Yahoo & MGM: Transforming the Sports Betting Landscape

By Skylar Kulchinsky & Gia Golder

On October 29th of 2019, an exclusive partnership was finalized by Yahoo! Sports and MGM Resorts International. These two organizations created a partnership with the purpose of crafting “unprecedented experiences” for fans in the up and coming notion of sports betting.

MGM (Metro-Goldwyn Mayer) Resorts International, a globally acclaimed hospitality and entertainment company, has 30 properties in their portfolio consisting of casinos, hotels, restaurants and nightlife entertainment offerings. While MGM is known for being a leader in iconic experiences, they have made strides in the world of sports by being the official gaming partner with the MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA and NBA. This already prominent footing in the sports industry will certainly assist with this newly formed deal.

While Yahoo! Sports is an all-inclusive platform for sports related news, scores, and stats, this arrangement will culminate in Yahoo presenting information to potential betters through their digital application. Although this new feature will be integrated through the Yahoo app, transactions will ultimately take place through BetMGM. As the logistics of this deal are finalized, each company will be able to bring a certain level of expertise that will be mutually beneficial for both parties in the long run.

Preceding May of 2018, placing monetary values on the outcome of sporting events was illegal. Now, after May of 2018, the Supreme Court overruled PASPA, The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. This law, put into effect in 1992, was initially implemented to outlaw sports betting nationwide. But, since this law has been recently overturned, it has now created an entirely new sector in which organizations such as Yahoo and MGM can become actively involved in.

As the sports betting landscape continues to expand, Adam Silver, NBA commissioner expresses “By working together, MGM Resorts and Yahoo! Sports will offer fans unprecedented ways to engage with our games”. The implementation of this new feature is foreseen to ultimately revolutionize the fandom experience. This transformation will give fans an insider experience through engaging with content while also participating in financial transactions. With time, it will be interesting to see how fans adapt to this new way of interacting with their favorite sports teams!

Prior to this deal taking shape, there were and currently are two prominent competitors in this space who specialize in sports betting. Both DraftKings and FanDuel are two organizations who are established as sports betting companies. While both of their business models focus on sports betting, it will be quite intriguing to examine how Yahoo/MGM fend against these already reputable companies in the industry. As Yahoo! Sports and MGM are taking prominent steps towards transforming the experience of sports betting for millions of fans, we are looking forward to seeing how this deal unravels and the success that will follow.

Penn State Sports Business Conference

Written by

Dedicated to inspiring, educating, and motivating through thoughtful insights and meaningful conversations on the hottest topics in the sports industry.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade