TLDR
- Delta and DraftKings launched SkyPicks on July 29, a free in-flight sports prediction contest.
- Passengers must be 21 or older SkyMiles members on Wi-Fi equipped domestic flights to join.
- Winners receive Delta gift cards instead of cash, since real-money betting stays banned in the air.
- The game requires a DraftKings account, giving the company a new way to reach travelers.
- Contests start with MLB games, with NFL matchups planned for later this year.
Delta and DraftKings have launched their long-awaited in-flight game after more than a year of speculation. The two companies unveiled SkyPicks on July 29. It is a free sports prediction contest built for airline passengers.
The game lets eligible travelers guess the outcomes of real sporting events. Winners receive Delta gift cards based on how accurate their picks are.
How the Contest Works
SkyPicks is open to SkyMiles members aged 21 and older. It only works on Wi-Fi equipped domestic flights within the United States.
Passengers open the contest through Delta Sync on a phone or laptop. They then answer questions about an upcoming or live sporting event.
Questions might ask who will score first or which team will win. Some rounds include a tiebreaker question about the final score.
Players who climb the leaderboard with correct answers can win Delta gift cards. New contests will run several times each week.
The early schedule focuses on MLB games. NFL contests are expected once the football season begins later this year.
No real money or SkyMiles can be wagered at any point. The contest is built entirely around free predictions and gift card prizes.
This structure helps the companies stay clear of federal rules. The Gambling Devices Act of 1962 bans gambling on U.S. commercial flights.
To play, passengers need a DraftKings account. They can sign in with an existing one or create a new account during the flight.
Entries must be submitted before the plane reaches its arrival gate. Players can keep changing their picks until the entry window closes.
A Year of Speculation
Delta first mentioned the partnership in January 2025. CEO Ed Bastian discussed it during a keynote at CES in Las Vegas.
Bastian said gaming had become part of daily life for many customers. His comments led to rumors that Delta might allow real sports betting in the air.
Delta pushed back on that idea soon after. The airline said gambling was not part of its plans at the time.
In June 2025, a leaked passenger survey added to the speculation. It listed sports gambling access as one of several possible in-flight entertainment options.
The partnership also drew political attention. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal asked both companies to stop the launch, citing concerns about problem gambling.
Connecticut lawmakers separately proposed a bill that would allow in-flight sports betting on certain flights. The proposal showed how unsettled the legal rules still are for airborne gambling.
For DraftKings, SkyPicks works as a way to introduce its app to new users. Passengers who create accounts during a flight may keep using the platform once they land in states where betting is legal.
For Delta, the game adds another way to keep travelers engaged with SkyMiles and Delta Sync. The airline served more than 200 million customers in 2025, with younger travelers making up most of its Wi-Fi users.
Airlines have tried gambling ideas before. Singapore Airlines tested slot machines in the 1980s, and Swissair tried seat-based gambling in the 1990s before dropping it.
For now, SkyPicks remains a free contest rather than a real-money betting product. It gives both companies a way to test passenger interest without breaking current aviation gambling laws.
