SBJ Betting: The evolving user experience for fans

SBJ Betting is a website that covers sports betting. Recently, it allowed him to place his first legal bets outside of Nevada or New Jersey. He posted a perfect record.

Sports betting is still a two-screen experience. Execs from both the sportsbook and media sides are skeptical about the future of on- screen betting. Fubo went bankrupt in October.  “I find the actual action of it hard,” says Mitesh Mehta, SVP/sports betting and gaming for NBC. “People are so used to operating on their device. The second- Screen experience is how you watch sports.’

Tech and regulatory hurdles mean status quo on betting experience. FanDuel does the most in-app event streaming of any of the sportsbooks. The cost of rights fees makes it untenable for all but the fringiest sports. It's not the future for the mainstream properties. "Trying to make hundreds of decisions and navigate using a remote control just doesn't seem like it's the Future"

ESPN has no plans to take bets, but is considering licensing its brand for a sportsbook. The company has had some successful betting relationships with DraftKings and Caesars. Pitaro will have to consult with his boss Bob Iger on the matter. He believes there is upside for the ESPN business. and for its fans. It's not going to be a book. They are not taking money. But they are going be more involved in the experience. it's a more seamless experience for fans, he says. There is also upside in using the Disney brand.

FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM have not sponsored college athletic programs. Caesars has LSU and Michigan State. PointsBet has Colorado and Maryland. The only major deals were done by the end of the last academic year. There are 29 legalized states, including 11 of 14 in the Big Ten.

PointsBet is the first sportsbook to integrate the PGA Tour's full menu of in-play bets into its app. It is a result of an expansion of its deal with data distributor IMG Arena. The app will offer a range of bets including score, number of putts, distance of the longest drive and closest to the pin. Users will also get access to historic shot-by-shot data and stats for each player. PointsBet expects to multiply the number it offers by 5x in 2023. For the biggest events, it could offer as many as 35,000 "markets"

PointsBet saw its live betting on golf events increase by 25% last year. It's one of the few Tour-approved operators offering live bets on its events. About 60% of its golf handle comes through in-play. The sportsbook has gone so far as to create a tag for its in play offerings. It and IMG Arena developed the software development and integration in the summer. Its payment to IMg Arena is through a revenue share. Eric Foote, chief strategy officer for PointsBet USA, wants to be the leader in inplay betting.

October handle is outpacing September by 23%. New York, Louisiana and Kansas will open in 2022. October handle will exceed $9 billion once all states have reported.

MSG Network will produce its first-ever NHL sports betting simulcast Monday night when the Rangers host the Blues. NBC Sports Philadelphia is announcing a similar initiative with the 76ers. Churchill Downs Inc. has signed a multiyear deal with DraftKings that will bring pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing to the sports gambling company. The NBA is selectively targeting early- or growth-stage companies across a variety of sports sectors, including data and betting.

MSG Network will produce its first-ever NHL sports betting simulcast Monday night when the Rangers host the Blues.

NBC Sports Philadelphia is partnering with PointsBet on betting-themed alternate telecasts around 76ers games this season.

Bettings on UFC have been banned at Ontario sportsbooks due to integrity concerns. A fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke on Nov. 5 attracted suspicious betting patterns.

Churchill Downs Inc. has signed a multiyear deal with DraftKings. Draft Kings will bring pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing to the sports betting company.

The NBA is selectively targeting early- or growth-stage companies across a variety of sports sectors. Last year the league signed an eight-year deal with Sportradar. The deal gives SportRadar exclusivity as the provider of NBA data.