Redskins offer gambling telecast
The Washington Redskins will become the first NFL team to have a gambling-focused telecast of their games, offering cash prizes to viewers who correctly predict in-game outcomes during the preseason.
The telecasts on the regional cable network NBC Sports Washington will follow a formula established by the Redskins’ NBA neighbors, the Washington Wizards. The Wizards, however, offered the free-to-play contests during the regular season, while the Redskins will have them only during the four preseason games, when NBC Sports Washington has TV rights.
The network will continue to offer a traditional telecast on its main channel, while the gambling-focused telecast will air simultaneously on its secondary channel, NBC Sports Washington Plus. The Wizards offered the alternate telecast on eight games this season, and they had increased ratings and fan engagement, said Damon Phillips, the network’s general manager.
Starting the interactive telecasts now allows the network to be ready when legal online or mobile sports betting becomes available in its viewing area, Phillips said. For now, the games are free to play and the network will give away $1,000 in cash to one winner per quarter of each game.
The Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park doesn’t have a naming rights deal yet, but its plaza, formerly known as Champions Plaza, was unveiled as American Airlines Plaza on Tuesday. Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff and Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos spoke at a news conference for the plaza’s unveiling. The 70,000-seat stadium is more than 70% complete and on track to open next summer. — Arash Markazi
Dallas defensive end Robert Quinn fractured his left hand in practice and is expected to miss the rest of the preseason . ... Carolina coach Ron Rivera said quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly won’t play in Thursday night’s preseason opener at Chicago. Newton is working his way back into form after offseason shoulder surgery, while Kuechly missed time last week after he got “rolled up on” in practice . ... San Francisco running back Jerick McKinnon returned to the practice field nearly a year after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.