Category Archives: Fantasy Sports

Betfred USA Sports and Saratoga Casino Black Hawk Sign Agreement for Colorado Sports Betting Operations

Betfred, the world’s largest privately-owned retail bookmaker, and Saratoga Casino Black Hawk have signed an agreement to offer Sports Wagering throughout the state of Colorado.

Subject to regulatory approval, Betfred and Saratoga Casino will be opening a full sports book at the casinos Black Hawk, Colorado property, as well as offering mobile and internet betting for customers within the state of Colorado.

“We are delighted to partner with Saratoga Casino Black Hawk,” stated Mark Stebbings, Betfred Group Chief Operating Officer. “This is an exciting opportunity for both companies and we look forward to sharing our joint expertise to provide excellent service and value for sports bettors both on premise in Black Hawk and online to the people within the state of Colorado.”

Betfred has been established since 1967 and is one of the biggest sports betting brands in the United Kingdom with over 1500 retail outlets and a leading online platform. Betfred will also provide compliance, support, marketing and trading as part of the business partnership.

“We are excited to have Betfred as our sports wagering partner,” said Daniel Gerrity, President of Saratoga Casino Black Hawk. “With over 50 years of international experience in the industry, it’s a great opportunity to leverage their expertise along with the Saratoga brand to become the market leader in sports wagering in Colorado.”

National Lacrosse League And BetMGM Announce First-Ever U.S. Gaming Partnership In Lacrosse

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) today announced a landmark partnership with Roar Digital – a joint venture between global gaming industry leaders MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings – making Roar’s sports betting brand, BetMGM, the official and exclusive gaming partner of the NLL. It is the first-ever gaming partnership for the sport of lacrosse in the United States.

“We are so proud to welcome BetMGM as yet another world-class brand to our family of national partners,” said NLL Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz. “The growth of our league as a sports and entertainment property and the amount of engagement we will be able to generate through this innovative partnership with MGM Resorts and Roar Digital will be very exciting and add tremendous value to avid, casual and new fans. The like-minded vision both our organizations share will continue to increase the relevance of the NLL and draw a wider audience of fans as we continue the momentum we enjoyed over the last four seasons.”

“Lacrosse is a fast-paced, high-scoring, growing sport that presents exciting sports betting opportunities. We are greatly impressed by the management and operations of the NLL as evidenced by its strong roster of team owners,” said Scott Butera, President of Interactive Gaming for MGM Resorts. “The NLL is an ideal partner for BetMGM in accessing a fast-growing Lacrosse fan base.”

BetMGM will have commercial visibility and other promotional opportunities throughout the NLL regular season and playoffs. In addition, will create weekly betting lines distributed across all NLL platforms and channels.

Accessible via desktop and mobile, BetMGM features GVC’s state-of-the-art betting engine and technology platform. Not only can users play the traditional casino and poker games they’ve come to love, but sports fans can place an expanded range of pre-match and in-play bets with more than 100 leagues, as well as individual sports, tours and events. 

The NLL is the premier professional lacrosse league, ranking third in average attendance for pro indoor sports, with 13 teams in key markets across North America. The NLL experienced substantial growth last season with nearly a million total ticket sales, a 28 percent increase from 2017-18. Digital viewership also rose significantly through B/R Live the NLL’s streaming rights partner, showing substantial increases in total unit sales (+151 percent from last year), average unique viewers (+27 percent), and average minute audiences (+14 percent). Sponsorship revenues are projected at a 29 percent increase from 2018 into 2019.

PlayNJ.com: New Jersey Sportsbooks’ Handle Tops $4.5 Billion in 2019

PlayNJ.com

New Jersey’s sportsbooks and online casinos performed in December in much the same way they spent the rest of 2019: With new records and more growth. Retail and online sportsbooks combined with online casinos and poker to generate nearly $800 million in revenue in 2019, sending New Jersey into 2020 with plenty of momentum, according to PlayNJ.com analysts.

“Online sports betting and casino gambling should continue on or near its current growth trajectory in 2020,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayNJ.com. “Online growth will continue to be a net win for New Jersey’s gaming industry.”

New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks collected $557.8 million in bets in December, short of the record $562.2 million handle set in November, according to official reporting. December 2019’s handle was up 74.7% from $319.2 million in December 2018.

Revenue from sportsbooks reached $29.4 million, down from $32.9 million in November and up 41.4% from $20.8 million won in December 2018. December’s revenue yielded $3.7 million in tax revenue for the state.

For 2019, New Jersey’s sportsbooks combined to generate:

  • $4.6 billion in bets. Of that $3.8 billion, or 83.7%, was generated online.
  • Revenue of $299.4 million, including $244.5 million online.
  • State tax revenue of $36.5 million.

New Jersey will fall short of Nevada, which has generated $4.7 billion in bets through November, in the race to be the country’s largest legal sports betting jurisdiction.

“2019 could very well go down as the last year that New Jersey was eclipsed by Nevada,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for PlayNJ.com said. “From its proximity to the New York market to its pioneering online sports betting infrastructure, New Jersey’s positives as a sports betting market will continue to fuel its growth.”

