Producer of technology for the gaming industry International Game Technology (IGT) announced today it entered into a multi-year partnership deal with the National Basketball Association (NBA), to further differentiate its PlaySports sports wagering solution.
The deal with the NBA represents another step in the direction of product offering expansion for technology supplier, which in August announced it would set up full-service trading team based in Las Vegas, to add a new dimension to its sports betting solution.
IGT Granted Access to NBA’s Data and Logos
Under the agreement reached with the professional basketball league, NBA’s intellectual property, official data and team and league logos, will be available for US customers of IGT’s sports betting platform, for use in their sports books. Sports wagering operators will have to sign an agreement with IGT first.
Enrico Drago, Senior Vice President of IGT’s PlayDigital, noted that the partnership with the NBA would further validate that IGT meant business about delivering an unrivaled sports betting for its US market, seeking to offer an “all-in-one” proposition for its customers.
“…With the rise in popularity of in-play, prop and parlay bets, having access to official, real-time NBA data feeds and league marks and logos positions IGT to collaborate with our PlaySports customers in creating highly compelling betting menus for sports fans across the country.”
Enrico Drago, Senior Vice President, PlayDigital, IGT
IGT Would Help NBA Further Engage with Fans
The new partnership with the NBA is making IGT the first B2B sports betting solution provider to have access to the league’s intellectual property, less than 2 weeks after the technology supplier re-certified its land-based and online gaming divisions with the Global Gambling Guidance Group (G4). The global body which seeks to minimize the impact of problem gambling initially certified IGT’s gaming in 2017 and its PlayDigital arm followed suit in 2019.
“This partnership with IGT marks the first time a platform provider can offer an ‘out of the box’ authentic NBA sports betting solution to a diverse set of operators across the U.S. This agreement will allow regional operators across the country to have direct access to NBA assets to create the best NBA gaming experience and further engage our fans.”
Scott Kaufman-Ross, SVP and Head of Fantasy & Gaming, NBA
Adding NBA on the list of its strategic partners followed the launch of IGT’s PlaySport sports betting platform to two casinos in North Dakota, to expand the company’s footprint in the state. IGT partnered with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to power their sports betting operations, self-servicing kiosks and trading services at Grand Treasure Casino in Trenton and Sky Dancer Casino and Resort in Belcourt.