The NBA has made yet another connection within the booming US sports betting industry, this time with Unibet and the Kindred Group. The Philadelphia 76ers also got into the gambling business recently, partnering up with Fox Bet.
Unibet is the newest Authorized Sports Betting Operator of the NBA. The deal allows the bookmaker to use NBA trademarks on its online and mobile wagering platforms and also grants access to proprietary league data for live betting markets.
Manual State, senior vice president of Kindred’s US division, said that Unibet “shares the NBA’s view on a legal and sustainable sports betting market, which makes this partnership a perfect match”.
As with the NBA’s other sportsbook partnerships, the amount Kindred paid to be an authorized operator was not disclosed. Unibet joins an ever-growing list of bookies and developers that have joined forces with America’s top basketball league, including William Hill, FanDuel, DraftKings, the Stars Group, and Highlight Games.
While pro sports leagues are making ties with the emerging US gambling industry, so too are a number of franchises within those leagues. It was recently announced that the Philadelphia 76ers penned an agreement with Fox Bet that will see the bookie become a presenting partner for the team’s radio broadcasts and various social media channels. Fox Bet will also have displays at Philly’s home arena, the Wells Fargo Center.
The Fox Bet partnership is not the Sixers’ first foray into the gaming and wagering industry, as they also have deals with Caesars Entertainment and Pennsylvania’s Parx Casino. They also ventured into the eSports business back in June when they struck a deal with the Esports Entertainment Group and its peer-to-peer wagering website. The 76ers have had partnerships with the gambling industry since 2014 when they signed a deal with the New Jersey-licensed PartyPoker.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will also give the 76ers more exposure in terms of sports betting, as the media channel recently expanded its gambling-oriented broadcasts. This season NBC plans to have 10 such betting-focused broadcasts, while last season the station only had two. The special broadcasts will have graphics on-screen showing some of the NBA proprietary league betting data. NBC Sports Washington recently announced it would have 20 of these special betting broadcasts this season for the Washington Wizards.