NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced on Tuesday that the league has reached a deal with MGM Resorts to make the company its official “gaming partner,” according to reports from The Associated Press and Darren Rovell and David Purdum of ESPN.com.
MGM Resorts will pay the league for official data, which will be used in determining outcomes of bets. MGM will also gain the ability to use NBA highlights, names, logos, and the league’s direct data feed. Plus, MGM will be able to market itself as the official gaming partner of the NBA and WNBA.
According to Rovell and Purdum, industry sources say the three-year agreement will be worth over $25MM.
The partnership arrives in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that overturned America’s federal ban on sports gambling. While most states have yet to take formal steps to legalize sports betting, more and more states are expected to do so in the coming years. MGM’s sports betting app will be available in states that approve online sports betting.
While the agreement won’t stop other gaming companies from taking bets on NBA games, the direct data feed from the league figures to improve the live-betting product for MGM, since the company won’t have to rely on third-party data.
Silver and the NBA have talked in the past about wanting to institute an “integrity fee” on legalized sports gambling, which would give the league a small percentage of the money bet on its games. It’s not clear if the NBA’s agreement with MGM features any such fee, per ESPN’s report. The idea of an “integrity fee” has been strongly opposed by bookmakers and state legislators.
Personally I don’t like the involvement of betting with the league, just nothing to do with each other. The league puts a product, if people wants to bet is up to them, though I don’t agree with betting. But should keep separate, don’t see how the league can get money & their integrity not been in doubt.
I don’t know why the casino would pay for information that’s freely available through many outlets.
Whatever. If you’re a bettor, you can still shop for the best lines. And the best lines are usually at offshore on line sites.
I bet organized crime gets involved with this.
Better monetization then advertizing on jerseys. Which is not a high standard.
Integrity fee… just silver showing his communist/socialist roots…