Major League Baseball has struck a deal with FanDuel, and it is going to change the sports betting industry in the United States. FanDuel will become the authorized gaming operator of Major League Baseball. This deal will now give FanDuel the right to use logos and trademarks, but, more importantly, it will be able to use official league data.
Both companies have announced and confirmed this multi-year partnership that will have a huge role in daily fantasy sports and baseball lines for Major League Baseball games. This is the first time that FanDuel has reached an agreement with Major League Baseball or any individual professional baseball team.
Even though this is the first time that FanDuel has reached an agreement with MLB, this isn’t the first time that Major League Baseball has struck a similar deal. Major League Baseball signed a deal with MGM Resorts International that allowed them to be the official gaming partner.
Major League Baseball began sharing advanced stats with MGM Resorts in 2018, and they also worked on protecting the integrity of the game as well. DraftKings was also able to strike a deal with Major League Baseball earlier this season, and it is very similar to the one just signed by FanDuel.
Bad History
Major League Baseball has been hesitant to get involved in the sports betting industry due to a few gambling scandals that have rocked the sport. Pete Rose remains banned from the game due to his betting on baseball while both playing with and managing the Cincinnati Reds. The 1919 World Series also featured the “Black Sox Scandal,” that has kept “Shoeless” Joe Jackson out of the Hall of Fame as well.
The biggest reason that Major League Baseball reached an agreement with FanDuel is because of money. Sports betting companies are willing to pay top dollar to partner with professional sports leagues and teams, and Major League Baseball was able to take advantage.
Keeping Up
FanDuel couldn’t let its top competitor, DraftKings, be the only one with official league data, and this will close the gap between the two companies.
FanDuel is most known for its Daily Fantasy Sports contests, but it does have several retail sportsbook locations across the country. This new deal will allow it to increase the amount of in-play wagering that can be done on Major League Baseball games.
Sportsbooks will have real-time access to all of the data, allowing them to set the lines in a way to make some money. In-play wagering, or live betting, is one of the most popular forms of betting at this time and continues to grow with each day.
Even though FanDuel was just able to break into the baseball market earlier this week, it is no stranger to striking deals with professional teams. FanDuel currently has a deal with the National Basketball Association as well as with the Brooklyn Nets.
The New Jersey Devils have also partnered with FanDuel to provide them team-approved data. The next step for FanDuel will be trying to strike a deal with the NFL, while MLB will continue to seek out new sports betting partners.