In December, online betting generated $488.9 million, or 87.6% of the state’s handle, up from 86.5% in November. FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet continues to pace the online market, tallying $12.1 million in gross revenue, down from $12.2 million in November.

FanDuel Sportsbook at The Meadowlands lead the retail market with $2.4 million in November gross revenue.

“In addition to constant growth, one of the constants in New Jersey’s sports betting market has been FanDuel’s dominance,” Gouker said. “The brands under Resorts Digital have made it a relatively close second in the online market, but it has proven difficult to overcome FanDuel’s advantages, despite the brand recognition that comes from DraftKings and Fox Bet.”

FanHub Creates New Multisport Mobile Picks and Props Game For Buffalo Wild Wings

Flickr/ Mike Mozart

FanHub, the largest provider of casual, free to play sports-focused digital gaming platforms in the world, today announced a new multisport collaboration with Buffalo Wild Wings. The collaboration will expand upon Picks & Props, the existing game co-branded with their partner BetMGM, operated by ROAR Digital – a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holding. The platform launches as both the NFL Playoffs and the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship between Clemson and LSU come into focus. It is the second time that FanHub and BWW have collaborated on a first-class, user-friendly mobile gaming experience. The multisport Picks & Props game comes after a successful NFL-only version of the game had approximately 300,000 users this fall.

“We are pleased to be able to work with Buffalo Wild Wings and launch what we think will be the standard fan engagement platform for consumers going forward – a simple, multisport user friendly experience that will really grow interest in each day,” said Phil de Winter, Head of Business Development, Americas, FanHub. “People want to be able to have fun and build rewards that have value, and this game does all that for whatever team, league or sport you enjoy.”

“With this next phase of Picks and Props, we continue our great partnership with FanHub and press forward in building out a top tier, free-to-play experience for our guests,” said Brandon Gill, Director of Experience and Gaming, Buffalo Wild Wings. “In addition to new features and sports, we continue to build a unique and seamless experience connecting our guests to our betting gaming partner, BetMGM.”

Going all the way through the Super Bowl, Picks & Props will run daily contests on a variety of sports, offering a private jet to six games of the winner’s choice through a partnership with Wheels Up. Throughout the game, contests can be based on NFL, NBA, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball or NHL games. The multisport version of the game will also continue to have integrated odds and betting functionality for New Jersey-based users through the BWW and BetMGM partnership.

The co-branded game displays live BetMGM odds to all users so that they can make picks based on real lines and props. Users in New Jersey can place bets and get a pre-filled parlay bet slip based on their predictions.

The top weekly winners win free wings for a year that can be redeemed at any Buffalo Wild Wings location. Certain days will see the addition of a Blazin’ Bonus Question that offers users a massive amount of points if they correctly pick the underdog compared to the favorite. Scoring a perfect contest will unlock a streak points multiplier, giving users the best possible chance to get a high scoring week. The final contest will be published for the Super Bowl on February 2.

The latest partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings follows the success of similar global sporting platforms and brands, which have embraced digital games and fan experiences as an entry point for the engagement of millions of new fans. FanHub’s partners, from the NFL and Major League Baseball to the AFL and the ATP, have enjoyed a world class delivery of innovative digital sport experiences that have been seamless and beyond reproach. Even more growth for these products and more are coming in 2020.

‘YourZone’ Looks To Be The ‘RedZone’ For All Sports

Looking to follow the huge success of the NFL RedZone channel, which has revolutionized how many fans watch football, OmniView Sports introduced its “YourZone” app, which it claims will “provide real-time, personalized notifications and alerts as well as automated channel tuning to match your preferences (favorite teams, players).”

Fantasy and gaming are two natural uses for such a service, with league scoreboard and Vegas odds from major sportsbooks presented on screen.

OmniView notes on its Website that YourZone will launch soon.

From the OmniView announcement:

The YourZone app uses patented technology to process real-time data to determine excitement levels surrounding a game, you’ll now watch every exciting moment in the sports world LIVE! The YourZone app and GameChangr technology guarantees this personalized sports viewing experience – automatically or with the touch of a button on the app, GameChangr tunes your television to what you can’t and don’t want to miss!

The Cordish Companies and FanDuel Group Enter into Strategic Partnership

The Cordish Companies and FanDuel Group today announced a strategic partnership to bring FanDuel’s fantasy and sports betting operations to Cordish’s Live! Casino & Hotel and Entertainment Districts properties throughout the country.

The partnership brings together The Cordish Companies’ market leadership in the development and operation of highly acclaimed resort, casino and entertainment destinations with FanDuel’s top brand and industry-leading sports betting platform. Cordish Live! properties welcome over 55 million visitors a year and are among the highest profile destinations in the country. With over 8.5 million customers and presence across 45 states, FanDuel Group operates the biggest retail sportsbook in the world and America’s #1 online sportsbook.

“We are excited to partner with FanDuel to bring our customers the premier sports betting experience in the country, including unique promotions and sports engagement opportunities that will only be available at Live! properties,” stated Joseph Weinberg, Principal of The Cordish Companies.

