After a pivotal 2018 Supreme Court ruling, sports betting went legal in numerous states and is available at many sportsbooks. Some states, however, limit the types of bets that can be placed, whether in-person or online. Those limitations have made it difficult for some people to find ways to play, even if they want to.
A new solution is on the horizon. Official betting, also known as integrated data feeds or IF feeds, will allow sportsbooks to offer more bets that aren’t just standard moneyline bets, point spreads and over/under bets. These IF feeds will allow bettors to place what are called totalizators, or flexible-rate bets, where odds change in real time based on how much money is being wagered on each result taking into account the bookmaker’s return rate.
Several sports leagues are trying to cash in on the popularity of legal betting. After striking out on their attempt to claim a cut of betting proceeds, the NFL and NBA now want to be paid for the official data they provide to gambling companies. The leagues argue that the data is a part of their intellectual property and should be compensated.
A number of sportsbooks have already signed partnerships with the NBA, allowing them to use the league’s marks and logos on their betting platforms and products. The NBA has expanded those agreements this year by naming DraftKings and FanDuel co-official betting partners, with expansive rights to integrate NBA assets throughout their sports betting and daily fantasy platforms. The NBA will also continue to collaborate with both companies on best-in-class practices for responsible gambling and player awareness and education, including social media messaging and public advocacy.