NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Philadelphia are partnering with online sportsbook PointsBet to present BetCast, an alternate live game sports-betting experience. It will cover the matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, March 7.
The BetCast marks NBC Sports Regional Networks’ first dual-market sports betting telecast. Traditional TV coverage of the game will be hosted on NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Philadelphia respectively.
NBC Sports Chicago previously hosted a BetCast of the Bulls in April of 2021. NBC Sports Philadelphia has provided BetCast presentations of select 76ers games since April 2019.
PointsBet can also expect an influx of new users for its platform. PointsBet launched in Pennsylvania on February 7, and starting March 5, bettors in Illinois will be able to register online through their mobile devices. During the broadcast, PointsBet will show real-time odds data on an enhanced graphic overlay. Types of odds will include spread, over/under and moving money lines, along with futures odds and player props.
The NBC Sports Predictor app, also powered by PointsBet, will feature a “Pick n’ Roll” contest for the game with a guaranteed $50,000 jackpot.
NBC Sports is following the lead of other entertainment providers looking to enhance their sportscasting options. HBO Max recently signed an eight-year contract with Turner Sports that allows it to livestream U.S. National Soccer Team matches, beginning in 2023. Each year, half of the matches will be simulcast via TNT or TBS, while HBO Max will own exclusive rights to the rest.
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Disney+ is also looking to expand its sports streaming options. Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced in February that Disney intends to bid for the NFL Sunday Ticket, and that the company is interested in pursuing a greater presence in online sports betting for its ESPN+ audience.
“Sports fans have been unofficially making bets with their friends and family as they watch the game for decades,” FuboTV Chief Product Officer Mike Berkley told the Verge. Adding betting features to sports feeds allow streaming services to increase engagement and open a new revenue stream in the process.
Streaming services’ openness toward online sports betting coincides with relaxations on legislation. Over two dozen states have legalized sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in 2018. But only 13 allow full mobile betting with multiple options, with nine states only supporting in-person sportsbooks.