NBC Sports Washington Plus will deliver an alternate broadcast of the Washington Wizards’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks centered around the real-time betting experience.
In addition to showing point spreads and over/under odds on the main graphic, the alternate broadcast will feature a predictive contest asking questions such as “Will Wizards forward Trevor Ariza score 10 or more points in the first half?”
“Combining the excitement of live Wizards games with engaging predictive gaming and data feeds will deliver a very entertaining experience for viewers, from first-time gaming players to savvy sports bettors,” NBC Sports Washington senior vice president and general manager Damon Phillips said in a press release. “The level of interest from fans, partners and sponsors in this area continues to increase, so we are pleased to offer this compelling product this season.”
Along with Friday’s game, additional dates for these alternate Wizards broadcasts include: Jan. 27 at the San Antonio Spurs, Jan. 30 against the Indiana Pacers, Feb. 2 against the Bucks, Feb. 22 at the Charlotte Hornets, March 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, March 19 against the Utah Jazz and April 5 against the Spurs.
“It’s the 1.0 version of where we’re ultimately going,” Zach Leonsis, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at the Wizards’ ownership group Monumental Sports & Entertainment, told SportsBusiness Daily. “This will get more advanced. … The challenge for operators will be to make sure that the game play is supportive and not interruptive of the broadcast itself.”
The D.C. Council voted to legalize sports betting in the city on Dec. 18th, the law still waiting on Congressional approval.
Leonsis expects sports betting in D.C. to be “up and running by MLB’s Opening Day.”
In recent months, NBC Sports has registered sports-betting-related web domains, including NBCSportsbook.com and NBCSportsSportsbook.com.
Another gold rush for corporations.
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