Category Archives: In The Biz

Entain Foundation U.S. Launches 2nd Edition Of Responsible Gambling App

Entain Foundation U.S., the non-profit dedicated to responsible gambling and funded by Entain, the global sports betting, gaming, and interactive entertainment group, announces the second edition launch of Gamble Responsibly America.

This first-of-its-kind mobile app provides practical tools, assistance and advice to anyone facing potential issues with problem gambling. It has been comprehensively updated with new and improved features in English, Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. Available in the App Store and Google Play Store, the free app is unbranded and brings no commercial benefit to Entain or BetMGM, the U.S. business it jointly owns with MGM Resorts International.

Gamble Responsibly America’s improvements center around two areas: greater educational information about problem gambling, and more tools for users to access help and support. The app’s educational categories include discussions about disordered gambling, behavioral markers of concern, establishing limits, frequently asked questions, and informative videos about responsible gambling.

The app also provides self-assessment tools, including a daily gambling diary, and shows how users can access help, including a live chat feature and links to an extensive array of support services and organizations.

One such organization is Kindbridge, accessible through app. As the world’s first teletherapy company which supports gamblers and gamers struggling with their mental health, Kindbridge provides access to online professional mental health counselors and specialized support services. Kindbridge and the Entain Foundation U.S. also partnered with Game Quitters to launch the Mind Your Game campaign last year – a series of educational videos to reduce gaming and gambling-related harm in esports.

The app also links to My Wager Score, a platform designed to protect sports bettors’ financial health and minimize the risk of harmful play using real-time affordability data.

“The first version of Gamble Responsibly America was well-received and widely welcomed,” recalls Martin Lycka, Entain Senior Vice President for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling, and Trustee of the Entain Foundation U.S. “We’ve since been working hard on enhancements to provide an even more comprehensive tool for maintaining responsible gambling, as well as for preventing and mitigating problems, should they occur.”

Lycka acknowledged partner organizations who contribute their expertise and availability to the Gamble Responsibly America app, including Kindbridge, the National Council on Problem Gambling, Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, My Wager Score, and others.

“This second edition of Gamble Responsibly America underscores the helpful resources of the first edition, with more tools, more educational information, additional languages and more resources that are available anytime and anywhere,” Lycka added. “Our goal with the app is simple – to educate users on safe gambling habits, and provide the necessary tools and resources to allow users to access help and support instantly.”

Draft Show Boosts SGPN Commitment To USFL Gambling Content

Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SGPN) has successfully seized the narrative as the top wagering authority on the United States Football League (USFL) with a major commitment of resources to the newly-minted pro football league, which launched its upcoming season last week with the 2022 draft.

SGPN produced a two-part, 10-hour, live USFL Draft Show and delivered interviews with five soon-to-be star players as the league’s eight teams began to stockpile talent.  That in-depth coverage, unmatched by any other platform on the media landscape, generated over 10,000 views last week alone, demonstrating a level of consumer interest that SGPN is serving with its free podcasts and website postings and app (www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com).

NBC Sports’ prominent pro football news/information platform  Pro Football Talk linked to Sports Gambling Podcast Network’s report in a post-Super Bowl offering and other mainstream outlets referenced ahead-of-the-curve SGPN content in late February. 

Led by co-founders and Sports Gambling Podcast hosts Sean Green and Ryan Kramer, SGPN experts immersed themselves in the new spring football league’s resources and established relationships with league executives in January.  The two-day live draft show followed and SGPN landed exclusive first interviews with USFL players Peyton Ramzy (WR, Tuskeegee University), Ben Holmes (QB, Tarleton State), Adewale Adeoye (DL, Utah State), Josh Taylor (OL Mississippi Valley State) and Michael Rodriguez (OL, Louisiana Tech).  The SGPN USFL homepage is here.

“It’s pretty much indisputable that we’ve got a greater depth of knowledge on the USFL than any media platform out there and our competitors will never catch up,” stated Green, who assigned multiple contributors to the unprecedented initiative.  “Our football guys are rabid, they know what our audiences want and we’re getting the answers on quarterback and skill position talent, coaching and what teams will be tops in the trenches so we can make winning, educated picks.”

Before the end of February, SGPN posted more than 20 separate podcasts and 15-plus articles laying out the top talent competing for jobs in the league.  SGPN experts produced detailed rundowns of prospective players at each position. Analysts are breaking out each position group with special notice for former NFL players and college stars whose names are familiar to gridiron fans.

Accurate advance predictions on which players would be selected early in the USFL Draft in late February reflected SGPN’s inside sources and scope of research and the result has been return visits from information-hungry football fans looking forward to the USFL’s April 16 season openers.  League competition will be airing on multiple major networks.

“We experienced tremendous growth during the NFL Playoffs window and our college basketball content with Colby Dant is more popular than ever,” added Kramer.  “For USFL, we’re doing Fantasy, team-by-team breakdowns and more.  The sportsbooks are going to list these USFL games and our picks and analysis will reflect a level of sophistication exclusive to SGPN.”

SGPN’s eye-opening growth was highlighted this week in an article in the Los Angeles Business Journal, which explored the entrepreneurial platform’s success as an independent entity in the midst of the sports wagering legalization environment of recent years.

SGPN experts will also assert their knowledge as part of SGPN’s new alliance with Colorcast, the innovative Social Sportstalk App that allows commentators to provide audio analysis to audiences in and around games being simultaneously viewed on television. Colorcast also provides users with stats, scores, betting odds, and other real-time information about the game. The platform and is fully interactive and is expected to provide a user experience that will attract additional followers to SGPN’s no-cost platforms.

cover image:

Sean Green (left) and Ryan Kramer at the SGPN studios in Los Angeles. (SGPN photo).

