• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

DraftKings Becomes First Standalone Authorized Gaming Operator Of MLB

Expansion of in-game offerings appears to be main factor in driving partnership

Matt Rybaltowski by Matt Rybaltowski
July 25, 2019
in Industry
(DK Sportsbook)

(DK Sportsbook)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

DraftKings announced a multi-year agreement Thursday to become an Authorized Gaming Operator of Major League Baseball under an expanded partnership that will likely have significant ramifications for the spread of in-game wagering on the sport.

As real-time betting proliferates nationwide, DraftKings’ ability to leverage live and in-game wagering options appears to be a key driver of the partnership. By becoming an Authorized Gaming Operator of MLB, DraftKings will gain access to official MLB betting data, as well as rights to use MLB marks and logos within its sports betting products.

DraftKings becomes the first standalone Authorized Gaming Operator (AGO) of the league. Terms of the deal were not announced.

Today, @DraftKings expands our partnership with @MLB to become an Authorized Gaming Operator. Full press release is here: https://t.co/8CmEgH2MU9

— DraftKingsNews (@DraftKingsNews) July 25, 2019

β€œDraftKings is proud to be designated as a Major League Baseball Authorized Gaming Operator,” DraftKings Chief Business Officer Ezra Kucharz said in a statement. β€œThis deal speaks to the commitment we have to our customers and sports leagues alike while providing the safest and most entertaining American-made sportsbook. As a result of this agreement, our customers will experience enhanced live wagering offerings for all MLB games.”

The announcement comes as little surprise to industry insiders who have closely followed MLB’s inroads into sports betting in recent months. During a media briefing last month in London, MLB executive Kenny Gersh noted that the league was on the verge of securing partnerships with both DraftKings and FanDuel.

MLB: Operators not using official data β€œwon’t last long – https://t.co/hhsTdq56Ol by @BradAllenNFL #sportstech

— Simon Ogus (@SimonOgus) July 3, 2019

Sign Up For The Sports Handle Newsletter!
I also want to receive information and offers about online sportsbooks (eg. odds boost, welcome offers)

Unique in-game markets

While in-game wagering on MLB contests figures to grow exponentially following the deal, it remains immediately unclear how the league’s high-speed, automated Statcast platform could play a role in the AGO program.

At first glance, DraftKings’ deal with MLB may increase the likelihood that AGOs of the league could begin to offer pitch-by-pitch wagering in real time. Imagine a scenario if Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is facing New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in Game 7 of the World Series. The bet types could allow fans to wager on whether Kershaw’s next pitch will be a ball or a strike.

MLB’s Statcast tool expands the possibilities even further. Proprietary technology from Statcast could enable bettors to wager on whether Kershaw will throw a slider, fastball, or curveball. The bettors may even be able to risk money on if Kershaw’s pitch will exceed a certain velocity such as 95.5 miles per hour.

The technology, however, still needs to be field tested by state gaming laboratories and will need to clear some regulatory hurdles before it hits the market. Nevertheless, exotic prop betting based on data compiled by MLB’s Statcast technology could be available at this time next year, MGM President Of Interactive Gaming Scott Butera told Sports Handle this spring.

Last November, MGM Resorts announced a multi-year deal with MLB that designated the company as the first official gaming partner of the league. Beyond DraftKings’ partnership, FanDuel and The Stars Group could be next in line to join the league’s AGO program based on Gersh’s comments in June.

MLB’s promise of reliable data

Earlier this spring, Sports Handle obtained a six-page document disseminated by MLB that outlines the advantages of joining the league’s AGO program. Among the benefits include the right to purchase MLB Betting Data from the league’s authorized data distributors that offer “seamless integration with MLB’s best-in-class technology,” according to the proposal. The feed is “sourced and delivered using streamlined procedures direct from the ballpark, reducing latency and improving market uptime,” the proposal adds.

In many respects, the partnership represents a breakthrough for MLB. For months, the league struggled to add direct licensees when several deadlines passed without new partners aboard. One MLB executive took his road show to Las Vegas in an effort to pitch the AGO program to a number of prominent sportsbooks. The league’s attempts to collect royalty fees for official data, in the absence of statutory mandates, could be legally challenged on the basis that MLB may not own intellectual property rights with the data, according to a leading U.S. intellectual property attorney.

The agreement between DraftKings and MLB signals the league’s vision in integrating official data with current technological advances, according to the company. The expanded partnership also underscores MLB’s ability to align with consumer behavior and the technological curve, DraftKings adds.

MLB, meanwhile, appears encouraged by DraftKings’ track record in driving fan engagement when it comes to immersive experiences.

“Buoyed by our collective commitments to drive innovation in the U.S. sports betting marketplace, the tools provided to DraftKings β€” including fast, rich, and reliable data feeds and MLB brand marks β€” will be central to creating these powerful new ways to consume and connect with our sport,” said Gersh, MLB’s executive vice president of gaming and new business ventures.

Most recently, DraftKings, in combination with other Resorts Digital sites, generated nearly $2.7 mm in online sports betting revenue in New Jersey for the month of June. Resorts Digital’s year-to-date revenue of approximately $29.4 mm, in combination with FanDuel/PointsBet’s revenues from online sports betting in 2019 so far, represents around 82.9% of the Garden State’s online market.

ShareTweetShare
Matt Rybaltowski

Matt Rybaltowski

Matt is a veteran writer with a specific focus on the emerging sports gambling market. During Matt's two decade career in journalism, he has written for the New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian, Reuters and CBSSports.com among others. In his spare time, Matt is an avid reader, a weekend tennis player and a frequent embarrassment to the sport of running. Contact Matt at [email protected].

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only.

Related Posts

George Rose/Getty Images
Industry

Sportsbooks Ratchet Up Targeted Advertising At Start Of NFL Season

September 22, 2023
fanduel promo code design with malachi corley of western kentucky
Promotions

FanDuel Kentucky Early Sign-Up Promo Earns $100; Bet $5, Get $200 in Mass., Ohio, New York, All Other States

September 21, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

hard rock guitars hotel lobby

Mobile Sports Betting In Florida At Least A Few Weeks Away, And Probably Much More

September 19, 2023
Getty Images

Will Prohibet Provide One-Stop Shopping For Detection Of Sports Betting Infractions?

September 14, 2023
have-a-game-plan-bet-responsibly-screenshot

Bettors Know All About Responsible Gambling, But Most Don’t Use Tools

September 12, 2023
nfl logo football

Schuetz: Football Is Back β€” Forget Everything You ThinkΒ You Know About Betting

September 6, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Sports Betting in Kentucky

Kentucky Sports Betting – Pre-Launch Offers & Best Legal Sportsbook Apps for 2023

by Dukes Wooters
September 22, 2023

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – All Online Sportsbooks, Bonus Offers, and News 2023

by Brian Pempus
September 22, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
September 6, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
September 1, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
September 6, 2023

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps 2023

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Lottery
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright Β© 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Ohio
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetMGM Bonus Code
    • Bet365 Bonus Code
    • Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code
    • ESPN BET Promo Code
    • Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code
    • BetRivers Promo Code
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News