As NBA betting tips off for the 2024 season, Sportradar is equipping sportsbooks and its media partners with new tools it says will increase fan engagement.
As part of its official data partnership with the NBA, Sportradar recently announced three AI-driven products it says mark “the next phase in the evolution of basketball consumption.” Utilizing 14 strategically placed cameras in every NBA arena, the technology provider believes these tools will help NBA betting operators capitalize on the viewing habits of one of the world’s largest fanbases.
Sportradar estimates the NBA’s global audience is 2 billion, though only about half of those fans watch entire games, highlighting the need to tailor NBA betting technology to match player- and highlight-focused viewer habits.
NBA betting data visuals to hit sportsbooks
Sportradar’s partner sportsbooks will gain access to the Virtualized Live Match Tracker, which uses computer vision and real-time NBA data to generate 3D customizable game visuals. The AI-driven system tracks player and ball movement to provide deeper close-to-real-time analysis and insights into gameplay, according to Sportradar.
Another new product, 4Sight Streaming, which first debuted in tennis, will now apply to the NBA. This tool overlays animated insights from real-time NBA data to help bettors make informed decisions during games, Sportradar says.
NBA Advanced Visuals will leverage real-time skeletal data to create interactive 3D animations and heat maps, offering player performance metrics, such as shooting probabilities from various court areas. It uses 29 skeletal points per player to predict outcomes with greater accuracy and enhance storytelling. Bettors can control angles and add interactive features like emojis, making for a more engaging betting experience, Sportradar says.
NBA League Pass integration
Utilizing Sportradar’s emBET technology, NBA League Pass streams will display real-time betting information, allowing viewers to track wagers on FanDuel or DraftKings while watching. Point spreads, over/unders, and moneylines are embedded within the stream, creating more engagement opportunities for sportsbooks.
The product partially launched in the middle of last season, though this will be the first time bettors have access to its full integrations on opening night.
“Sportradar is committed to deepening our long-standing partnership with the NBA while also supporting betting operators and media companies in capitalizing on the league’s immense global popularity,” said Eric Conrad, Sportradar executive vice President of Rights & Strategic Partnerships for the US and Latin America. “Sportradar’s proprietary technology, underpinned by powerful AI, continues to reimagine how fans interact with the NBA. We are excited by what the future holds, driven by our constant innovation.”