Hotwire Launches New Game to Test Fans’ Fantasy Basketball Expertise

Just in time for the basketball playoffs, Hotwire® is launching a new edition of the “Hotwire® Effect” game. This “pick ’em” style game will be entirely free to play and features guaranteed prizes totaling $25,000. The new game tiped off on May 22, 2021.

The “Hotwire Effect Pick ‘Em” game was designed by DraftKings to challenge players’ strategic approach by mirroring Hotwire’s mystery booking process that enables travelers to score incredible deals on hotels. Just like booking a hotel on Hotwire, participants will make their picks based on stats rather than player names. The actual player names will be hidden until after the games start, marking a new way to draft and a smarter, better way to travel.

Hotwire, the travel app known for its mystery Hot Rate® deals, lets travelers pick their hotel using everything from the neighborhood, to customer ratings, and even featured amenities. The name of the hotel is only revealed after booking, helping savvy travelers score a better hotel than they thought they could afford. The excitement or “Hotwire Effect” that players will experience when seeing the results of their winning selections is matched only by the thrill that travelers feel when the amazing hotel they were able to score on Hotwire is revealed.

“The Hotwire Effect is what makes Hotwire different from other travel sites. By revealing the property name after booking is complete, not only do we enable travelers to stay in amazing hotels for the same price they would have paid for a less-great hotel – we give them the satisfaction of knowing that they shopped a bit smarter than everyone else,” said Melissa Postier, Brand Director, Hotwire. “The Hotwire Effect Series seeks to give players that same rush – that their skill and intuition allowed them to be able to draft a better team than their competition.”

How to play The Hotwire Effect Series*:

There will be six player matchups for each game slate. Players will pick the player in each 1-on-1 matchup they think will outscore their opponent in fantasy points. Those players will be their lineup for the day.
For players feeling extra confident in a pick, they will be able to designate a captain in their lineup that will score them 1.5 times the points.
Once the games start and the contest begins, names are revealed, and users can see who they actually drafted, much like how the Hotwire app works when booking a hotel.
Players who come out on top against the competition will win a share of $5,000 in cash prizing.
Contest dates* are 5/22, 5/28, 6/7, 6/14 and 6/22.
*Contest dates are subject to change based on league scheduling changes. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com for details.

Prizing:

The Hotwire Effect Series has $25,000 total guaranteed in prizes ($5,000 per contest).
Top finishers will win based on which contestants have the highest score each contest.

Running five contests over the next five weeks, the “Hotwire Effect Series” offers players the opportunity to take a shot at $25,000 in total prizes. To learn more and sign-up for Hotwire Effect Pick ‘Em, please visit www.draftkings.com/hotwire.