Buffalo Sabres Name FanDuel Group An Official Sports Betting Partner

Today, the Buffalo Sabres and FanDuel Group announced a multi-year partnership, designating FanDuel as an official sports betting partner of the Buffalo Sabres and giving FanDuel the exclusive rights to include branding, sports betting odds, and promotions during Sabres broadcasts.

As part of the partnership, FanDuel will receive end-to-end broadcast integration exclusivity in all phases of Sabres broadcasts, including pregame, in-game, intermissions, and postgame. Sabres broadcasts will include FanDuel in sports betting segments during the pregame show and after the first and second-period intermissions. At the same time, real-time betting odds from the FanDuel Sportsbook will be integrated throughout the broadcast.

FanDuel will also have the right to use official Sabres marks and logos in marketing and in-arena signage for all Sabres home games as part of the partnership.

“On the heels of bringing America’s #1 Sportsbook to the great state of New York, we’re excited to partner with the Sabres to infuse sports betting content into the hockey viewing experience,” said Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel Group. “This is just the beginning for New York sports fans, and partnering with a fellow leader in the sports and entertainment industry lets us collaborate to take things to the next level.”

“We’re proud to expand our relationship with FanDuel and extend its engaging content to Sabres fans,” said Dan Misko, Pegula Sports & Entertainment Sr., Vice President of Business Development. “FanDuel has built a strong reputation as a premier sports betting destination for sports fans, and we’re very excited for all that this partnership will offer our valued fans throughout the state of New York. We look forward to working with FanDuel for many years to come.”

To celebrate the partnership, FanDuel is running a unique promotion, “Sabres Correct Score Bonus,” for the Buffalo Sabres games on February 23 and February 25 this week. To participate in the promotion, FanDuel Sportsbook customers can place a pre-live, straight “correct score” wager of $25 or more and get a $5 bonus in FanDuel Sportsbook site credit for each goal the winning team scores in the game (up to a max bonus of $25 per game) regardless of if your bet wins or loses.

Sabres fans and New Yorkers new to FanDuel can also sign-up for FanDuel Sportsbook and get their first bet risk-free up to $1,000. FanDuel will refund in site credit the amount of a new customer’s first wager, up to $1,000.

cover image: credit Doug Kerr

SportsHandle.com: N.Y. Handles A Quarter Of All U.S. Super Bowl Action

After New York set numerous national records in its first month of mobile sports betting, the Empire State faced lofty expectations for last weekend’s Super Bowl, the marquee event on the annual U.S. sports calendar.

In the wake of Super Bowl LVI, the first Super Bowl ever for New York mobile sportsbooks, there are indications that the state may have shattered those expectations. Vancouver-based geolocation security firm GeoComply identified 80.1 million Super Bowl-related transactions among U.S. sportsbook clients, well over double the amount from last year’s Super Bowl. In total, New York activity represented about one-quarter of the company’s U.S. sports betting traffic, ranking first in the market, GeoComply Managing Director of Gaming Lindsay Slader told Sports Handle.

At the same time, about 5.6 million accounts accessed legal online sportsbooks on Super Bowl weekend, a 95% increase from the previous year, according to GeoComply. New York also ranked first in that category, representing around 20% of nationwide accounts identified by GeoComply.

The figures likely would have been higher had the Buffalo Bills ended a two-decade-plus Super Bowl drought. The Bills, one of the top favorites to reach the Super Bowl, suffered a crushing overtime defeat to the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round, a game in which they took the lead with 13 seconds left in regulation. On Monday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul disclosed that New York handled nearly $2 billion in online sports wagers over the market’s first 30 days of operations.

Will New York top $200M in Super Bowl handle?

When the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) issued conditional licenses to nine mobile sportsbooks last November, New York state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. pressed the commission to roll out online sports wagering before the Super Bowl. Addabbo, chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, lauded the NYSGC for the expedited rollout in launching online sports wagering before the start of the playoffs.

“I always knew New York had this kind of potential, being one of the sports meccas and capitals of the world,” Addabbo told the Gamble On podcast on Wednesday. “But I’m quite surprised sometimes at some of these numbers.”

At present, seven of the nine licensed mobile sportsbooks are live in New York, led by industry heavyweights FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and DraftKings. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt told the Financial Times on Monday that BetMGM took more digital bets in New York than in any other state in which it operates.

Ahead of the Super Bowl, the American Gaming Association predicted that a record 31 million Americans were expected to bet on the event, resulting in a handle of about $7.6 billion. It is important to note that the estimates also included projected betting on the unregulated black market, consisting of offshore sportsbooks and wagers placed with illegal U.S. bookmakers.

The NYSGC indicated on Monday that it will not report a separate breakout for Super Bowl wagering activity. The commission, rather, will include Super Bowl-related betting activity in Friday’s weekly mobile sports betting report.

Nevertheless, there appears to be a strong likelihood that New York reached $200 million in Super Bowl handle, even by conservative estimates. On Tuesday, neighboring New Jersey reported a Super Bowl handle of $143.7 million, second only to Nevada’s $179.8 million on the event. New York’s population is more than double that of New Jersey.

Turning back to GeoComply’s data, there are further indications that New York may eclipse the $200 million threshold. If New Yorkers averaged $12.50 per bet on 20 million wagers placed, the handle would approach an astounding $250 million. According to GeoComply’s figures, about 20.02 million transactions were identified in New York.

The average wager at DraftKings’ Illinois sportsbook in December came in at $47.80 (on a sample size of six million wagers). The Illinois metrics are gleaned from a mix of pro and college football on the month. Over the first 30 days of online sports wagering in New York, the sportsbooks handled more than $600 million on football, the NYSGC disclosed. The handle includes last month’s College Football Playoff national championship, contested on the third day of mobile sportsbook operations in the Empire State.

Next up: March Madness

Following the Super Bowl, the sports betting industry enters a relatively quiet period before the start of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 15. The KeyBank Center in Buffalo will serve as one of eight regional sites for the first and second rounds of the tournament, more commonly known as March Madness.

