The NBA made history off the court this week when it agreed to a deal that makes MGM Resorts an official “gaming partner.” It becomes the first professional sports league to enter into a partnership with a bookmaker in the wake of May’s Supreme Court ruling that overturned a federal ban on sports gambling.
Although it’s a landmark move, the deal isn’t really loaded with benefits for either side. MGM will reportedly pay the NBA $25MM over three years, which is a small amount considering the potential windfall from legalized betting. In return, the casino gets access to league highlights, names, logos and a direct data feed. MGM can also market itself as the official gaming partner of the NBA and WNBA, and it will work with the NBA on integrity provisions, such as the prevention of fraud and game fixing.
Both sides admit they’re finding their way in this new arrangement, with Commissioner Adam Silver calling it a “leap of faith” and MGM Resorts chief executive Jim Murren referring to the deal as a “partnership of trust.” The parties already had a working relationship with Murren owning the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA.
Legalized gambling is a cause that Silver has advocated and prepared for since taking over for David Stern in 2014. He sees it as a rich new revenue source for the league and has indicated in the past that he would like the NBA to receive 1% of all dollars wagered on its games.
We want to get your opinion on the new deal. Is the NBA taking the right approach by moving aggressively into the legalized betting era and will it benefit by having a formal agreement with a sportsbook provider? Please leave your feedback in the space below.
Feels like an advertising deal more than anything else.
Prediction:D Ties will return when the NBA negotiates for profits from ties. They then discontinue all overtimes.
I am doing a prop bet in Vegas that the mob gets involved/busted for being involved in NBA gambling. People think it is the players who are most vulnerable when it is actually the referees. 11 years ago we had Tin Donaghy scandal, he was convicted & did time. I always had serious suspicions of bald headed tweerp Joey Crawford. He was suspended and it was never really explained how he forced his way back into the Association. I think he knew of more gambling involvement and kept it quiet it get his job back or blackmailed Sterno somehow. Just my theory but where there is smoke, there is fire. Refs can change the outcome of a game so easy it is pathetic. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Gambling corrupts, Legal gambling corrupts absolutely. The Temptation for big cash & door prizes is too large to be passed by. Scandal will occur someday, it is the American way.
Well I mean we already knew this after Lebron came back to beat the Pacers
Refs are at-risk for involvement, but there has been a lot of turnover in that field… Maybe because of gambling. In that case hooray for turnover!
Gambling never helps anyone or anything, so best case scenario won’t affect the league, but the greatest possibility is that is gonna have a negative impact, make no mistake about it.