Category Archives: NBA

NBA inks betting deal with Unibet, 76ers partner with Fox Bet

The National Basketball Association’s embrace of sports betting shows no sign of letting up, following new partnerships at both the league and team level.

On Monday, online gambling operator Kindred Group announced that its flagship Unibet brand had signed on as the NBA’s latest Authorized Sports Betting Operator. The deal will allow Unibet’s US-facing operations the right to use NBA trademarks across its online and mobile betting platforms, as well as gaining access to proprietary NBA data for in-play wagering purposes.

Manuel Stan, senior VP of Kindred’s US division, said his outfit “shares the NBA’s view on a legal and sustainable sports betting market, which makes this partnership a perfect match.” As with similar deals of this nature, the cost Kindred paid the NBA for this match remains a closely guarded secret.

To date, the NBA’s ever-growing gaming partnership roster includes DraftKings, FanDuel, MGM Resorts, The Stars Group (TSG), William Hill, Australian operators Tabcorp and TSG’s BetEasy, Française des Jeux, Codere and Supermatch. The NBA has also prepped its own virtual sports betting product with Highlight Games.

DraftKings the latest NBA authorized betting partner

Online sports betting operator DraftKings is the latest authorized betting partner of the National Basketball Association. On Monday, the NBA formally announced that it had signed a “multiyear” partnership with DraftKings that will allow the daily fantasy sports turned sports betting operator to use official league data for wagering purposes, as well as league trademarks […]

The post DraftKings the latest NBA authorized betting partner appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

2019 NBA draft odds: Betting props roundup

The NBA officially puts the 2018/19 season in the rearview mirror on Thursday night in Brooklyn with the 2019 draft. Expect a very busy night in terms of trades – we’ve already seen the New Orleans Pelicans send superstar Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for three young players and three draft picks. One of those picks is No. 4 overall on Thursday.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Because that trade can’t be made official until the new league year early next month, whomever the Lakers take at No. 4 overall will actually be for the Pelicans … unless the Pels have arranged their own trade of that pick, and they are shopping it.

There aren’t expected to be any surprises in the first three picks. New Orleans will take its Davis replacement at No. 1 overall in Duke forward Zion Williamson, who is considered by many the best prospect to enter the NBA since Davis was picked No. 1 overall in 2012.

2019 NBA draft odds: Betting props roundup

The NBA officially puts the 2018/19 season in the rearview mirror on Thursday night in Brooklyn with the 2019 draft. Expect a very busy night in terms of trades – we’ve already seen the New Orleans Pelicans send superstar Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for three young players and three draft picks. One of those picks is No. 4 overall on Thursday.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Because that trade can’t be made official until the new league year early next month, whomever the Lakers take at No. 4 overall will actually be for the Pelicans … unless the Pels have arranged their own trade of that pick, and they are shopping it.

There aren’t expected to be any surprises in the first three picks. New Orleans will take its Davis replacement at No. 1 overall in Duke forward Zion Williamson, who is considered by many the best prospect to enter the NBA since Davis was picked No. 1 overall in 2012.

NBA’s 76ers owner signs eSports betting partnership

Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) has found a new partner. The eSports betting operated has entered into an agreement with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) for a multiyear betting deal that will see both entities marketing their respective operations in each other’s venues. HBSE is the majority owner of several pro sports teams, including the New Jersey Devils, the Philadelphia 76ers and EPL (ePremier League) soccer squad Crystal Palace.

In addition to those entities, HBSE also owns Dignitas, an eSports organization. Through the new partnership, Dignitas will promote EEG’s peer-to-peer gambling site, VIE.gg, which is designed to serve as an eSports gambling exchange. It is a marketplace where users can bet against each other on the outcome of matches while trading in real time. Some of the games covered by the portal are Dota 2, StarCraft III, Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Dignitas was founded in 2003, making it one of the oldest eSports organizations to still be operational. Its primary base is in the UK, but owned by a US company. Despite its close ties to both countries, Vie.gg cannot offer its services in either. The site does not have a license to operate in the UK, or in any of the US states that have legalized sports gambling, but is reportedly working to change this, at least in the UK. In the US, no state has yet to introduce legislation to regulate online eSports gambling and, until that happens, Vie.gg will have to sit on the sidelines.

The eSports industry is one of the fastest growing in recent times. The past couple of years have brought tremendous success to the space, and it is expected that the amount of money wagered on eSports competitions will be at least $12.9 billion by next year. Despite its popularity – Las Vegas has its own eSports arena and high schools and universities now offer eSports curriculums – the US is dragging its feet on introducing the necessary regulatory framework.