By then, it’s possible one of the two remaining holdouts, Bally Bet and Resorts World, will have made its New York debut.

Addabbo, who pushed for an open market with more than a dozen mobile skins in New York, is impressed with the early returns considering that the state only has seven online sportsbooks.

“I’m amazed at those numbers, given the circumstances,” Addabbo added.


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FanDuel and Boardroom Ink Exclusive Content Partnership

Today, FanDuel and Boardroom, Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s leading sports business media network, announced an exclusive, content-focused partnership across web, video, audio, editorial, and social media. The deal designates FanDuel the exclusive sports betting, fantasy, horse racing, gaming, casino, and poker partner of Boardroom. FanDuel Sportsbook will also become the exclusive odds provider of Boardroom.

As part of the deal, Boardroom and FanDuel will collaborate on a co-created show later this year featured on FanDuel and Boardroom channels, and FanDuel will sponsor other select content on the platform. Boardroom will dedicate a weekly section of the “Boardroom Breakers” newsletter to FanDuel’s latest odds, data, content, and promotions. Boardroom’s editorial team will also contribute monthly articles to FanDuel’s content site, The Duel (fanduel.com/theduel).

In addition, Boardroom and FanDuel will collaborate on social media giveaways and other initiatives around tentpole sporting events, as well as new offerings such as odds boosts and fantasy contests.

“Content creation has always been a focal point for us as we bring our other premier real money gaming products to customers across the U.S.,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Marketing Officer, FanDuel Group. “We’re excited to collaborate with the talented team over at Boardroom to bring our customers unique content, events, and more.”

“The business of sports betting will continue to be a major force in the future of sports and being able to partner with FanDuel as the premier brand in the space is really exciting for Boardroom as we continue to build our business. We’re looking forward to making some incredible content and extending this partnership well into the future,” said Rich Kleiman, Boardroom and Thirty Five Ventures Co-CEO.         

For more information about Boardroom, head to https://boardroom.tv/.

Panther City Lacrosse Club Announces Landmark Sports Gaming Partnership with PlayUp

The Panther City Lacrosse Club announced today a ground-breaking agreement with PlayUp, a next generation entertainment and technology group.

The agreement sees PlayUp become Panther City’s first sports gaming partner. The relationship also designates PlayUp as a founding partner, fantasy sports partner, and e-sports partner, in a deal that is believed the be the largest team sponsorship arrangement in NLL history.

The agreement also includes a market access element. Should sports betting become legalized in Texas in the future, the partnership could potentially lead to market access for PlayUp in what would be one of the most lucrative markets throughout the U.S. The market access would be subject to Panther City Lacrosse Club receiving a sports betting license and pending requisite regulatory approvals.

“We are thrilled to welcome PlayUp as a partner of Panther City Lacrosse Club,” Panther City Lacrosse Club President, CEO & Managing Partner Greg Bibb said. “We look forward to introducing our fans to the PlayUp brand and we are proud to wear the PlayUp name on our game jersey.” 

The partnership represents PlayUp’s first Texas based sponsorship and will include the following promotional elements to increase brand awareness to Texan sports fans:  

  • Prominent logo placement on the Panther City jersey 
  • Branding opportunities on the media banner backdrop, team website and commercial opportunities during locally broadcasted games 
  • VIP hospitality to further enhance PlayUp’s unparalleled customer service offering 
  • In stadium branding including a main entrance brand station, on-field logos and board signage at regular season and post season home games 

PlayUp USA Chairman Dennis Drazin said the partnership would play a critical role in growing PlayUp’s brand given the large population and love of sport within Texas. 
 
“Texas is an evolving state in terms of sports betting and should legalisation occur, we want to ensure we are positioned to maximize that opportunity. We are excited by this partnership with Panther City as it gives PlayUp a great opportunity to grow our brand and connect directly with fans throughout the state,” said Drazin.  

SportsHandle: California, Ohio Wagering Could Have Reached $400M for Super Bowl

Bettors in California and Ohio potentially could have wagered as much as $400 million on Super Bowl LVI Sunday were sports betting live in either state, according to an in-depth report issued today by SportsHandle.com, a leading news source of information on sports betting legalization in the U.S.

If bettors had the opportunity to wager on this year’s Super Bowl, featuring the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals on Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Sports Handle projects that handle in California could have reached $300 million with gross gaming revenue reaching $21 million, and the state potentially taking in $2.1 million in tax revenue on a single event.

In Ohio, where fans will watch the Bengals make their first Super Bowl appearance since 1989, handle could have reached up to $100 million, with gross gaming revenue of up to $7 million, and tax revenue of up to $700,000. Both sets of gross gaming revenue projections come from using the industry-standard 7% win rate or “hold” that operators claim in wins against bettors from handle wagered.

The Sports Handle research and subsequent article were compiled by managing editor and sports betting legislation expert Jill R. Dorson and by legislative analyst and wagering revenue researcher Chris Altruda. The research and analysis assume that operators in both states were offering live, legal digital wagering with remote registration for at least one full NFL season ahead of the Super Bowl, that a minimum of 10 digital platforms would be live, that the game would be competitive into the fourth quarter, and that all wagering platforms and the live broadcast would not have any major technical glitches. The tax revenue projections are based on a 10% tax rate, which will go into effect in Ohio when wagering goes live, and is also the proposed tax rate put forth by a group of seven sports betting operators working to qualify an initiative for the November 2022 ballot in California.

The SportsHandle.com article entitled “What If California and Ohio Had Legal, Live Sports Wagering For Super Bowl LVI?” can be accessed here: https://sportshandle.com/california-ohio-super-bowl-projected-handle

In December, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine legalized sports betting when he signed HB 29 into law. State regulators are currently crafting rules, and the law calls for betting to go live no later than Jan. 1, 2023.