“With ten decades of experience, The Cordish Companies have created the model for world-class integrated sports, gaming, entertainment and hospitality destinations,” stated Matt King, CEO FanDuel Group. “This partnership allows us to capitalize on the incredible success of sports betting to date and bring FanDuel’s top sports betting operations to Cordish destinations across the United States.”

The partnership will first come to life in Pennsylvania, where the companies plan to bring FanDuel Sportsbooks to Cordish’s Live Casino & Hotel Philadelphia and Live! Casino in Westmoreland County. The partnership will also come to life through Live! Entertainment Districts throughout the country. The companies will pursue sports betting licenses and online gaming opportunities in Maryland, Washington D.C., and other jurisdictions across the United States as sports betting expands across the country.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to Welcome Global Sports Industry Leaders to the Sports Capital Symposium

Monumental Sports & Entertainment and SportTechie today announced Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will be featured as a keynote speaker at their two-day global sports conference, Sports Capital Symposium, to be held Sept. 17-18, 2020 at the MGM National Harbor.

“Mayor Bowser is a fantastic addition to a powerful lineup of speakers for Sports Capital Symposium,” Zach Leonsis, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, said. “Over the past few years, we have been proud to watch D.C. truly become a Sports Capital, from the Capitals’ championship in 2018, to the Mystics and Nationals this year. Mayor Bowser’s participation at Sports Capital Symposium shows how important our DC sports teams are to the city and we look forward to showcasing the city and its teams to the world when the sports industry convenes at SCS in September.”

DC Sports Symposium

The annual conference will focus on new revenue models and investment opportunities, including esports, sports betting and sports content gamification. With the nation’s capital as a backdrop, the conference will include discussions about the impact of politics and government policies on sports innovation and technology, as well as investment trends and forecasting.

“There is no better place to highlight the past, present, and future of sports than here in the Sports Capital,” said Mayor Bowser. “Washington, DC is a city that has something for everyone, and with three world championships in two years, that is particularly true for people who love sports. We are grateful for all of our partners, including Monumental Sports & Entertainment and SportTechie, that are committed to building an inclusive and innovative sports community that creates jobs and opportunities for DC residents. We look forward to working together to bring the Sports Capital Symposium to the Sports Capital of the world.”

Cover Image: credit Lorie Shaull

Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack Inks Marketing Deal With Philadelphia Eagles

Keith Allison

Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack today announced that they have signed a marketing deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The deal, which includes in-stadium signage and branding, Eagles Legends appearances, email and direct mail marketing, will further enhance Caesars Entertainment’s already existing exclusive marketing deal with the National Football League. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Harrah’s Philadelphia prides itself on partnering with organizations that share our same core values and the Philadelphia Eagles are the gold standard in terms of customer service, community engagement, and on-the-field product,” said Chris Albrecht, SVP & General Manager of Harrah’s Philadelphia. “We each have passionate and loyal fan bases and we look forward to connecting with them in new and innovative ways and providing them with exciting experiences through this partnership.”

Harrah’s Philadelphia will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Eagles “Drive Summary” videoboard feature as well as the team’s “Scratch and Win” game in its mobile application. The casino will also have a branding presence in select email campaigns to the Eagles fanbase, as well as in the Eagles Pro Shop located at Lincoln Financial Field. In addition to branding opportunities, Harrah’s Philadelphia will host Eagles Legends at its entertainment complex. Casino guests will also enjoy commemorative Eagles Caesars Rewards cards, co-branded apparel and gifts and Philadelphia Eagles branded table games.

“World-class entertainment and a strong commitment to the customer experience are synonymous when you think of Harrah’s Philadelphia,” said Catherine Carlson, Philadelphia Eagles Senior Vice President, Revenue and Strategy. “This new partnership will enable us to work creatively with Harrah’s through innovative ways to further engage with Eagles fans. We look forward to offering special Eagles experiences and co-branded touchpoints with Harrah’s Philadelphia year-round.”

Earlier in 2019, Caesars Entertainment, Harrah’s parent company, inked a multi-year sponsorship deal with the NFL that allowed Caesars to provide unique experiences for fans by using its casino properties, celebrity chefs, premier music artists and a wide range of entertainment options. Caesars had the exclusive right to use NFL trademarks in the United States and the United Kingdom to promote Caesars casino properties and activate at key NFL events including the Super Bowl and NFL Draft.

More UFC Stars Join PokerStars and Launch New Octagon Chip Campaign

Williams and Masvidal attended UFC 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2

PokerStars last week announced that UFC stars Jorge Masvidal, Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Nunes are all-in for a brand new challenge as ambassadors for the world’s largest online poker site.

The three stars of the UFC will join previously signed PokerStars ambassadors Daniel Cormier, Johnny Walker and Bruce Buffer just in time for PokerStars’ and UFC’s latest Octagon Chip campaign.

The latest Octagon Chip campaign will run until January 31, 2020 and see players of UFC-themed games on PokerStars battle it out to win special Gold, Silver and Green Octagon Chips. These unlock a range of UFC prizes and thrilling experiences, with just one Gold Chip up for grabs. The lucky winner of the top prize will travel VIP-style to Vegas, meet a UFC athlete and receive a personal training session, with lots of surprises along the way. 

