Las Vegas Review-Journal

UFC set to launch live betting for all matches

Product called first for major sports brand

- By Bailey Schulz Las Vegas Review-journal

Las Vegas-based UFC is set to launch its first official live sports betting product in the first quarter of 2020.

On Friday, the mixed martial arts organizati­on announced the launch of UFC Event Centre, the gaming industry’s first sports betting product created specifical­ly for a major sports brand.

Developed by London-based IMG Arena, the product features a mobile-first design and will showcase a “host of new opportunit­ies” for live betting during each fight of every UFC event globally, according to a statement from UFC.

UFC Event Centre and UFC’S official data feed will be made available on sportsbook­s and gaming operators’ apps through licensed partnershi­ps. This includes IMG Arena’s

portfolio of more than 300 operators.

It will offer live in-round betting, official data delivery in less than two seconds, immediate bet settlement and 3D visualizat­ions of “live UFC action.”

Bettors also will have access to live betting data points, including knockdowns, submission­s, takedown attempts and takedowns landed;

more than 50 live personal and striking statistics; and details on the fighters and event, such as bout schedules, fighter rankings, weight class and more.

“The UFC Event Centre and its official data feed will be a game changer for how UFC fans engage with our events through sportsbook­s and gaming operators,” UFC President

Dana White said in the release.

“We have the most passionate, diehard fans of any sport, and they’re going to love the option to place bets live during a fight,” he said. “Betting operators are also going to love this product because, unlike other sports, UFC has no off season. The action will be non-stop for fans and sportsbook operators.”

Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@ reviewjour­nal.com or 702-383-0233. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter.

 ??  ?? Dana White
Dana White

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States