It is another in a long line of indicators that show the momentum for legalized Sports Betting in the US is going to be difficult to slow. MGM Resorts-backed mobile sportsbook’s move makes it much easier for fans to nationwide view odds on a wide variety of sports including the NBA, NHL, football, college sports, baseball, soccer, golf and tennis.
If you are lucky enough to be of age in New Jersey, you will be able to place wagers immediately on the BetMGM platform. New Jersey bettors will have a receive a little extra motivation to check out the new mobile betting site in the form of $100 in free bets after they submitted a $10 deposit.
Users not in the Garden State will still be afforded the opportunity to check out all the free and paid games on the Yahoo Fantasy platform.
When can we expect other states to follow New Jersey’s lead?
According to Verizon, Yahoo Sportsbook powered by BetMGM will “soon become available to fans in other states where sports betting is legal.” It’s an indication that Yahoo Sportsbook will be a factor everywhere you are currently able to enjoy a wager on your favorite team.
Earlier this month Colorado became the 19th state to legalize sports betting. Expect Yahoo Sportsbook in one or all of the remaining 18 states in the not-too-distant future. With impressive revenues reported in the states with legalized sports gambling already, it is reasonable to expect Yahoo Sportsbook to be a player nationwide sooner rather than later.
Will the partnership enhance the betting experience?
In a statement, a spokesman for Yahoo said, “Yahoo Sportsbook powered by BetMGM elevates the experience for sports fans, getting them closer to the games they’re passionate about and closing the loop from content to transactions.”
Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan said of the launch “The historic partnership with Yahoo Sports and BetMGM will change the future of fandom, providing new ways for sports fans to go beyond engaging with content and interact through commerce.”
Chairman and CEO of MGM Resort Jim Murren also weighed in on the Yahoo-BetMGM partnership saying it “uniquely positions us to drive market share and large-scale adoption among sports fans.”
What does it all mean?
Yahoo Sports has 60 million monthly users in the U.S., according to Verizon. Yahoo and MGM aim to provide a portion of those users a new, exciting and exceedingly accessible way to enjoy sports, while integrating sports betting opportunities into the Yahoo Sports app and desktop experiences.
Things have come a long way since 2018 when the United States Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports gambling. 19 states have now legalized sports betting and in a sign of what is surely to come, Major Businesses such as Yahoo are ready to pounce on this revenue generating opportunity.