Derrick Williams from Sacramento, California won this summer’s inaugural competition and currently stars alongside UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal in PokerStars’ new advertising campaign, which recently hit TV screens across the UK and Canada*, and social and digital channels globally. The advertisement showcases Derrick’s journey after being awarded a limited edition Gold Octagon Chip by PokerStars and receiving a  once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience at UFC 241: CORMIER vs. MIOCIC 2, where he was made interim UFC President for the match.

The new advertising campaign will also be showcased live to thousands of fans at New York’s Madison Square Garden this weekend where Masvidal will headline UFC 244: MASVIDAL vs DIAZ. PokerStars Ambassador Johnny Walker will also be going for glory when he takes on Corey Anderson in the prelims.

PokerStars Logo

Yahoo Sports and BetMGM Announce Exclusive Partnership

Guru Gowrappan, CEO of Verizon Media and Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International announced today that Yahoo Sports has entered into a historic partnership with MGM Resorts and Roar Digital, a joint venture between global gaming industry leaders MGM Resorts and GVC Holdings, to power sports betting for Yahoo Sports and create collaborative content experiences and live events. The announcement builds upon Verizon Media’s core strategy to connect content and discovery to transactions and is a natural extension of Yahoo Sports’ mission to reimagine sports for fans with unprecedented experiences.

As part of the multi-year partnership, the integration will launch in the Yahoo Sports app in November in the U.S., with transactions to take place on the BetMGM platform. Yahoo Sports will be an official Digital Media Sports Partner of MGM Resorts.

“The historic partnership with Yahoo Sports and BetMGM will change the future of fandom, providing new ways for sports fans to go beyond engaging with content and interact through commerce,” said Gowrappan. “At Verizon Media we believe in building products that connect consumers to their passions and drive the deepest end-to-end value possible.”

“This partnership marks an important moment for BetMGM in the growing U.S. sports betting sector,” said Murren. “Integrating Yahoo’s leading fantasy sports operations and content with BetMGM’s world-class sports betting and interactive platform uniquely positions us to drive market share and large-scale adoption among sports fans.”

The experience will feature a wide variety of global sports, including the NBA, NHL, football, college sports, baseball, soccer, golf and tennis.

“As sports betting continues to transform the industry, this partnership brings together the power of two trusted partners of the NBA,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “By working together, MGM Resorts and Yahoo Sports will offer fans unprecedented ways to engage with our games.”

“The expanding sports betting landscape presents exciting opportunities to increase fan engagement and leverage emerging technologies,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “MGM Resorts, a valued partner of the NHL, along with Yahoo, a leading media brand, will connect fans to the action on the ice in new and innovative ways.”

As part of this partnership, MGM Resorts and Yahoo Sports will collaborate on an array of content experiences, exclusive live events, and more than 20 high profile major sporting and promotional marketing efforts. MGM Resorts will also distribute Yahoo Sports content across its properties and platforms. Yahoo Sports will also be hosting multiple player events at MGM Resorts properties.

“This is an exciting partnership for the BetMGM brand and Roar Digital, helping us reach the widest possible audience of engaged sports fans in the U.S.,” added Roar Digital CEO, Adam Greenblatt. “The Yahoo Sports app and digital sports content is enjoyed by 60 million U.S. users every month, while Yahoo Fantasy Football clocks 9 billion minutes of user time every year. Together we offer fans a winning combination.”

With more than 68 percent growth in U.S. Mobile App visitors year-over-year, Yahoo Sports is shaping the future of sports for fans. To learn more, download the Yahoo Sports app on iOS or Google Play.

FantasyEsports.gg and Razer Announce Global Partnership to Deliver Innovative and Rewarding Fantasy Esports Platform

FantasyEsports.gg, a global esports technology company, and Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, have announced a new partnership to deliver one of the most innovative and rewarding fantasy esports platforms to gamers around the globe.

The partnership kicked off last week with the start of the 2019 League of Legends World Championship and will provide gamers the opportunity to enter free-to-play fantasy esports contests on the FantasyEsports.gg platform using their Razer ID and win great prizes including Razer products and Razer Silver.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Razer for the League of Legends World Championships,” says Rossi Biddle, FantasyEsports.gg co-founder and CEO. “This collaboration will allow us to share our free-to-play fantasy contests with a broader audience around the globe and celebrate our shared commitment to the gaming community.”

“FantasyEsports.gg is a unique opportunity to bring esports to a larger audience and we’re very happy to extend this experience to our gamers,” says David Tse, Global Esports Director for Razer. “We hope that Razer’s partnership with FantasyEsports.gg will encourage participation by enhancing the gamer’s experience.”

Launched in 2018, FantasyEsports.gg features sophisticated performance-based scoring systems, unique contest formats, a detailed research center, interactive live experiences, and prizes from the world’s biggest gaming brands. The platform currently supports League of Legends, with Dota 2, Overwatch, and CS:GO scheduled to launch in late 2019.

Razer Silver is the only loyalty rewards program for gamers, backed by Razer. Earn Razer Silver simply by using Razer Gold to make your game purchases or participating in Razer software and services. When you rack up enough Razer Silver, you get to redeem a suite of great rewards – from Razer hardware to digital rewards such as Steam games and exclusive discount vouchers on various lifestyle brands.

Fantasy Games Market 2019 Size, Top Key Player Analysis

ReportsnReports added a latest market research report on “Global Fantasy Games Market Professional Survey 2019 by Manufacturers, Regions, Countries, SWOT Analysis, Business Intelligence, Revenue Module, Industry Growth, Research Methodology, Types and Applications, Forecast to 2024”.

Fantasy Games industry 2019-2024 research report is useful to comprehend the worldwide and provincial market circumstances and to decide how the market will develop. The report has been set up by pro players having profound learning, knowledge, attention to help each organization in this industry to accomplish their favored market position. The report gives showcase investigation from 2019-2024.

Top Manufacturer of Fantasy Games Market Include: FanDuel, DraftKings, Yahoo, ESPN, CBS, NFL Fantasy, Fox Sports Fantasy Football, and MyFantasyLeague

According to the ReportsnReports market research, the Global Fantasy Games Market Report is a full-scale exploration that assesses the world’s present rise in market structure. The Fantasy Games Market Report, which consists of a satisfying and precise framework, such as SWOT inspections, reflects a complete evaluation of the remarkable specialists on the market for Fantasy Games. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) feelings are determined for particular time periods by market reports. This will assist you to comprehend and fix the correct choices for you. The study provides a market summary that discusses briefly the market situation and the major sectors. It also cites the top players on the worldwide market for Fantasy Games. This Research Report also offers granular market share analysis, segmentation, income forecasts and market geographic areas.

Global Fantasy Games industry market professional research 2014-2024, is a report which provides the details about industry overview, industry chain, market size (sales, revenue, and growth rate), gross margin, major manufacturers, development trends and forecast.

Market segmentation, by product types:

Fantasy Football
Fantasy Hockey
Fantasy Baseball
Fantasy Soccer
Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy Car Racing
Others
Market segmentation, by applications:

Private
Commercial
Market Segmentation, By Regions:

North America (United States, Canada), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand), Middle East & Africa (Middle East, Africa), Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, C. America, Chile, Peru, and Colombia)

The Report Can Answer the Following Questions:

  1. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America market size (sales, revenue and growth rate) of Fantasy Games industry.
  2. Global major manufacturers operating situation (sales, revenue, growth rate and gross margin) of Fantasy Games industry.
  3. Global major countries (United States, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Brazil, C. America, Chile, Peru, Colombia) market size (sales, revenue and growth rate) of Fantasy Games industry.
  4. Different types and applications of Fantasy Games industry, market share of each type and application by revenue.
  5. Global market size (sales, revenue) forecast by regions and countries from 2019 to 2024 of Fantasy Games industry.
  6. Upstream raw materials and manufacturing equipment, industry chain analysis of Fantasy Games industry.
  7. SWOT analysis of Fantasy Games industry.
  8. New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Fantasy Games industry.

Sportradar Acquires Optima

Flickr/Mike Lizzi

Sportradar, the world’s leading provider of sports data and content, today announced that it has acquired the award-winning sports betting and gaming omnichannel platform business Optima, effective immediately.

Optima will extend Sportradar’s current betting services portfolio to become a full service B2B data, betting, trading and player management platform business. This will create a global ‘one-stop-shop’ technology and services business capable of offering a complete turnkey solution including a dedicated sports betting and iGaming platform supported by existing leading sports data, risk management and marketing services.

As a key part of Sportradar’s future growth strategy, the company will now offer the entire betting and gaming value chain in both established and emerging markets as they regulate.

Sportradar’s sports data and risk management services will continue to be platform-agnostic, expanding the current catalog of services to operators, with the excellent level of flexibility, support and product quality that currently is available to existing partners and customers. Existing and future sportsbook platform provider partnerships will remain unaffected and enabling bookmakers to integrate Sportradar’s services to their own in-house or third-party platform.

“This acquisition puts us in prime position to achieve our aim of becoming the world’s leading supplier of modular turnkey betting services and solutions,” said Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar. “Optima utilizes the very best-in-breed technology to provide their clients with the most advanced and flexible platforms and having a 360-degree product portfolio is a key part of our future growth strategy. We are delighted to welcome them to the Sportradar family.”

“Optima joining Sportradar is the next natural step in the achievement of our company vision. Sportradar is an organization that I have admired for a very long time, and we couldn’t be happier to be joining forces with them,” said Jacob Lopez, Chief Executive Officer of Optima. “There are numerous and evident product synergies between the two companies and it really is the perfect fit in terms of a fully integrated one-stop shop solution for sports betting and e-gaming operators around the world. We are excited about the potential of the combination of the leading trading, risk management and betting entertainment services with the leading integral omnichannel sports betting and gaming platform. We are fully committed to a common vision and will work hard to continue ensuring Sportradar also offers the leading platform services for the group.”

Pro Football Doc Launches Free Injury Analysis Subscription Service

Flickr/ KA Sports Photos

Dr. David Chao, aka the Pro Football Doc, today announced the launch of a free subscription service that provides reliable, real-time and in-depth injury insight and analysis designed to help fans make more informed fantasy, daily fantasy and wagering decisions throughout the football season.

