Another new contender will enter the competitive NJ sports betting marketplace in the coming days.
After receiving regulatory approval, theScore will launch its NJ sports betting app with “a select group of sports bettors.” That information comes from a press release sent Friday by the Canada-based tech company.
Monmouth Park Racetrack provides the license under which theScore will operate in New Jersey sports betting. Fellow newcomer Bet.Works will partner with the operator to back the technology in theScore sports betting app.
Required by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), the limited soft launch will proceed for a few days. As long as no major problems arise, theScore will release its app to the public thereafter.
TheScore makes its play for NJ sports betting
Primarily recognized as a media and tech company, theScore became one of the first in its space to foray into sports betting. The company announced its plans late last year:
- The deal ranges up to 15 years. There is an initial term of five years, which then is extendable for two more five-year terms at theScore’s option.
- The Bet.Works arrangement is an “exclusive nationwide multiyear agreement.”
In the news release, theScore CEO and Founder John Levy hinted at what he sees as his market edge:
“This is a huge milestone and a result of the tireless hard work that has gone into getting our sportsbook ready for launch. We can’t wait to debut a best-in-class sports betting offering in New Jersey, delivering a truly unique and holistic sports media and wagering experience for fans.”
Holistic appears as a key terminology. The company enjoys wide market recognition as a news source for sports scores and information. Adding the NJ sports betting option into its existing platform could provide a one-stop-shop for bettors.
More about theScore’s potential reach
Last December, theScore touted just how broad its market penetration could become:
- More than 4 million active users for its sports app.
- Reached 50 million sports fans on social and emerging platforms in 2018’s third quarter.
- Sent out 1.5 billion sports-related alerts out to users each month.
- More than 3.4 million Facebook followers and 1 million Instagram followers.
Although a pre-football launch is advantageous, it’s a challenging time for theScore to enter the NJ sports betting market. New Jersey continues its rapid ascent among US states with legal sports betting, posting more than $251 million in handle and $18 million in revenue in July.
Those figures outpace the best July on record in Nevada, the granddaddy of US sports betting markets.