NBA Finals Game 6 odds favor Warriors

For the first time since 2016, we have a Game 6 in the NBA Finals. The series between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors returns to Oakland on Thursday night with the Dubs as 2.5-point favorites as they look to even things up at 3-3. If they do, Game 7 would be back in Toronto on Sunday night.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

There are almost too many storylines to talk about in the wake of a dramatic Game 5. It all starts with Kevin Durant. He finally returned from a calf injury suffered in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals and looked terrific in scoring 11 points (3-for-3 from deep) in 12 minutes. The Warriors’ offense was at a different level with KD in the lineup and it was easy to see the Dubs all of sudden rallying from a 3-1 series deficit to win their third straight NBA title.

However, Durant went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon in the second quarter without contact, which not only ends his NBA Finals and potentially his Warriors career but also puts his 2019/20 season in jeopardy. Oh, and it changes this summer’s free-agent market in a big way. Obviously, the thinking now is that Durant returned too soon from his calf injury and that led to the Achilles injury. It was heartbreaking to watch, even if you root against the Warriors.

NBA forces Shaq to ditch BetOnline as podcast sponsor

Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal’s ties to online sports betting operator BetOnline has earned a rebuke from the National Basketball Association.

Since 2015, Shaq has produced an extremely popular podcast titled The BIG Podcast with Shaq, which is distributed by podcast network PodcastOne. One of the BIG show’s top sponsors is Antigua-based online sportsbook BetOnline, but that relationship is set to end now that the NBA has finally clued in to the deal.

Bookies.com reported Monday that NBA officials had become aware of the connection after ads appeared listing BetOnline as a ‘presenting sponsor’ of the BIG podcast. While the BIG show’s online promos continue to display BetOnline links, an NBA official confirmed that the league had conducted an investigation which revealed that Antigua (shock!) was not one of the 50 US states and thus BetOnline’s connection to BIG would have to end.

(For the record, the legality of Antigua-licensed online betting operators serving US customers has been upheld by multiple rulings at the World Trade Organization. The unwillingness of the US government to acknowledge these defeats doesn’t make them any less valid, particularly when the US has repeatedly applied its own domestic laws on an extraterritorial basis.)

NBA Finals: Warriors home favorites on Game 3 odds

If the crowd at Oakland’s Oracle Arena seems a little more boisterous on Wednesday for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, it’s because it likely will be the last time many of those fans can afford to see the Dubs in person.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Warriors are moving to a glitzy new arena in San Francisco next year and will have significantly higher ticket prices. Wednesday could be the penultimate game in Oakland, and the Warriors are 6-point favorites as they look to take a 2-1 series lead on the Raptors.

Probably would be easier to address which Warriors are healthy right now instead of banged up. The biggest question remains Kevin Durant, still yet to play since Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals due to his calf injury. He’s been ruled out for Wednesday night’s game.

Warriors road favorites in Game 1 of NBA Finals

The Golden State Warriors have reached a fifth straight NBA Finals, something only the Boston Celtics franchise also has accomplished, as the Dubs look for a fourth title in that span. The Toronto Raptors, meanwhile, are in their first-ever Finals, and they are 1-point home underdogs on the betting line for Game 1 on Thursday night. It’s the first-ever NBA Finals game played outside of the United States.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Raptors swept the Warriors in the regular season. The one in Toronto went to overtime, and Golden State was without both Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Meanwhile, the Dinos won by 20 in Oakland and they didn’t have superstar Kawhi Leonard in that one. Toronto never faced DeMarcus Cousins in the season series and the Warriors never faced Marc Gasol as a member of the Raptors. Actually, Toronto was 10-0 against the Warriors’ Pacific Division, the only team in the NBA this year to sweep another division.

This series could be the last in a Toronto uniform for Leonard as well as in a Warriors uniform for Kevin Durant. Both are free agents this summer and many believe both will leave – Durant to the New York Knicks and Leonard to his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. Although, one team winning an NBA title certainly may help convince one of those superstars to stay.

NBA delivers official betting data ultimatum to US sportsbooks

Sports betting operators are officially being strong-armed into paying the National Basketball Association a fee for official data or losing the opportunity to offer a proper roster of in-play wagering markets to bettors.

On Friday, EPSN scribe David Payne Purdum broke the news that US sportsbooks had received a de facto data ultimatum from Sportradar, an official supplier of NBA data to US sports betting operators in states where such activity is legal.

The letter, since obtained by Legal Sports Report, informs Sportradar’s customers that “only Authorized Gaming Operators of the NBA are eligible to receive the NBA Official Data Feed” for wagering in betting-friendly states. As of 11:59pm EST on May 28, “all Authorized Data Distributors must cease providing to you NBA Official Data” unless operators prove that they know the NBA’s secret handshake.

Earlier this month, rumors circulated to the effect that both the NBA and Major League Baseball were threatening to cut off the official data spigot unless sportsbook operators paid the price – supposedly 0.25% of betting handle on their respective sports – of becoming official league partners (the NBA’s ranks of which include FanDuel, The Stars Group and MGM Resorts).

