Tuesday, July 2, 2019 – A roundup of some of the key sports technology stories you need to know, including SportTechie’s own content and stories from around the web
- VSiN’s ‘Follow The Money’ Show to Air on MSG Networks: The Vegas Stats & Information Network has announced a partnership with MSG Networks to run VSiN’s sports betting content on the New York sports network. VSiN’s gambling show Follow The Money will air every weekday, 1-4 p.m. ET. The first show aired on Monday. VSiN’s sports betting content will also live stream on the MSG Go streaming app. VSiN previously struck a similar deal with NESN, the New England regional sports network, in March.
- Minnesota Vikings Owners Buy Call of Duty Esports Franchise: WISE Ventures has agreed to buy a Minnesota-based franchise in the Call of Duty esports league. WISE Ventures is the investment arm of the Wilf family, which owns the Minnesota Vikings. Media personality and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk has joined the ownership group and also invested in the team. The franchise will host day-to-day operations at the Viking Lakes office facility in Eagan, Minn., near the Vikings’ HQ, but will operate as a separate organization. “We have explored various opportunities in esports over the past few years, and we believe the new Call of Duty esports league is well positioned for long term success,” said Jonathan Wilf.
- Online SportsBook PointsBet Partners With Hawthorne Racecourse: PointsBet has announced a 20-year partnership with Hawthorne Racecourse near Chicago. The state of Illinois legalized sports betting last month with a bill that grants casinos an 18-month head start on entering the mobile gaming market. PointsBet and Hawthorne plan to open a retail sportsbook on-site at Hawthorne, and this deal will also allow PointsBet to launch its mobile betting app in Illinois. PointsBet will also launch retail betting establishments at betting locations throughout the state.
- DraftKings Close to Buying SBTech Betting Company: DraftKings is reportedly close to buying the online sports betting company SBTech, according to Legal Sports Report. SBTech maintains several international offices and employs more than 1,000 people. DraftKings may well be interested in SBTech’s sports betting platform, which is capable of live streaming sports in-app. The timing of the deal comes as DraftKings prepares for sports betting expansion into states such as Iowa, Tennessee, Illinois, and Indiana.
- B/R Live Will Stream Liverpool FC Preseason Games: Turner Sports has reached an agreement with Liverpool FC to broadcast three upcoming pre-season games in July. All three games will be live streamed on Turner’s B/R Live streaming service, with two of the games also airing on TNT. The three matches will take place at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana, Fenway Park, and Yankee Stadium. “Our first year of UEFA Champions League coverage across TNT and B/R Live was a tremendous success and we’re looking forward to driving additional reach and engagement with Reds content across all of our platforms,” said Tina Shah, EVP and GM at Turner Sports, in a press release.