The NBA has announced a historic sports betting partnership with MGM Resorts International, making the Las Vegas casino and resort company NBA’s official gaming partner.
This announcement marks the first time a North American sports league has struck a business-to-business deal with a sportsbook provider and the agreement could open doors for other leagues to make similar partnerships.
According to ESPN, MGM now has the exclusive rights to the NBA league and team logos, as well as game statistics, the title of being the NBA and WNBA’s “official gaming partner” and access to the official league data feed, which MGM will reportedly use for live in-game betting.
Reports suggest that the deal, worth $25 million, will last for three years. Meanwhile, the NBA’s logos, names and highlights will soon be appearing on MGM’s sports betting app and the sports league will begin promoting MGM Resorts across its digital platforms.
Speaking about the deal, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “As the landscape for sports betting in the US continues to evolve at a rapid pace, MGM Resorts is a proven gaming leader for us to work with on this groundbreaking partnership.
“Our collaboration will result in the best possible gaming and entertainment experience for consumers through the use of accurate, real-time NBA and WNBA data, and our collective efforts to maintain and enhance the integrity of our games.”
Meanwhile, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren said: “The NBA has always been an innovator at the forefront of sports evolution, and MGM Resorts is thrilled to partner with the league to revolutionise sports betting in the United States. Integrating the NBA’s assets and having official NBA data showcased across the MGM Resorts platforms will provide us with a distinct advantage and instill more confidence in knowing that our data is directly from the NBA.”
The deal will not prevent people from betting on the NBA and WNBA at non-MGM properties as fans will still be able to make bets on the NBA wherever they choose. The news comes after the Supreme Court ruled in May that the federal ban on sports betting was “unconstitutional”. The move legalised sports betting in New Jersey and opened the door for other US states to legalise sports betting too.
