Across the United States, the legalization of sports betting has spread to seven states and is expected to continue expanding to more. Nearly 70 percent of states are expected to offer legal sports betting by 2024. This growth is the result of hundreds of billions of dollars in wagers. In fact, experts believe the U.S. will eventually become the largest regulated sports betting market in the world.
For decades, the NCAA and the four major professional sports leagues held a stance against legal sports betting. However, after a Supreme Court ruling in May, several states began passing sports betting laws. There are now three major professional leagues, the NFL, MLB and NBA, that have signed official betting partnerships. MGM Resorts International is the biggest sportsbook operator in the country. Other sportsbook operators include DraftKings and BetMGM.
Last year, ESPN Plus hosted a gambling theme simulcast. This allowed broadcasters to use odds to buttress football observations. A few years ago, ESPN wouldn’t use team names in its gambling content. Now, the network is taking its gambling content head on, with some of the most aggressive pushes by media companies.
Fox Sports announced a sports betting app last week. It’s set to begin taking bets in the fall of this year. The company is also working with partners like Ceasars and SuperBook Sports. It’s also experimenting with alternative broadcasts.
The NFL recently cut a deal with an analytics firm. This allows the league to use best-class monitoring to protect against corruption. In addition, the NFL has provided gambling-related training to its players. The NFL also allowed sportsbooks to become sponsors of teams in states that allowed sportsbooks. In those states, the sportsbooks could have betting lounges and kiosks in stadiums. While research showed fans didn’t like these options, the NFL was willing to take the risk.
In addition to its partnerships with the NFL, MLB and NBA, BetMGM has been a betting partner with a few other popular sports leagues. It has a retail sportsbook inside the Great American Ballpark. It’s also an official betting partner of Madison Square Garden and the Knicks. In November of 2021, BetMGM will become an official betting partner of the Texas Rangers.
The NASCAR official data-powered solution gives fans in regulated states a highly engaging live experience. Sportsbooks can take bets on every lap of every race. Moreover, NASCAR’s official sportsbook product has over 25 in-race bet types.
The NFL also infuses its broadcasts with betting content. It allows broadcasters to sell six sportsbook commercials per game to league-approved sportsbook operators. These ads can be placed at the bottom of the screen. In addition, the NFL has allowed its broadcasters to add spreads and other betting lines to its games. Lastly, the NFL has allowed its broadcasters to offer free play games. These free play games allow fans to bet without risking any money.
The NBA and NHL have also signed deals with MGM. In March of this year, Betway signed partnerships with six NBA/NHL franchises.