Rovell: MLB and DraftKings Going All In on Live Betting

Rovell: MLB and DraftKings Going All In on Live Betting article feature image
Credit:

Eric Bolte, USA Today Sports.

  • Major League Baseball and DraftKings announced a deal that makes the DFS and sports betting company an "authorized gaming partner."
  • The deal will give DraftKings access to official league data and is another sign that sports leagues and sportsbook operators are going all in on live betting.

In a deal announced Thursday, DraftKings will be an “Authorized Gaming Operator” of Major League Baseball, paying the league for official data.

The deal's terms were not disclosed, but we know it will give DraftKings the right to use league and team logos on their betting platforms, both online and retail.

Getting official data from the league should increase the speed, which will also help DraftKings offer more dynamic in-game bets such as pitch-by-pitch betting, which will allow the operator to offer enhanced live-betting options to consumers.

DraftKings currently has mobile and retail operations in New Jersey and in Mississippi.

As of June 14, DraftKings had taken in almost $20,000,000 in total cash bets and had paid out more than a half-billion dollars in winnings.

DraftKings is MLB’s second authorized gaming operator. The first was MGM, which became the league’s national sponsor in November, 2018.

Sources said more standalone deals like DraftKings were expected to be inked in the next couple of weeks.

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