Things just keep getting worse for US gambling website DraftKings after global sports broadcaster ESPN terminated an exclusive advertising deal with the daily fantasy sports app after just one month.

The deal, which was signed during the summer, officially kicked off in January and would include “branding and promotional opportunities across multiple ESPN and DraftKings platforms including integration into digital properties and television programming.”

Worth approximately US$250 million, ESPN also had a deal with DraftKings’ main rival FanDuel which lapsed before the exclusivity deal with DraftKings started after the New Year.

While reasons for the termination haven’t been given with both parties refusing to comment, many seem to be under the impression that the termination was agreed to by both parties with DraftKings facing significant charges related to gambling statute violations. And they are, in turn, freeing up money to pay the hefty legal fees.

With the charges not coming to light until after the agreement was done, it is perhaps a move from ESPN to distance themselves as much as possible from the under-fire fantasy platform.

The end of this deal doesn’t mean the complete distancing of ESPN from DraftKings as you’re still likely to see ads for DraftKings on the broadcaster.

Instead, the termination just means that it won’t be the only platform that ESPN advertises, a reasonably strange development considering the heat currently on fantasy gambling sites and the apparent willingness of the sports broadcaster to distance themselves from the issue.