The NBA has officially embraced sports betting.
The league announced Tuesday that it has aligned with MGM Resorts International in a partnership that will make MGM the NBA’s official gaming partner. The NBA is leading the way in embracing Sports Betting by becoming the first major professional sports league in the United States to do so.
“As the landscape for sports betting in the U.S. continues to evolve at a rapid pace, MGM Resorts is a proven gaming leader for us to work with on this groundbreaking partnership,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “Our collaboration will result in the best possible gaming and entertainment experience for consumers through the use of accurate, real-time NBA and WNBA data, and our collective efforts to maintain and enhance the integrity of our games.”
The partnership also allows MGM to use official NBA and WNBA data and branding, including team logos, “across MGM Resorts’ land-based and digital sports betting offerings” around the country. In turn, MGM will be promoted “across the NBA’s digital assets,” including NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA app and the NBA’s social media platforms
The value of the agreement has not been officially disclosed, but early reports suggest its value to be “at least” $25 million over three years. Which feels very cheap and this is a fabulous partnership for MGM. This is a massive movement and step forward for the Sports Betting industry, gaining the trust and respect of the National Basketball Association says that sports betting is here to stay and in a big way.
The MLB had previously warned organizations to not advertise or align with sports betting in the short term which put some doubt in the minds of the industry and its stakeholders. That doubt is now gone and expect States and other organizations to move forward quickly.
Sports betting has now been legalized in Delaware, New Jersey and Mississippi. Those states joined Nevada with more states planning to follow suit.
