The growth of this kind of point-by-point wagering has created a lucrative opportunity for leagues. In December, Sportradar renewed its data contract with the International Tennis Federation for $14 million a year over five years -- six times the value of the company’s original deal with the ITF in 2012.
’Financial Upside’
Among those in talks with the PGA Tour are WME/IMG, which has the data rights for the top men’s and women’s tennis tours, and Sportradar, which counts the National Football League as an investor, according to people familiar with the matter. The NFL doesn’t allow its data to be sold to bookmakers. The RFP also asks what other “financial upside” is available, including revenue, profit sharing or equity ownership.
Spokesmen for WME/IMG and Sportradar declined to comment.
Warwick Bartlett, chief executive officer of Isle of Man-based Global Betting & Gaming Consultants, said he expects betting on golf to grow as in-game betting gets more common. Golf is particularly appealing, he added, because many stars of the sport come from countries where gambling is legal, including Australia, England and Northern Ireland.
The Tour said in the RFP that it would evaluate the proposals and determine whether to proceed.