Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

Bettman, NHL announce sports betting partnership with MGM Resorts

By @StefanKubus – 

The National Hockey League is officially entering the world of sports betting.

Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league has entered into a multi-year partnership with MGM Resorts, just three months after the sports book entered into a similar agreement with the NBA.

“The new sports betting landscape presents a unique opportunity for fan engagement utilizing technology and data that are exclusive to our League,” Bettman said in a press release.  “As a leading global gaming operator and entertainment company, MGM Resorts is the perfect partner for us to begin our transformative entry into this space. Fan engagement, technological advancement and innovation are paramount to our progressive approach and will be at the forefront of everything we do.”

As part of the agreement, likely in order to set odds, MGM will have access to league intellectual property (logos and the such), as well as “advanced game data” that could later include things like player and puck tracking, according to Bettman. The system is expected to roll out for the 2019-20 season.

Access to this data will allow MGM Resorts to provide its customers with specialized NHL game insights, as well as unlocking new and innovative interactive fan engagement and betting opportunities for its U.S. customers wherever legally available.

As part of the deal, the NHL will not receive a cut from any wagered money, though fixed revenue from the MGM partnership will be considered “hockey-related revenue” and shared 50-50 with the NHL Players’ Association.