The PGA TOUR recently announced a three-year marketing partnership with bet365, which will become its first official betting operator outside North America. The company, based in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, will become the exclusive source of odds for leaderboards, player pages, and the TOURCast, which shows 3D renderings of each shot. It also has plans to launch a new mobile application for PGA TOUR fans.
So far, seven states have legalized sports betting. They’ve taken in nearly $8 billion in bets. Many more are expected to follow suit. The NFL has argued that legal sports betting will threaten the moral tenets of the game. This stance has been challenged by some fans, including those of the New Orleans Saints, who have been defiant in their loyalty since the league’s inaugural season.
To combat this, the NFL has signed deals with betting operators to inject gambling content into its broadcasts. In doing so, the league hopes to generate $270 million in revenue this year. Several other sports leagues have signed partnerships with betting operators. It’s unclear how long the NFL will continue to expand its gambling opportunities.
The state of Ohio has a legalized sports betting market. The state approved HB29 on Dec. 8, with online and mobile betting launching to residents on Jan. 1, 2023. The delay is intended to ensure that all operators are prepared and ready for the launch. However, sportsbooks in Ohio have started accepting registration for residents well in advance of the official launch date.