Bucks road favorites at Raptors on Game 4 odds

The Milwaukee Bucks have yet to lose back-to-back games in this postseason and try to avoid that fate on Tuesday when they visit the Toronto Raptors in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks are 2.5-point favorites. They are also -650 on the series line with the Raptors at +425.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Toronto took Game 3 at home in double overtime Sunday, 118-112. Kawhi Leonard continued his brilliance in this postseason with 36 points, eight in the second OT. He played 52 minutes, a career high, and added nine rebounds and five assists despite a leg injury. Leonard has 10 games of at least 30 points through his team’s first 15 playoff games. That’s tied for the third most in the past 20 seasons. LeBron James had 11 of them in 2017 and Amare Stoudemire 11 in 2005.

Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 11 rebounds Sunday. Marc Gasol broke out with 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks. Gasol played so well that fellow big man Serge Ibaka was limited to 14 minutes off the bench. It has been the bench where the Raptors have been dominated, but Norman Powell came up big in Game 4 among the reserves with 19 points. The Raptors improved to 4-1 in the playoffs when Powell contributes 13 or more points.

Raptors, Blazers favored on Thursday NBA odds

The seasons are on the line for both home teams in Game 6 of the NBA‘s two conference semifinal series on Thursday night. And can we get some competitive basketball? Game 5 in each series on Tuesday was an utter blowout with zero drama.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

In Thursday’s opener, the Toronto Raptors are 2-point favorites at the Philadelphia 76ers as the Dinos look to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history. The further the Raptors advance, the likely better their chances of keeping superstar Kawhi Leonard, who is set for free agency this summer.

Leonard has been a monster in these playoffs but was a bit off in Toronto’s 125-89 Game 4 home rout, the largest margin of postseason victory in team history. Leonard was 7-for-16 overall and 0-for-4 from deep but still managed 21 points and 13 rebounds. That the Raptors won so easily without Leonard’s A+ game should worry Sixers fans.

Host Nuggets favored in Game 2 vs. Trail Blazers

The conference semifinal rounds of the NBA playoffs are televised by TNT and ABC/ESPN. Those networks paid billions of dollars each for the rights to the NBA. Thus, when the networks ask for certain things in terms of setting up the playoff schedule, the league basically does whatever they want.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

We mention this because there’s just one conference semifinal matchup on Wednesday night simply for TV reasons and it’s from the Western Conference: third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers at No. 2 Denver Nuggets. The hosts are 3.5-point favorites with a total of 218. Up 1-0, Denver is also a -240 series favorite with the Trail Blazers at +200.

One half of the storyline entering this series was that Portland clearly had the better backcourt with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum – Lillard is going to be All-NBA again this season and was magnificent in the first-round domination of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He vastly outplayed point guard counterpart and former league MVP Russell Westbrook.

Sixers, Raptors tight on NBA odds for Thursday

The second day of May on Thursday brings just one NBA playoff game with it, and it’s from the Eastern Conference: Second-seeded Toronto Raptors at No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers. The game opened as a pick’em with a total of 214 but now has Toronto at -1.5. With the series knotted at 1-1, the Raptors are -200 and the 76ers +170. When a best-of-seven series is tied 1-1, the Game 3 winner takes the series the vast majority of the time. That’s true in any sport.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

If you don’t have a dog in this fight, perhaps root for the Raptors? Those folks in the city of Toronto could use some good sporting news in the major American sports leagues. The longest drought in the NHL of reaching the Stanley Cup final belongs to the Maple Leafs, and Toronto is probably the most fanatic hockey market in the world. The Leafs were knocked out of the first round this year by the Boston Bruins.

MLB’s Blue Jays reached the ALCS in 2015 and 2016 but lost in both. The Blue Jays haven’t been to the World Series since winning a second straight in 1993. Of course, there’s no NFL team in Canada, but the CFL’s Argonauts are coming off a horrible 4-14 season in 2018.

Spurs favored hosting Nuggets on Thursday NBA odds

NBA fans and bettors had the chance of having four Game 6s in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday, but three of the series ended in Game 5 on Tuesday. The Philadelphia 76ers blasted the Brooklyn Nets to advance, and the Toronto Raptors did the same to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Out West, the Portland Trail Blazers eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thriller, 118-115 on a Damian Lillard 37-footer at the buzzer. He finished with a playoff career-high 50 points. Frankly, the only series with any drama in the entire first round, then, has been the second-seeded Denver Nuggets against the No. 7 San Antonio Spurs.

Denver can advance to face No. 3 Portland in the Western Conference semifinals with a win in Game 6 on Thursday, but the Spurs opened as 2.5-point home favorites to force a Game 7 on Saturday back in the Mile High City. San Antonio had one of the best home records in the NBA during the regular season at 32-9, while Denver was just 20-21 on the road. The teams have split two games in San Antonio this series, each winning by double digits.