In California, a tribal retail-only sports betting initiative has already qualified for the November 2022 ballot. There could potentially be three others, but the most likely is a proposal from a group of seven operators, including BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel, that would allow for statewide mobile wagering with a 10% tax rate. The projections are based on voters approving the operators’ proposal.

Currently, legal online wagering is live in 20 U.S. jurisdictions, with up to three more — Maryland, Ohio, and Puerto Rico — to come online before 2023. In seven other states, retail-only wagering is available.

Founded in May 2017, Sports Handle is an elite sports betting industry news site that covers legislative and regulatory developments through original reporting, features, and analysis.  Sports Handle is owned and operated by Better Collective, a leading sports betting media group that includes The Action Network, US Bets, and RotoGrinders.

National Lacrosse League And BetMGM Extend And Expand Sports Betting Partnership

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) today announced an extension and expansion of its partnership with BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, as an Official Sports Betting partner of the NLL. The two companies have extended their partnership agreement for an additional year, with greater investment and a focus on innovation.

“We are proud and honored to continue our partnership with BetMGM,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “BetMGM has been an incredible partner in helping us build the NLL sports betting platform. This extension shows the value of our partnership and what we both bring to the table for each other, which is what partnering is all about. Our shared like-minded vision will continue to increase the relevance of the league and draw a wider audience of fans, while providing BetMGM access to a new audience of NLL fans on television.”

As part of the agreement, BetMGM and the NLL will work together to provide odds for regular season and post-season NLL games in the 2021-22 season. In addition to receiving exposure through the NLL’s expanded broadcast partnership with ESPN and ESPN+, BetMGM will have significant in-arena presence in NLL venues. BetMGM also will be fully integrated into the league’s social media and digital activities. The partnership will be activated through organic broadcast integrations, redefining the way sports betting is supported through league partnerships.

Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s Chief Revenue Officer, said, “We’re pleased to elevate our partnership with the NLL and look forward to growing the League’s sports betting audience. The NLL’s passionate fan base will appreciate the new and engaging experiences only offered by BetMGM.”

As BetMGM continues to expand its sports betting platforms to new states, responsible gaming education remains a key focus. BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly. For more information on BetMGM follow @BetMGM on Twitter.

For the most up to date information and breaking news, sign up for the NLL newsletter at NLL.com. You can also follow Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman and Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz on Twitter @JessicaBerman1 and @NLLcommish, respectively.

FanDuel Group Bringing America’s #1 Sportsbook to New York

oday, FanDuel Group announced its industry-leading Sportsbook is coming to the State of New York. Per the New York State Gaming Commission, launch of FanDuel’s mobile sportsbook app is scheduled for Saturday, January 8. FanDuel’s retail Sportsbook at Tioga Downs Casino Resort has been open since 2019.

Launch of the FanDuel Sportsbook in New York comes on the heels of the Buffalo Bills designating FanDuel as its official mobile sports betting partner.

Ahead of launch on Saturday, sports fans can celebrate the arrival of the FanDuel Sportsbook in New York with $100 in site credit when they sign up early for a FanDuel Sportsbook account. For more information, including offer restrictions and terms, head to: https://www.fanduel.com/sportsbook-ny.

FanDuel Sportsbook, America’s #1 Sportsbook, is bringing its best-in-class online sports betting experience to the passionate sports fans of the Empire State who will now be able to place wagers anywhere in the state across professional and college football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, MMA, boxing, boxing, soccer, and tennis with a variety of betting and payment options available. The FanDuel Sportsbook app in New York is simple, secure, and convenient with a number of key features, including:

  • New Way to Parlay: FanDuel is the only U.S. sportsbook with Same Game Parlay Plus, where players can combine Same Game ParlayTM bets from one game with bets from other games.
  • An Innovative Spirit: FanDuel was the first U.S. sportsbook to offer Same Game ParlayTM bets, the first to offer live streaming of sporting events inside a betting app, the first to offer Bad Beat Relief and early payouts for championship teams, and the first to offer its crowdsourced Spread the Love promotion.
  • Absurdly Customer Focused:  FanDuel Sportsbook offers safe and secure banking, lightning-fast payouts, a Cash-Out early feature, and 24/7 customer service.
  • Responsible Gaming: FanDuel is the industry leader in promoting responsible play, including in-app tools that allow customers to set time, deposit, and wager limits, as well as its PlaySafe site where customers can find additional support services.
  • Sports Betting 101: FanDuel Sportsbook has an online betting guide to help customers learn the ins and outs of legal sports betting.

With tomorrow’s launch, New York becomes the thirteenth state in the United States where the FanDuel Sportsbook will be available for iOS and Android, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Sports fans in New York can download the FanDuel Sportsbook app for iOS and Android., or visit https://www.fanduel.com/sportsbook-ny. For more on the FanDuel Sportsbook and sports betting content, follow @FDSportsbook on Twitter.

Cover Image: All-Pro Reels

Sports Interaction Becomes National Lacrosse League’s Official Sports Betting Partner In Canada

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, announced a partnership with Sports Interaction as the official sports betting partner in Canada. The deal will launch today on NLL broadcasts on TSN throughout Canada.

“We have been developing the NLL Sports Betting platform as a new line of business throughout the last 20 months and betting partners are a key part of the platform. We are excited and honored to bring back a renewed relationship with Sports Interaction that will take our collective marketing efforts to a new level and grow our respective businesses through an engagement platform for our fans as our Official Canadian Sports Betting Partner,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “We know this partnership will continue to grow our engagement with casual and diehard fans of the NLL, as well as attract new fans who enjoy and have become fans of the high voltage action and fast pace of the NLL game.”