A former 17-year head team doctor for the San Diego Chargers and board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chao has become a sought-after and dependable resource for fans and media by quickly using game video to provide an opinion on the type and severity of a player’s injury – as well as the short- and long-term impact for that athlete and his team. With a proven accuracy over 95%, these actionable insights aren’t available from teams, media or elsewhere.

“Our goal is to provide insider knowledge that fans cannot get anywhere else, give it to them in real-time, place it within the larger context and allow them to make the most informed decisions in an easy to use online platform,” Chao said. “I’m never going to tell anyone who to pick, but I will give the relevant injury information to give them an edge.”

While Dr. Chao’s Twitter feed (@ProFootballDoc) will continue to provide followers with injury insight, this new service will provide enhanced information that takes subscribers deeper. Features include:

· Weekly Injury Index™. A proprietary, in-depth match-up-based assessment of each team’s overall health, arriving at least 24 hours prior to each game. It includes breakdowns by offense and defense, as well as rushing and passing.
· Real-time analysis. Fast, thorough analysis of breaking news, including real-time alerts during games throughout the regular season and playoffs.
· Videos. On game days, a pregame video, halftime video and postgame video cover analysis of the latest injury information, helping subscribers be first to act.
· Field View. Subscribers can see a team’s health, position-by-position, on a simulated depth chart – providing quick, clear information at a glance about players and the relative health of an offense or defense.
· Player/Team Search. Easily find specific player and team analysis with an advanced search feature.
· Watch List. Functionality allows fans to set up information about specific players or teams, such as those on a fantasy roster.
· Notification. Alerts about specific players, teams, fantasy lineups or wagering interests.

Injuries remain one of the biggest unknowns in professional sports, and access to up-to-date injury insights may be the most important piece of information for fantasy and daily fantasy players. Dr. Chao uses his orthopedic knowledge and experience with NFL teams to analyze information. His video analysis technique was developed from over 17 years of studying game film after seeing a player on the field, on the sideline, in the locker room and after MRI.

The Injury Index is a proprietary grading system that incorporates the health of each team against the norm in a given week. It’s broken down into run/pass offense/defense to provide better analysis for fantasy, DFS and gambling plays.

According to research published by the NFL, there were more than six reported injuries per game from 2015-2017 that resulted in removal from participation and inability to return to play or inability to take full part in football activities following the injury. Not only are these reported injuries analyzed but also the numerous unreported injuries that can affect a team or player’s performance.

This information will become even more valuable as wagering expands beyond the 11 U.S. states currently approved, as in-game wagering takes flight and as prop wagering expands in the U.S.

IGT Propels Sports Betting Leadership with PlaySports Technology Deployments in Nine U.S. States

International Game Technology PLC continues to lead as a B2B sports betting technology provider with IGT PlaySports solution deployments in nine U.S. states. The IGT PlaySports footprint includes 30-plus sports betting venues. There are currently 13 U.S. states with legalized sports betting. The IGT PlaySports platform is powering sports betting in the following states:

  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Mississippi
  • Rhode Island
  • New Jersey
  • Nevada

IGT has also executed sports betting agreements with customers in Oregon, Arkansas and Illinois in anticipation of PlaySports solution rollouts in those states.

In addition to enabling over-the-counter retail sports betting in nine states, IGT has more than 150 self-service IGT PlaySports kiosks deployed in sportsbooks around the U.S. and is powering mobile sports wagering in Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“We put in the work to ensure that our IGT PlaySports solution was market-ready the day that PASPA was repealed – we hit the ground running last summer and never looked back. IGT is a serious player in the U.S. sports betting market because we offer a superior product, and we’re uniquely qualified to meet our customers’ needs, timelines and business objectives,” said Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital Senior Vice President. “There is no better representation of the flexibility and scalability of the IGT PlaySports platform than the diversity of customers and venues that are currently leveraging it to power their sportsbooks.”

“IGT is quickly penetrating the legal U.S. sports betting market with our PlaySports platform and enabling many of our customers to create new opportunities for growth and player engagement,” said Nick Khin, IGT Chief Commercial Officer, Gaming. “IGT’s sports betting footprint that extends across nine states is a testament to the quality and versatility of the PlaySports solution, and our team’s ability to quickly deliver and support the developing U.S. sports betting market.”

ThePlayer.com Goes Live – Targets Regulated US Sportsbetting Market

Tom Brady (Keith Allison)

Cyprus-based online performance marketing firm Multibrands Digital has successfully launched its global sportsbetting odds comparison and tipster service ThePlayer.com – and promises to create value for all “Players” in the business, both bettors and gaming operators.

Following a 3-year successful run with its Swedish product 1X2.se, Multibrands Digital has finally gone global with ThePlayer.com – much to the delight of it’s international fan base that had been patiently waiting for this move. 

