LEXINGTON, Ky., (March 17, 2026) For many sports fans, March Madness is about buzzer beaters, bracket busts and Cinderella stories.
For University of Kentucky alum Brian Scroggins, it’s also one of the most exciting times of the year professionally.
Scroggins, a graduate of the University of Kentucky’s MBA/JD dual degree program, now works as senior manager of casino operations at DraftKings, one of the world’s leading sports gaming and entertainment companies. As the NCAA Tournament approaches each spring, his work blends sports, analytics, technology and regulation — a career path that began during his time at UK.
“I’ve always respected the versatility that comes with having both a law degree and a business degree,” Scroggins said. “When I learned that Kentucky offered the opportunity to complete the MBA/JD in three years, it immediately stood out.”
Most dual-degree programs across the country take four or even five years to complete. The University of Kentucky’s program allows students to combine the two disciplines in a more streamlined format, giving graduates a unique blend of legal and business training.
Scroggins said the experience of navigating both programs shaped the way he approaches challenges in the sports and gaming industry.
Law school emphasizes debate, analytical reasoning and the ability to quickly evaluate legal arguments. The MBA program, he said, highlights collaboration, teamwork and strategic thinking.
“In the MBA program, it became clear very quickly that relationships and collaboration matter a lot in the business world,” Scroggins said. “Success often comes from working well with others and building strong teams.”
Several courses in particular still influence the way he approaches his work today, including intellectual property valuation, negotiations and economics.
At DraftKings, those concepts go beyond the theoretical that’s taught in the classroom. The company operates as a technology-driven gaming and entertainment platform, and much of its innovation relies on proprietary products, partnerships and intellectual property.
Scroggins joined DraftKings in 2022 and now works on the commercial side of the company’s casino business.
His role focuses on two main areas: managing relationships with third-party studios that provide games on the DraftKings platform and helping protect the company’s intellectual property.
“I work on negotiating and renewing agreements with companies that provide many of the games on our platform,” he said. “The other major part of my role involves intellectual property — helping protect the innovation behind the products we build.”
Because the industry involves legal frameworks, technology development and commercial strategy, Scroggins said his combined legal and business training often helps him serve as a bridge between teams.
“A big part of my job is translating between different groups,” he said. “My legal background helps me understand the regulatory and contractual side of the industry, while my business training helps me focus on practical outcomes and growth.”
Few events capture the attention of sports fans quite like the NCAA Tournament.
Inside companies like DraftKings, the weeks leading up to March Madness are a time of intense preparation. Teams across the organization coordinate promotions, product features and analytics to support one of the busiest stretches of the sports calendar.
“March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year, especially those first two days when games are happening nonstop,” Scroggins said.
The tournament also presents a fascinating challenge from a data and analytics standpoint. With 68 teams competing in a single-elimination format, predicting outcomes is notoriously difficult — even for experts.
“Data and modeling play an important role across the industry,” Scroggins said. “But March Madness has a way of humbling every model out there.”
Fans across the country still try to crack the code each year with their own bracket strategies.
At Scroggins’ house, the process is a family event.
“My kids sometimes help pick teams based on jersey colors or mascots,” he said. “Honestly, that works about as well as some analytics models.”
Scroggins noted that college athletics has changed dramatically in recent years due to factors such as NIL opportunities and the transfer portal, which have reshaped how teams build their rosters.
Those changes can also affect the way analysts and fans approach tournament predictions.
“The top programs are able to attract more of the best players,” he said. “But that’s also what makes March Madness great — anything can still happen once the games tip off.”
As a UK graduate, Scroggins still follows Kentucky basketball closely.
Like many fans, he hopes to see the Wildcats return to making deep runs in March.
“The blue blood programs in college basketball have really dominated the tournament in recent years,” he said. “For Kentucky, getting to the second weekend of the tournament needs to become the expectation again.”
When the Wildcats win, celebrations at the Scroggins household are loud.
“On big wins we usually end up doing a loud ‘CATS, CATS, CATS’ chant in the living room,” he said.
For Gatton students interested in careers in sports, gaming or regulation, Scroggins said curiosity and persistence are key.
These industries are competitive, but students can often create their own opportunities through networking and relationship-building.
“Many of my internships started by simply reaching out to people — sending LinkedIn messages or asking for a quick conversation,” he said. “Most professionals are happy to talk about their careers and offer advice.”
He also encourages students to develop strong negotiation and communication skills — abilities that translate across industries.
“Learning how to communicate clearly, advocate for your position and understand the other side’s perspective is incredibly valuable,” Scroggins said.
Looking back, he said one of the most important parts of his experience at the University of Kentucky was the support he received from faculty and staff.
“It’s a big reason why I’m always proud to represent Kentucky wherever I go.”
This story discusses the sports gaming industry as part of an alumni career profile. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, confidential help is available:National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling: Learn more or find helpKentucky Gambling Help: Self-assessment and treatment resources