“Lacrosse is part of our heritage and a sport very close to our hearts. For centuries, Mohawks have bet on lacrosse games and we are proud to partner with The NLL and its fans because they share our passion and epitomize everything that is great about the game.” said Dean Montour, CEO of Mohawk Online, operators of www.sportsinteraction.com

Sports Interaction will be prominently involved in TSN’s NLL broadcasts by entitling the League’s Game of the Week. These select games will be aired across TSN’s linear channels throughout the regular season. Sports Interaction will also receive exposure in arena for NLL games in Canada, and the partnership will be supported on all NLL social channels. Integrations will begin with this weekend’s games.

For the most up to date information and breaking news, sign up for the NLL newsletter at NLL.com. Also follow Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman and Commissioner Sakiewicz on Twitter @JessicaBerman1 and @NLLcommish, respectively.

Inside Edge Partners With BetMGM And Sports Alerts, Launches Product For Fans

Inside Edge, Inc., a leading provider of in-depth sports analytics products for teams and media, is expanding its offerings into the sports betting industry through partnerships with BetMGM and Sports Alerts, and the launch of its first product for fans, My Inside Edge.

In September 2021, Inside Edge kicked off a 2-year partnership with BetMGM, a leading sports betting and digital gaming entertainment company. Inside Edge’s Remarkable insights will power BetMGM’s MLB, NFL and NCAAF game notes in a unique way, helping to drive more traffic, and ultimately, increase handle. Remarkable is patented AI technology that analyzes sports data and unveils unique performance insights that are fully-automated and produced both pregame and in-game.

Inside Edge is also partnering with Sports Alerts, a scores and statistics app, as one of the mobile app’s game experts. Users will have access to Inside Edge’s MLB and NFL products including Reasons, which predicts which team has the advantage, and 5-Star Picks, IE’s pick to win against the spread.

After serving media and sports teams for over 27 years, Inside Edge launched its first product for fans, My Inside Edge. The site provides sports bettors and daily fantasy players with free matchup-specific insights and projections to build winning lineups and make confident decisions. Insights include Daily Fantasy Player Cards, Inside Edge’s pick to win against the spread and Reasons one team has the advantage.

“As Inside Edge continues to innovate and expand our offerings, we are excited to make our debut in the sports betting world in partnership with industry leader BetMGM, and the fantastic mobile app developer, Sports Alerts / Luno Software. The power of our Remarkable insights engine in combination with their engaged users creates an elevated experience for fans and sports bettors,” said Inside Edge CEO Randy Istre.

SGPN Outpaces Industry Growth Projections With Almost 3 Million Downloads In 2021

Sports Gambling Podcast Network (SGPN), the only major independent sports wagering media network that places a premium on entertainment value and free user content, will clobber industry growth projections with a 30 per cent year-over-year increase in total downloads during the course of 2021.

According to the podcast analytics website Megaphone, SGPN has amassed a total of 2,848,068* downloads since January, led by the popular Sports Gambling Podcast, which focuses on the most prominent games and issues of the day with selections, analysis and opinions of co-founders and rising stars Sean Green and Ryan Kramer.  SGPN expects to hit three million downloads by the end of the year.

SGPN launched eight new podcast feeds this year and has seen marked growth in unique visitors, YouTube views and podcast audiences thanks in part to its affiliation with the BlueWire Podcasts distribution network.  SGPN’s 30 per cent growth over 2020 compares favorably to the industry-wide podcast consumption growth of 17 per cent reported by prominent media research company Edison Research of Somerville, NJ. http://www.edisonresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Infinite-Dial-2021.pdf 

Unlike the clutter of football- and basketball-specific podcasts and offerings that leverage the prominence of legacy brand network- or betting house-affiliated offerings, SGPN has grown organically and now provides personalities and content from some 50 expert contributors covering all aspects of 10-plus sports, including international soccer, boxing/MMA and fantasy sports.

“The industry battle for eyeballs and listeners in our space is as fierce as it is among the wagering houses who spend millions of dollars to acquire account deposits,” stated Green, the Philadelphia area native now working out of his SGPN Studios in Los Angeles.  “SGPN is free.  We’re happy to serve the growing number of sports wagering enthusiasts at no cost with sophisticated picks, analysis, commentary and deep-dive detail.  Now, our growth shows that it is appreciated and we’re ready to build on that success using our tried-and-true formula heading into 2022, when we’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary.”   Green provides NFL picks on a weekly basis for Burb Media in Philadelphia and is a favored sportstalk radio guest on shows around the country.   

Also a working stand-up comic in the Los Angeles region, Green used his immersive knowledge to win $200,000 in a DraftKings Daily Fantasy Football (DFS) competition in 2017, enabling him to enhance the SGPN facilities and branding initiatives.  The following year, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was struck down by the courts and the current blizzard of growth ensued.  Still, fewer than half of the states have legalized sports wagering, so the industry has tremendous expansion ahead, a huge positive for SGPN and other established players.

cover image: Sean Green, Ryan Kramer (SGPN Photo)

Genius Sports, CFL Partner to Grow Fan Engagement and Extend Media Reach Via Sports Data, Global Tech

Genius Sports, the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, today announced a landmark strategic partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL), the second largest football league globally with over 100 years of history.

Genius Sports will provide a wide range of technology and services that will enable the CFL to accelerate its growth plans and engage new audiences around the world.

As part of the agreement, Genius Sports will have the exclusive rights to commercialize the CFL’s official data worldwide and video content with sportsbooks in international markets, replicating the global distribution and success of its official betting products for the EPL and NFL, among others. In connection with the partnership, in addition to the official data rights agreement, Genius Sports and the CFL have also agreed that Genius Sports will acquire a minority stake in CFL Ventures, the new commercial arm of the League, allowing the Company to benefit strategically and financially from the CFL’s growth.

The CFL will be provided with one of the widest and most innovative data ecosystems in world sport, transforming its relationships with fans, sportsbooks, and media in North America and globally. Bringing together its recent acquisitions of Second Spectrum, Spirable, FanHub and Sportzcast, Genius Sports will power the entire CFL digital infrastructure. This will include live broadcast augmentation, advanced data tracking tools, highly targeted and personalized fan engagement solutions, cross-platform streaming capabilities, play-by-play and scoreboard data collection technology, coaching analytics products, and integrity services to safeguard the league.

