It is no secret to anyone that one of the fundamental elements of sports betting is players’ and teams’ data.
For example, bettors consume a large amount of data to determine their betting moves and create winning strategies.
In 2015 the NFL signed a $ 5 million annual agreement with Sportradar. So that they could distribute league stats to betting operators.
But it seems that the NFL wants more money for the rights. Since the betting market is growing and the league wants to get the most out of it.
The Race for Data
Currently, Sportradar, Genius Sports, and IMG Arena are the three companies chasing the rights to distribute NFL data.
But Sportradar has the upper hand due to the 6-year relationship it has had with the NFL.
What remains to be seen is whether Sportradar is willing to pay the $ 250 million that the NFL intends to charge for the exclusive rights to sell the data.
Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is willing to explore all options to take advantage of legal sports betting.
“We’re going to find ways to engage fans through legalized sports betting,” Commissioner Goodell said.
“But we’ve retained those rights and we’re going to look to see where those opportunities lie and how we’ll be working with our network partners. But we fully expect that they’ll be engaged in all of our activities going forward. ”
The Importance of Data
League data is crucial for sports betting operators as it is used to create odds and determine payouts.
For this reason, operators need timely and accurate data on players, teams, and games.
The NFL’s move could drive the price of data up, forcing sportsbooks to spend more money to get the data that oddsmakers need.
How Does it Affect Pay Per Head Bookies?
Pay Per Head bookies should not worry too much about this situation since if they have a good Pay Per Head provider, they have them covered.
The best Pay Per Head companies have agreements with data companies. And are prepared to make the necessary investments to guarantee their services’ continuity.
Simply put, this NFL move will not have a direct effect on Pay Per Head bookies.
However, it shows the importance of having a good Pay Per Head ally. It would be very difficult for an independent bookie to face the costs and negotiations necessary to secure the leagues’ data.
