While most sports leagues have not signed official betting deals, the NFL is the last major league to announce one. The league announced that three sportsbooks will be its official betting partners. NFL betting partners get official league data, can promote their relationship with the league and tie their brands to player statistics. NFL betting partners will pay the league nearly $1 billion over the five years of the deal, which includes an opt-out clause after the third year. The league will not receive any money from the gambling deals if the NFL is not satisfied with the results.
ESPN is also incorporating theScore Bet’s daily odds updates, which will be distributed through the league’s digital and SiriusXM radio stations. Additionally, the company will have the rights to advertise on the PGA TOUR and distribute highlights to its bettors. The partnership is designed to increase the quality of coverage on the theScore apps and PGA TOUR’s website. This agreement is an extension of an existing relationship between the two organizations.
In December 2018, the NFL announced that it would expand its multi-year partnership with DraftKings, the first official sports betting operator of the NBA. DraftKings will also use the league’s trademarks and logos on their mobile sports betting app and at their physical sportsbook locations. In addition, DraftKings will receive official NBA betting data for its competition, thanks to partnerships with Sportradar and Genius Sports. A multi-year partnership between the NFL and DraftKings should ensure a more transparent and fair gambling environment for fans of the league.