The NFL is the last major American sports league to sign an official betting deal. The league has announced three sportsbooks as official betting partners, and will provide the books with data from the league’s games. These sportsbooks will also have access to league statistics for marketing purposes. Their brand names will be tied to statistics shown on television and online. The NFL may choose to opt out after two years. This is the next logical step for both sports and the betting industry.
Several sports leagues are wary of betting on their events, and have sought out ways to protect their integrity. To combat this, the PGA TOUR has implemented a comprehensive integrity program, partnering with Genius Sports and IMG ARENA to license official live scoring data to betting operators. The tour also aligns with national problem gambling organizations, including the American Gaming Association, Have A Game Plan, and the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Sportsbook operators can void bets in case of a game cancellation. For example, DraftKings requires that a game be rescheduled within 36 hours after being cancelled. Meanwhile, BetMGM requires the bet to be finalized after five innings of play, or 4.5 if the home team leads. Depending on the sportsbook, there are often other regulations and restrictions for betting on in-play events.