SIS enters multi-year esports betting data partnership with HUDstats
Sharpr is a weekly newsletter covering the intersection of esports and betting
Hey everyone, Cody here.
I’m finally back from the Apex Legends Global Series Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina–and boy was it hot down there. While I’ve been cooling off in the Northeast, esports betting has been heating up with plenty of new developments.
Among them is an esports casino conference headed to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October, and the debut of XSET’s gaming cabanas at Drai’s Beachclub in Las Vegas. Unrelated, but also interesting, is FanDuel CEO Amy Howe’s estimation that 25% of bettors that deposit with offshore sportsbooks will never see their winnings.
All that and more in this week’s issue–let’s jump right in.
In this week’s edition of Sharpr…
SIS enters multi-year esports betting data partnership with HUDstats
Casino Esport Conference set to take place in Atlantic City in October
XSET has launched its gaming cabanas at Drai's Beachclub in Las Vegas
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SIS enters multi-year esports betting data partnership with HUDstats
Sports Information Services (SIS) has entered a multi-year partnership with esports data analytics company HUDstats.
The deal will see HUDstats provide SIS with “real-time data for esports betting purposes” that “increase performance” for customers.
Using its proprietary tech, HUDstats will collect and distribute data from SIS’ NBA 2K and FIFA streams to create esports betting products.
HUDStats will provide a variety of data points from SIS events, such as free kicks, throw-ins, and corner kicks for FIFA, as well as free throws, 3-pointers, and team possession in NBA 2K. This match data will be used to engage consumers through on-screen graphics and betting commentary.
SIS launched its esports vertical in February 2019 and has since partnered with the likes of Bet365, Betfan, and MaxBet to provide gaming content for customers to bet on. The sports betting providers offer esports content for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, NBA 2K, and FIFA–SIS claims this service offers customers 150,000 live events each year.
🦈 Sharpr Take: SIS has a much different approach from other traditional esports products offered by suppliers. Instead of targeting marquee esports events and leagues, SIS sources competitive gaming participants to compete in tournaments operated by the company itself.
It’s an interesting proposition, but one we’re unsure can harness the opportunity in esports correctly. Sports bettors are drawn in by the big matchups, superstar players, and tentpole events; while this offering may help drive some turnover and acquire new customers, it likely won’t be a long-term draw for consumers interested in wagering on authentic esports matches (the CS:GO Majors and League of Legends World Championships, for example).
Not to discredit SIS, though; the company clearly has a viable and working product with a handful of partners to show for it. SIS has also shown the company is keen on building its reputation in the sector and further developing its offerings. In the last few months, SIS has appointed its former head of trading Adam Conway as its head of competitive gaming and inked a partnership agreement with Oddin.
Casino Esport Conference set for Atlantic City in October
The Casino Esport Conference (CEC) and the Esports Innovation Center (EIC) at Stockton University in New Jersey revealed new speakers for its inaugural CEC/EIC Northeast Summit, taking place in Atlantic City on October 18-19.
The two-day event will discuss opportunities at the intersection of esports and casinos, featuring ten confirmed speakers from the gambling and esports industries, including:
Seth Schorr, chairman of Downtown Grand and CEO of Fifth Street Gaming.
Anthony Gaud, CEO of Gaud-Hammer Gaming Group and founder of the Regulated Videogames and Esports Committee.
Eric Weiss, VP of technical compliance at Odds On Compliance and 30-year NJDGE veteran.
Anthony Strangia, deputy attorney general of the NJDGE.
Event organizers say the event will also discuss esports more broadly, including scholastic competitions and new businesses that will be unlocked in the future through the proliferation of competitive gaming globally.
In an interview with Yogonet, Andrew Weilgus, executive director of the Esports Innovation Center at Stockton University, says conference participants will host conversations on introducing and regulating esports in casinos, including through skill-based betting technologies (we saw this recently with Esports Entertainment Group’s activation at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City).
“There is no infrastructure in place in the casino market right now to facilitate what we are discussing,” Weilgus said. “We’re trying to create technologies and work with the regulators that are involved to put esports in a casino environment and give users a chance to compete in a way that would never be accessible in their home environment.
“The Casino Esports Conference is something that brings in a business-to-business focus on how the casino industry can take advantage of this new and growing experience which appeals to younger gamers.”
🗞 In the news
XSET has launched its gaming cabanas at Drai's Beachclub in Las Vegas.
Real Luck Group has appointed former Red Bull and Tencent Games marketing executive Daniel Sanders as its director of marketing.
The International Betting Integrity Association has reported four cases of suspicious betting alerts in esports.
Betfair, Betway, and SkillOnNet get fined by Swedish Appeals Court.
📈 By the numbers
FanDuel CEO Amy Howe estimates 25% of customers with unregulated offshore sportsbooks will never see their winnings returned.
WagerWire has raised $3M in a funding round led by co-owner of the Miami Marlins and Leeds United FC.
Approximately 200K viewers watched Drake stream roulette on Twitch.
Major League Soccer has signed a $270M betting data deal with IMG Arena.
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Reach me directly at luongomanagement@gmail.com 📩 or on Twitter 🐦