The NFL has officially selected the first official betting partners this season, as three online sports books will be providing its fans with odds and information. The league has entered into a multiyear agreement with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars Entertainment. The three companies will have exclusive access to NFL content, paving the way for betting content to appear on NFL Network broadcasts this fall. The NFL has not officially named the companies involved, but Genius Sports and other sports betting startups may soon follow suit.
MLB and NBA are seeking an off-the-top slice of betting handle from licensed sportsbooks. They have lobbied statehouses to achieve this, and have partnered with FOX Sports in order to make official betting data more widely available to fans. The off-the-top slice has been referred to as an integrity fee, royalty, or compensation. Depending on the sportsbook, it could cost from the low six figures to the millions of dollars a month.
Crownbet has also become the Australian Football League’s official betting partner, and nine of 20 teams in the English Premier League partnered with gaming companies last season. However, the league does not impose rules for the use of NBA logos on oddsboards. Until recently, gambling companies were banned from sponsoring NBA jerseys. Now, however, the deal between the NBA and the NFL is a way for teams to generate revenue, without compromising integrity.