Opening its doors 3 weeks ago, ThePlayer.com has already seen 30 000 visitors find their way to the site. ThePlayer.com offers users a comprehensive odds comparison service, expert betting tips, objective sportsbook reviews, in-depth sports data and statistics, a place to keep your own spreadsheet and track your game in detail, and much more. Most major sports are covered, but new ones are added on a regular basis, with eSports next in line. Sports data, odds and statistics are provided by data provider Sportradar – a global leader in its field – and integrated into the services on the site.

“Informed customers are good customers”, says Christoffer Erngren, COO of Multibrands Digital. The times of over-the-top and complex bonus offers as the main way of attracting new customers are more or less over – even more so in regulated markets. We believe the future belongs to services comparing actual product offering like markets, game types and odds, rather than campaigns and bonus offers. As well as giving the user powerful tools to keep track of and improve his or her own game.” 

User interest so far indicates a promising future. At the moment the platform boasts 3000 spreadsheets, 1000 new bets per day posted by its users and close to 10 000 registered members. The site prides itself on maintaining a high level of transparency, as this is key for the tracking of bets, spreadsheets, compiling data and measuring ROI. As an example, the site’s tipsters can’t go back and change bets they have “locked in” in their spreadsheet – adding credibility to the data and the service.

“Our tipsters are carefully selected based on verifiable track record, our data carefully curated, and our platform continuously developed and improved to provide our users with the best possible service. Our ambition is very clear, and that is to become a leader in this field, in multiple markets all over the world. Collaborating with our tipsters via their own social media channels, we are making use of the influencer marketing model, giving us great reach and traffic from a large number of countries already. We plan to focus our efforts on English speaking markets in general, and on the regulated US market in particular”, concludes Erngren. 

Multibrands Digital has recently been approved as an authorized vendor/affiliate in the state of New Jersey and is currently working with a handful of operators there. The company is also looking at other American states that have either regulated or are close to regulate online sportsbetting, for further expansion.

With a successful launch and an ambitious roadmap – including an app for AppStore and Google Play currently in the works, where users will be able to subscribe to their favourite tipsters and get notifications whenever they post new content – ThePlayer.com is firmly on its path to levelling the playing field for all “Players”. 

Spectrum Gaming Sports To Host Sports Betting USA, November 5-6 in New York

Saquon Barkley (Flickr/KA Sports Photos)

Three experts from the Spectrum Gaming Sports Group (SG2) will share their expertise in legal sports betting at the Sports Betting USA regulatory and investment conference, to be held here November 5-6.

The third Sports Betting USA will build on the unprecedented success of its previous events by offering a wide range of speakers in critical specialties who will help chart the future of sports betting in the United States.

The conference, to be held at Metropolitan West on 46th Street in Midtown Manhattan, is produced by Spectrum’s longstanding partner, Clarion Gaming, the world’s largest producer of conferences focused on the future of the global gaming industry.

SG2, a specialty unit of Spectrum Gaming Group, will be featured in several speaking and educational roles at the conference:

  • Michael Pollock, Managing Director of Spectrum Gaming Group and a principal in SG2, will speak on “Capitalizing on sports betting – what’s the true value to land-based casinos?”
  • Rob Heller, CEO of Spectrum Gaming Capital and a principal in SG2, will lead a discussion on “Where’s the money? Exploring investment opportunities in the sports betting value chain.”
  • Spectrum Gaming Capital Vice President David Isaacson, a principal in SG2, will discuss “Market sizing – understanding state values as sports betting sweeps across America.”

“The entire Spectrum team has worked with Clarion in helping develop a highly focused agenda that will put attendees in contact with recognized experts, and that will arm attendees with the insights they need to develop their own business plans,” Pollock said. “Spectrum has worked closely with Clarion for more than a decade on five continents, and we share the same core value: Providing insight to promote best practices.”

Spectrum for four years has served as Global Gaming Advisor to Clarion.

“Spectrum is at the cutting edge of identifying trends, problems and solutions for the gaming industry long before others see them,” said Rory Credland, Events Director of Clarion Gaming. “That expertise is one reason why Clarion values its relationship with Spectrum.”

Spectrum has brought its sports-betting expertise to numerous clients, including government agencies in the District of Columbia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Rhode Island, as well as to tribal governments, sports organizations and gaming operators and suppliers.To register for the Sports Betting USA conference, visit  https://www.sportsbettingusaconference.com/

FOX Sports Super 6, Free-to-Play Sports Prediction Game, Launches

FOX Sports Super 6, a free-to-play sports prediction game that offers players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash each week, launches nationwide today.

Fans can enter multiple contests each week, with jackpot prizes up to $250,000 in cash. To play, users simply choose who they think the winning team will be and the corresponding margin of victory within predefined ranges or answer six multiple-choice questions, giving them a chance to split thousands in guaranteed cash prizes. 

FOX Sports Super 6 offers a variety of ways for football fans to play throughout the season, and will be offering two NFL games and a college football game at launch:

Super 6 NFL Sunday

To play, fans will select the outcome and margin of victory of six upcoming NFL Sunday matchups. Players who correctly select all six picks could win up to $250,000. If no player correctly selects all six picks to win the $250,000 jackpot prize, there will be smaller guaranteed cash prizes.

