way, at the end of the plate appearance, bettors will get to see the details of the actual matchup that took place, including the details of both players involved and the original game in which it took place.

“DK Replay offers a new experience for our customers, allowing them to tap into the excitement of pitch-by-pitch betting in a unique historical environment,” DraftKings Chief Product Officer Corey Gottlieb said. “With DK Replay, we’re able to offer an experience that will allow customers to enjoy their favorite sports no matter the time of year.”

Whether the product finds a wider audience outside of Oregon will depend largely on how it fits within existing gaming law. DraftKings says it would like to offer DK Replay in other states as well, pending regulatory approval. But even in Oregon, the game has drawn scrutiny.

Oregon Lottery Defends DK Replay Approval

DraftKings is currently the only sports betting provider in the state. But under Oregon gaming law, DraftKings isn't allowed to offer iGaming or online casino games. Oregon Lottery officials acknowledged they’ve received some comments about the game, but defended their decision to greenlight it.

“DK Replay does not rely on a random number generator, which is the way casino-style games work,” Oregon Lottery spokesperson Melanie Mesaros told Sportico. “We believe this wagering opportunity falls within what DraftKings is currently authorized to offer within our sports betting product. Players are wagering on baseball, and they are watching baseball to determine the outcome on a win.”

Still, DraftKings has agreed to make changes to DK Replay after discussions with the Oregon Lottery. Mesaros told Gambling Insider that the state lottery and DraftKings had “collectively” come to the decision to slow down the pace of the game in order to make it “more closely resemble the pace of a live baseball game” and include responsible gaming messaging.