The future of MLB betting could eventually include an alternate broadcast feed that allows live wagering on the screen.
Commissioner Rob Manfred discussed the next phase of MLB betting Wednesday with the New York Post and its Sports Media Podcast.
“I see that at some point coming as an alternate, digital product,” Manfred told Andrew Marchand and John Ourand. “You’re always going to have that clean broadcast. If we get there to the betting off the screen, it’s going to be a separate, digital feed that the true gambler can opt into.”
MLB betting could follow NFL’s lead
MLB could be looking to follow in the footsteps of the NFL in marrying sports betting and live streams.
Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook and BetRivers Sportsbook will be the first sportsbooks this season to launch Genius Sports-product BetVision, which will enable customers to place NFL bets within the live video player for the first time.
FanDuel Sportsbook and BetMGM have what is referred to as “co-exclusive” agreements as official MLB operators.
YES Network partnered with SimpleBet on a single-screen, free-to-play prediction game available on its app for New York Yankees games. It has essentially felt like a spring training of sorts for an eventual real-money betting product.
Commish: MLB deals not significant
Earlier this year, Manfred downplayed the financial impact of MLB’s relationship with gambling.
The commissioner had been asked specifically about Pete Rose’s lifetime ban. The Oakland A’s could potentially be moving to Las Vegas, joining the NFL’s Raiders and the NHL’s Golden Knights.
The NBA is projected to receive $167 million in revenue from casinos and betting for 2023-24, an 11% increase from last season, according to ESPN.
“I think people believe we make more money off gambling than we actually do,” Manfred said. “But I think for us, we’ve always approached the issue of gambling from the proposition that players and other people who are in position to influence the outcome of the game are going to be subject to a different set of rules than everyone else. Pete Rose violated what is rule 1 of baseball and the consequences of that are clear in the rules.”
