Sports
As the Playoffs Heat Up, the NBA Looks to Profit From Gambling
- League wants cut of action in exchange for official data
- Baseball also plans to end grace period after all-star game
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Philadelphia on May 2, 2019.
Photographer: Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesA new reality is setting in for U.S. sportsbooks: Some will lose access to official NBA data in the coming days, right in the middle of the playoffs.
Since the start of the season, the NBA has allowed gambling houses to temporarily access its official data without being an approved league partner. Going forward, that information -- especially popular for in-game betting -- will first require a commercial deal with the league, before a separate contract with an official data provider. Those who choose not to pay will have to rely on slower, unofficial feeds.