The world’s most popular basketball league — the National Basketball Association (NBA) — has agreed to a multi-year deal with DraftKings to become its authorized sports betting operator.
This season marks the first time that DraftKings would be using official betting information that would be coming from the NBA as well as league marks all over the United States through its mobile platform and sportsbooks.
In addition, DraftKings and the NBA would be working to produce and endorse practices that would safeguard the integrity of the games. This collaboration would allow DraftKings to hone its NBA wagering category within its sports betting offering. At the moment, basketball ranks as one of the most popular sports among the brand’s customers.
DraftKings Sportsbook witnesses more live betting on NBA games than any other sport, with statistics showing that 70% of bettors of NBA games having placed live wagers. Nearly 45% of the NBA handle comes from in-play betting.
DraftKings chief business officer Ezra Kucharz said the NBA league’s advocacy of legal sports betting is proof of its “consistent foresight to innovate” to help augment the fan experience. He also said:
“We look forward to the opportunities that being an Authorized Gaming Operator of the NBA will unlock for customers.”
Senior vice president and head of Fantasy & Gaming for the NBA, Scott Kaufman-Ross, commented that the NBA is thrilled to partner with DraftKings. Ross added that the partnership would give basketball fans with “an authentic and enhanced gaming experience” while helping the league to further guard the integrity of the games.
The deal with DraftKings is one of a number of agreements that took place just this month. Reports have indicated that the league also signed Tabcorp as their official sports betting partner in Australia. The multi-year agreement would allow Tabcorp to utilize the NBA logo in its advertising campaigns as well as across its social media channels.
Sky Channel, Tabcorp’s television offering, would also be able to offer NBA TV. More than 4,400 of the company’s sites in Australia would now have access to the network.
The NBA also inked a deal with William Hill, which is a top sportsbook operator in the United States and overseas, designating the company as an official betting partner.