TNF Super 6

FOX Sports Super 6 is also offering up to $25,000 in guaranteed prizes for each TNF Super 6 game. To play, fans will answer six multiple choice prediction questions about the upcoming Thursday Night Football game, across the 13-game TNF schedule across FOX and NFL Network. The $25,000 in guaranteed cash prizes will be divided among the players who select the most correct answers.

College Football Saturday Super 6

For each Saturday of college football, fans can play by picking the winning team and by how many points (e.g. Texas by 10 to 14 points). There is a jackpot prize available each week with thousands guaranteed to be paid.

Mark Silverman, President, National Networks, FOX Sports said: “FOX Sports Super 6 brings our unique and entertaining Fox attitude and our unrivaled talent to this fun free-to-play game. The FOX Sports Super 6 app will heighten the excitement of watching live sports while simultaneously deepening our viewers’ engagement with our brand.”

FOX Sports Super 6 anticipates adding more sports, with basketball slated to start in October.

“These awesome free-to-play games will get fans closer to the sports they love, competing against FOX Sports stars to win huge prizes,” said Robin Chhabra, Chief Corporate Development Officer, The Stars Group. “The FOX Sports Super 6 app offers a quick, simple and fun experience that we think sports fans here will love, just like they do in other countries where we run them.”

The FOX Sports Super 6 app is now available for download in the App Store and the Play Store.

DraftKings Sportsbook Arrives in West Virginia

(PRNewsfoto/DraftKings)

DraftKings Inc. today debuted its Sportsbook app for sports fans in West Virginia. The platform previously made history in New Jersey as the first mobile, online and legal betting offering outside of Nevada. The official launch of the DraftKings Sportsbook in West Virginia, the second U.S. state where the product is accessible, follows DraftKings’ licensing agreement with Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) in December 2018, and marks a pivotal next step for national expansion of the product.

“We are thrilled to continue our DraftKings Sportsbook expansion by getting our product into the hands of West Virginians,” said Matt Kalish, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at DraftKings. “We look forward to serving our fans with the top-rated DraftKings Sportsbook app, that features numerous consumer protection features and strives to provide the broadest selection of betting options with the best odds and rewards in West Virginia. DraftKings knows the American sports fan better than anyone, and we look forward to proving that in the Mountain State.”

Having paid out more than $720 million to customers in New Jersey, expansion of the DraftKings Sportsbook app to West Virginia is the latest move in the company’s commitment to providing the best and most enjoyable mobile sports betting product for consumers nationally. Fans in West Virginia will have the opportunity to seamlessly transition between the DraftKings Sportsbook app and the DraftKings Fantasy app to engage with their favorite major and niche sports worldwide.

“We are pleased to help welcome DraftKings to West Virginia,” said John Finamore, Sr. Vice President of Regional Operations at Penn National Gaming. “They provide a quality online sports betting experience that will benefit their customers and the state.”

Sports fans in New Jersey and West Virginia can place their bets on the DraftKings Sportsbook app via iOS and Android or online at Sportsbook.DraftKings.com.

Report: Fantasy Sports Market To Reach More Than $1.5 Billion By 2024

Credit: Keith Allison

The fantasy sports market size is expected to reach more than $1.5 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of more than11% during 2018–2024.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05806366/?utm_source=PRN

Increasing strategic collaborations and partnerships with diverse stakeholders, growing advertising and marketing spend, and rising interest of millennial are the major factors responsible for the increased growth of the fantasy sports market.
A major factor driving the growth of the fantasy sports business is the rise in the number of sporting events organized worldwide. The urge to participate in a sport event rather than view it has raised the bar of the market significantly. Technological advancements, coupled with the availability of streaming partners, are further driving the fantasy sports market.

The growing popularity of OTT platforms is expected to augur well for the fantasy sport segment. The OTT sports experience is set to observe innovation, which is mainly driven by fantasy sport business. Fantasy sport and OTT platforms have become an apt match for the overall entertainment business. With the growth in streaming service providers and digitalization, fantasy sport is expected to receive a major boost.

This research report on the fantasy sports market covers market sizing and forecast, market share, industry trends, growth drivers, and vendor analysis. The market study includes insights on segmentation by sports (football, soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, cricket, and other fantasy sports), gender (male and female), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Latin America, and MEA).

The study considers the present scenario of the fantasy sports market and its market dynamics for the period 2018?2024. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study covers both the demand and supply sides of the market. It also profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent companies operating in the market.

Fantasy Sports Market: Segmentation

This market research report includes a detailed segmentation of the market by sports, gender, and geography. The worldwide popularity of football is a major reason for the highest share of the fantasy football segment. The segment captured around half of the fantasy sports market in 2018. The extensive fan engagement is another a major factor that is driving the fantasy football market segment. Strategic partnerships and the launch of supporting products across fantasy platforms have raised the standards of fantasy basketball in major playing countries.

As men have historically been receptive to sports and outdoor games, the male segment accounts for the highest share in the fantasy sports market by gender. However, over the last few years, the female population in fantasy sport has witnessed a reasonable surge. The growing number of women-centric sports events and the increasing awareness about games among womenfolk are the factors boosting market growth of female sports segment.