DraftKings is one of the top two major daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators in the United States. The company is in expansion mode as it looks to tap into the lucrative sports betting market as more states open up their doors to sports betting by legalizing the activities.
DraftKings recently announced that it has entered into an official agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) and will gain access to official MLB data to offer its punters so that they can make informed and quality bets based on real time stats.
The company has a strong customer base throughout the country and the second most popular sport is baseball. The NFL is on top of the list while the NBA is in third place. This partnership with the MLB will help punters at DraftKing’s as they can analyze facts and stats before placing a bet.
In a statement, Ezra Kucharz, Chief Business Officer for DraftKings said
This is going to give us better, faster data, and allow us to power a lot of in-game wagering. You’re going to see us do more, faster propositions that are tied to individual at-bats, and maybe even pitch-by-pitch.
Major Boost With In-Play Betting
As of now, MGM Resorts International and DraftKings are the only two companies that have signed with the MLB to use official data. The two companies will gain access to MLB’s official data partners which are Perform Group and Sportsradar AG who will provide the two companies with real time data as live games take place all across the country.
Given the fact that the average time for an MLB game is 3 hours, this real time data will be especially useful for punters who like in-play betting. This is where punters are allowed to place their bets on a game in progress. By getting access to real time data, they can limit their risks of losing if they correctly analyze the stats and official data coming through.
The deal will also be beneficial for MLB as it helps them gain a piece of the lucrative sports betting market. The league has allowed sports betting operators to access its official data in the past but this access will soon be cut off and only official partners like DraftKings will be given full access.
DraftKings currently has operations in Mississippi and New Jersey. The company expects to launch in another three states before the end of 2019.