“Our partnership with Genius Sports has the potential to launch a new era for the CFL,” said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League. “It provides access to the technology and tools we need to engage our existing fans, and reach new ones, in exciting, innovative and highly customized ways. This goes beyond transforming our marketing. It can redefine our relationship with fans, partners and other key stakeholders, here in Canada and globally.”

“By providing the CFL with an incredible range of sports technology solutions, Genius Sports is setting a new precedent for sports partnerships,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports. “Together, we will revolutionize the entire CFL product, delivering truly immersive experiences for their existing fans and attracting new audiences who crave year-round, top-flight football action.”

This partnership will help facilitate the CFL’s growth ambitions, expanding its audience in the U.S., while extending its reach into new international markets. Genius Sports will help the CFL to capitalize on the growth of the North American sports betting market, maximizing revenue and engagement opportunities.

The transaction is expected to become effective in January 2022. An O’Melveny & Myers LLP team, led by partners Charles Baker and Amy Siegel and counsel Eric Geffner and Rob Catmull together with McCarthy Tetrault LLP, advised Genius Sports on this transformative transaction.

FanDuel And Pat McAfee Announce Multi-Year Exclusive Content Partnership Agreement

Lincoln Riley bolted Oklahoma for the sun at USC. Brian Kelly left Notre Dame and added a southern accent at LSU. Pat McAfee? He is staying with FanDuel!

FanDuel Group got its man today, reaching a multi-year agreement with Pat McAfee Inc. (PMI), keeping the sports media industry’s fastest-growing star an exclusive partner of America’s #1 Sportsbook. The agreement represents a significant expansion of its previous deal and includes a formalized content partnership.

Highlights of the new agreement:

  • FanDuel will remain the official sportsbook of PMI and the Pat McAfee Show with the two companies continuing to deepen and evolve the integration of odds boosts and other promotions across PMI platforms
  • FanDuel and the entire team at PMI will attempt to create new shows/segments that are considered above average beyond the daily show content.
  • Expanded co-branded big brain ideas, and customer promotions such as the first ever crowd sourced Spread the Love campaign
  • Pat McAfee and FanDuel will create a series of annual special edition shows supporting tentpole events (ex. FanDuel NFL Draft Spectacular)
  • Development of “epic” live events tour including “on-the-road” shows throughout the year
  • McAfee and his team to support FanDuel during new state launches

FanDuel will be investing in PMI’s content development capabilities including a new campus/complex to support its production efforts. This includes the naming and branding rights for the soon to be redesigned live studio for the Pat McAfee Show. The new complex will be known as “The FanDuel Igloo” and will house production studios, a lounge, basketball court and golf simulator.

“Simply put, Pat McAfee is the sports media industry’s fastest growing star and we’re thrilled to deepen our relationship with him as our exclusive partner,” said Mike Raffensperger Chief Marketing Officer, FanDuel Group. “Pat and his team champion the FanDuel brand and together we’ve developed groundbreaking content experiences for his audience and our customers alike. Of course, Pat isn’t just our best marketing partner, he’s also one of our best customers so we expect he will give us some of the money back!”

“This new deal with FanDuel will afford us the opportunity to take things to a different level,” said McAfee. “We are incredibly lucky the exclusive Sportsbook of our show remains the #1 Sportsbook in America. I’m excited for the future. With that being said, we still plan on taking every dollar FanDuel has with our Super Boosts, Hammer DAHN picks, and AJ Hawk’s big brain.”

FanDuel and PMI have been working together for several years and the Pat McAfee Show has become the gold standard of how to effectively integrate and deliver live odds and sports betting insights and commentary. Whether it’s branded McAfee odds boosts, enhanced odds or other special promotions the partnership between PMI and FanDuel has fueled a content genre that is now emulated but rarely duplicated across the sports media landscape. 

image: credit Flickr/Angie Six

Entain Foundation U.S. Sponsors NBA Legend Charles Oakley’s ‘Oak Out Hunger’ Community Project

The Entain Foundation U.S., the not-for-profit charitable trust of Entain, is to sponsor an initiative led by retired NBA legend Charles Oakley to include education in responsible gambling with other forms of support to impoverished, underprivileged communities facing hunger, addiction, and economic challenges in cities across the U.S.

The Entain Foundation U.S. sponsorship will provide both funding and expertise in preventing and mitigating problem gambling to the Oak Out Hunger initiative. It means that, for the first time, education in responsible gambling will sit alongside other valuable and worthwhile community services provided by the Charles Oakley Foundation, including anti-addiction and education programs.

Early next year this program will operate in U.S. cities including Los Angeles, New York, Buffalo, Philadelphia and New Orleans – coinciding with major sporting events including the Super Bowl and March Madness, the college basketball tournament. In addition, the campaign will visit further cities and towns also home to universities including Indiana University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, West Virginia and Tennessee.

“As sports betting takes off across many U.S. states, we’re committed to do all we can to ensure that people only bet what they can afford – which is especially important in more deprived communities,” said Martin Lycka, Entain senior vice president for American regulatory affairs and responsible gambling, and trustee of the Entain Foundation U.S. “The Oak Out Hunger campaign is truly unique – and effective – in providing essential services to impoverished and underprivileged urban communities across the U.S. The Oakley Foundation is an ideal partner to help us reach those in most need with education on responsible gambling.”

“It’s all about giving back to people who are trying to get through life,” Charles Oakley said. “I go all over. And you see people hanging out on the streets, nowhere to get a meal, some of whom use what little money they have to fund addictions. Our program is about helping to break that cycle. Give them a chance and a good meal. Meet some different people and have a good time.”

