It’s no secret that the NBA’s direct feed has made a splash amongst bookmakers. But what is the official NBA betting experience? The answer lies in two of the most recent partnerships between NBA teams and gaming entities. These deals, which have been in the works for quite some time, will make it possible for players to wager on their favorite franchises at a number of online and mobile sportsbooks.
In addition to the deal between the NBA and MGM, the league has also struck a number of other partnerships. This includes a three-year extension with FanDuel that will allow the aforementioned service to use the TOUR’s trademarks and logos on its oddsboards and on its social media pages. Moreover, the aforementioned agreement with the PGA TOUR enables the latter to provide live scoring data to its fans.
While the NBA’s direct feed is no doubt a boon to fans of the league, in-play betting is the future of the game. Currently, in-play wagering represents about 70 to 80 percent of all bets in mature markets. Unlike pre-game betting, there are no restrictions on where to place in-play bets. However, this is a relatively small market and in-play wagers are most often placed at Nevada sportsbooks. If you aren’t a fan of the state’s sports betting offerings, you might want to try out a different jurisdiction.
Similarly, the PGA TOUR has a number of partnerships to its credit, including a multi-year partnership with Genius Sports. During this time, the TOUR instituted a robust integrity program and partnered with IMG ARENA to license the official scoring data. Nevertheless, it’s the ol’ fashioned horse racing that has been the backbone of Texas culture for decades. Aside from horse racing, only two other legal forms of retail gambling are permitted in the Lone Star State, with the exception of casinos and race tracks. Despite these limitations, the state has seen a healthy boost in wagering on golf and other sports over the past couple years.
In addition to the NBA’s new partnership with MGM and the PGA’s collaboration with FanDuel, the NFL and Caesars Entertainment have also announced multi-year deals with the same three companies. Of course, these are just the beginning. Eventually, the NFL will designate its own official sports betting partners, and other sports leagues will follow suit. Until then, it’s still too early to tell what the future holds.
In the end, the most important part of the NBA and PGA TOUR’s new official sports betting deal is that it opens the door for players to wager on their favorite franchises in more places than ever before. For Texans, that means that you can download iOS sports betting apps from the Apple App Store. Additionally, some of these apps might offer special promotions or limited-time bonuses geared to mobile users. Those looking for a plethora of options may want to look at Betfair or Bovada. Both sites have over 30 years of experience under their belts, so they are sure to have something to offer.