The NCAA has clearly decided if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, and, for the first time ever, will allow legal U.S. sportsbooks to use its logos and will grant them use of official data from championship events.
This was announced Friday morning in a press release from Genius Sports, which is now the exclusive provider of official NCAA data to the licensed books for March Madness and all post-season tournaments. This deal runs through 2032.
“Since 2018, Genius Sports’ technology has transformed the college sports data ecosystem,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports. “This extension is a powerful endorsement of our vision, delivering cutting-edge data solutions to support NCAA schools while connecting our sportsbook partners with the highest quality NCAA official content, alongside our exclusive NFL and Premier League rights. Most importantly, it’s a partnership grounded in innovation, integrity, and a shared commitment to the future of collegiate athletics.”
Some of the highlights of the deal: NCAA LiveStats will remain free to all member schools; GeniusIQ, an AI platform, will enhance LiveStats to “power real-time analytics, advanced coaching insights, and immersive fan experiences,” per the release; a new authorized gaming licensee program will provide sportsbooks with the exclusive access to official NCAA data and NCAA marks; and there will be expanded integrity safeguards to “reinforce fair play and protect student-athletes through proactive integrity monitoring and responsible gaming practices.”
Evolving stance
This deal is noteworthy in many respects, not the least of them being the NCAA’s continued evolving stance when it comes to sports betting.
Firmly against the idea up to and through the repeal of PASPA in 2018, the NCAA sat on the sidelines when it came to letting its official data and logos reach sportsbooks.
Furthermore, the NCAA is currently waging a war against legal player prop betting at the collegiate level.
“We believe that when bettors can’t gamble on college athletes’ individual performances, they’re far less likely to attempt to scrutinize, coerce, or harass student-athletes,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said during a Senate Judiciary hearing last December. “They get demands for money from unhappy bettors for trivial things that don’t impact the result on the field. Many have received death threats from bettors, and they also receive other, in-person threats and accusations directed at them while they’re leaving or coming onto the field of play.”