With the Entain Foundation US sponsorship, the Charles Oakley Foundation and Oak Out Hunger campaign join other nationally and globally recognized partners who collaborate with Entain to prevent and combat potentially harmful behaviors among at-risk populations.

Entain and its two sister foundations, the Entain Foundation and the Entain Foundation U.S., operate some of the world’s most innovative and comprehensive portfolios of programs designed to prevent and mitigate problem gambling.  For example, a free app, developed by Entain, called “Gamble Responsibly America,” is available through the App Store and Google Play, with no branding or commercial promotion.

The Entain Foundation U.S. is a first-of-its-kind non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible gambling, sports integrity and corporate compliance in the U.S. The Foundation was launched in 2019 by the Entain Global Foundation and the Entain Group. Entain is the leading global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment operator, which jointly owns BetMGM in the U.S.

cover image: Charles Oakley (credit Bryan Horowitz)

VKTRY Brings NFL Star Jonathan Taylor On Board As Latest Brand Ambassador

VKTRY GEAR, the fast growing, industry leader in Performance Insoles for heightened athletic performance and injury protection, continued to make 2021 a record year, announcing six months in a row of month over month sales increases while bringing fast-rising NFL running back Jonathan Taylor on as the latest brand ambassador. The Indianapolis Colts star has the second highest grade among all NFL running backs per Pro Football Focus and is second in the league in rushing heading into this weekend. Players on all 32 NFL clubs are now using VKTRY insoles for the first time in the history of the company.

“When I first put VKTRY Insoles into my cleats, it was an instant boost of explosion, power & speed. Being able to explode out of my cuts with more power helps me separate from a defender,” stated Jonathan Taylor. “Knowing that VKTRY Insoles are made with the latest and greatest technology makes you feel almost like you’re a superhero or something out of this world. Having this high-tech product inside your cleats makes you feel like no one can stop you on the field.”

“We are honored to have two of the best young running backs in the NFL as VKTRY’s spokespeople – first Nick Chubb – and now Jonathan Taylor,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “JT is one of the most explosive players in the league, highly respected by everyone who knows him. We are honored to have him representing VKTRY.”

During the 2021 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from all 32 clubs, are now wearing VKTRY’S carbon fiber insoles, a 75% increase from 2020. The list includes some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL: Nick Chubb, Saquan Barkley, Antonio Gibson, Bryan Bulaga, George Kittle, Josh Norman, DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel and many more. VKTRY Insoles are used across multiple sports and the company’s endorsements include NBA legend Tracy McGrady, Captain of the Gold Medal-winning US Women’s Volleyball Team Jordan Larson, MLB slugger Vlad Guerrero, Jr., and 3X PGA major winner Padraig Harrington.

Made from aerospace-grade carbon fiber, VKTRY Insoles store and return energy to the athlete. They also provide a “spring-like” effect to improve shock absorption and reduce the load and stress on the athlete’s body. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0″, their vert by +1.6″ and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds. Because all athletes are not alike, VKs are customized based on the size of the athlete and the sport or activity. VKTRY’s Gold Insoles are available in five different levels of flexibility to optimize performance, protection and comfort.

“VKTRY’s Gold Insoles have been designed for serious athletes, while our recent launch of Silver Insoles appeals to more casual athletes or weekend warriors”, stated Wasik. “2021 has proven to be our best year ever as sales are trending at close to +40% higher than year ago. More and more athletes are discovering the performance and protection benefits of VKTRY Insoles.”

Taylor added: “If a teammate asked me about VKTRY Insoles, I would tell them that this is the one product that would help them take their game to the next level. Foam insoles don’t respond or give you anything back. Wearing VKTRY’s carbon fiber insoles, the one thing I notice instantly is that extra power & explosion that they give me.”

Costacos Collection Announces Inaugural NFT Drop with Baseball Legend Willie Mays

Today, the Costacos Collection announced its inaugural drop will feature one of the most respected legends in professional sports, Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays. The 90th Birthday Celebration Drop will take place this Sunday, October 24, as an ode to Willie’s iconic number and two days before the start of the 117th World Series. For the fifth year, the MVP of the Fall Classic will be recognized as the “Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player.”

Willie will be donating all proceeds from the drop to his Say Hey Foundation’s effort to honor the people who gave him a start in life, by establishing a baseball academy for underprivileged youth where he grew up in Alabama, and to restore the historic baseball facilities at Rickwood Field where Willie started his career with the Negro League Birmingham Black Barons. Mays said, “I’ve never forgotten the people who supported me, taught me, and helped me find my way. I want every child to have the same chances that I had, and this gives me a way to do that starting in my original hometown. Rickwood was the first place I ever got to see professional ballplayers, and I want these kids to learn the game and be inspired the way I was.” Rickwood Field itself serves as a central theme of the drop’s art.

The first drop tells the story of Willie’s path to the majors, from Fairfield Industrial High in Birmingham, to the Negro American League, culminating with his move to the New York Giants with whom he would win the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951. The various edition pieces capture the key themes and statistics of those periods, and the 1/1 hero piece adds to the story with a number of never-before-seen personal documents and images from Willie’s journey – most notably, a copy of Willie’s high school diploma, in which he was assigned a career in “cleaning, dyeing, and pressing.” Willie recalls that all Black kids were assigned trade careers, while white kids “on the other side of the barbed-wire fence” were able to choose their paths and professions. Willie’s journey to becoming one of America’s most beloved sports figures and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was only possible because of baseball and the people of Fairfield and beyond who helped him chart a different path. The NFT art piece includes a voiceover in which Willie’s powerful story is told by an iconic voice of sports, Bob Costas, who will join Mays in donating to the baseball academy and Rickwood Field restoration project.

Costacos explained, “In the mid-1960s, I learned to read a box score by stealing my dad’s paper to see what magic Willie Mays had done the night before. Yet with all the historic moments in his career, Willie, the humblest GOAT you’ll ever meet, asked us to focus not on his 24 All Star Games, 2 MVP awards, World Series victory in ‘54, his 12 Gold Gloves or 660 home runs – rather, he saw this as a unique opportunity to pay tribute to his roots and earliest days growing up in Fairfield, Alabama. We’re honored to partner with the great Willie Mays and to give fans an opportunity to connect with the legend through one-of-a-kind digital art in support of the Say Hey Foundation.”

BetMGM Announces Content Partnership with Bill Burr and All Things Comedy

BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming company, announced today a content partnership with comedian Bill Burr and All Things Comedy, the leading comedy podcast network. BetMGM’s sportsbook data and promotional offers will be integrated into the All Things Comedy-produced podcasts, “Anything Better” hosted by Bill Burr and Paul Virzi, as well as into episodes of Burr’s “Monday Morning Podcast” and YouTube channel.

“You gotta have some juice on the game, otherwise what are we doing? Sitting outside eating hot dogs?” said Burr.

Burr is a top comedic voice, achieving success in TV and film as well as on stage. The comedian’s animated Netflix series F Is For Family joins Burr with actors Laura Dern, Justin Long and Sam Rockwell and is scheduled to premiere its fifth and final season in late 2021.

Burr starred opposite Pete Davidson and Marisa Tomei in the Judd Apatow film, The King of Staten Island, and stars as Mayfeld in The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. He also was just seen in a guest role on the hit FX on Hulu series, Reservation Dogs. In September 2019, he released his sixth hour-long comedy special, Bill Burr: Paper Tiger, which was nominated for a GRAMMY Award, was recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall and streams on Netflix.

Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer, BetMGM, said, “Bill Burr has one of the funniest, most distinctive and outspoken voices in comedy. We look forward to seeing BetMGM content incorporated into his Podcast and broader social channels.”

The BetMGM app is available on both iOS and Android, as well as accessible via desktop. As BetMGM continues to expand to new areas, responsible gaming education remains a key focus. BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly. For more information on BetMGM, follow @BetMGM on Twitter.

Sports Betting Startups Selected For Las Vegas Pitch Competition

Five sports betting startups have been selected to present their business plans to industry executives and investors at the upcoming Global Gaming Expo (G2E) conference in Las Vegas.

A panel of judges representing Turner Sports, NASCAR, Sportradar, and Sharp Alpha Advisors will hear pitches and conduct brief Q&A sessions before awarding prizes.

Turner Sports’ VP of Emerging Media and Innovation Peter Scott will join Sharp Alpha’s Lloyd Danzig and Sportradar’s Neale Deeley in assessing the startups. NASCAR Managing Director of Sports Betting Joseph Solosky will also join the panel of expert judges.

Prizes to be awarded include a $25,000 cash investment and a year of access to Sportradar’s accelerator program. Turner Sports will offer one founder behind-the-scenes access to a marquee sporting event hosted by the media company. One startup will win a VIP trip to Phoenix Raceway for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the opportunity to demo their product for NASCAR executives in a luxury box at the event.

The competition will feature founders from the following companies:

  • HedgePay, a B2B solution that enables any online gaming platform’s users to automatically fund their accounts using spare change round-ups
  • SharpRank, a software-based ratings agency that verifies and evaluates the performance of professional sports bettors and handicappers
  • Tallysight, a publishing platform that helps sportsbooks, media teams, and content creators monetize their sports betting audience
  • Bettor Fantasy, a platform that enables fantasy sports players to bet on their league’s matchups and outcomes
  • Juice Reel, a bet-tracking app that automatically syncs to users’ sportsbook accounts

“The quality of the applicants and judges involved in this competition is a testament to the size of the opportunity in and adjacent to sports betting,” said Lloyd Danzig, Managing Partner of Sharp Alpha Advisors and organizer of the event.

The competition will take place on Wednesday, October 6 at 3:00pm PT in the Innovation Lab at G2E, which is being held at the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas.

Conference attendees are welcome to spectate the pitch competition free of charge.

La Vida Baseball, NBC Sports Chicago Form Partnership To Expand Reach of ‘Being Guillén’

TeamWorks Media, the parent company of La Vida Baseball, today announced a new strategic content partnership with NBC Sports Chicago with ‘Being Guillén,’ La Vida Baseball’s most popular show moving to the NBC Sports Chicago lineup this month. The show will continue airing on the cable home of the White Sox through the end of 2021.

“We are very pleased with the growing popularity around ‘Being Guillén’ and this new content sharing partnership with NBC Sports Chicago helps us expand the reach of all things Ozzie and family at such a critical time of year for the White Sox and baseball in Chicago,” said Jesse Menendez, Managing Director of La Vida Baseball. “We are sure Ozzie’s stories and opinions that he and his sons bring in will make for great buzz and interesting conversation as the MLB Postseason heats up in the coming weeks.”

Guillén, the self-proclaimed “most popular person in Chicago,” with two of his sons, Ozzie Jr. and Oney focus on today’s sports happenings, as well as revisiting Ozzie’s colorful past on and off the field, especially as a member and then manager of the White Sox. From his days playing pickup basketball against Michael Jordan to his time with the 2005 White Sox World Series Championship team, ‘Being Guillén,’ will now have an expanded audience with the reach of NBC Sports Chicago.

The partnership with NBC Sports Chicago is the latest in a series of content expansion moves La Vida Baseball has introduced in the past few months. Others include ‘Locker Room Talk’, a weekly show highlighting the achievements of women and Latinas in sports hosted by Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes, ‘Pólvora, Voz & Diamante’, a high-energy Spanish language show hosted by Jesse Castillo, a two-time Mexican League MVP, Polo Ascencio, the Cardinals Spanish language broadcaster, and Mexican rock star Pliego Villarreal, as well as a Latino Heritage Month show on Chicago Cubs Marquee Sports Network.