Report: BetMGM close to agreeing X deal to showcase sports betting odds
Deal would see a new feature added to the social media platform allowing bettors to place wagers at BetMGM
BetMGM has reportedly struck a deal with X, formerly Twitter, which will see sports betting odds added to the social media platform.
As reported by global business news magazine Fortune, there will also be a link on the platform that will redirect users to BetMGM to place bets.
While the deal is awaiting official confirmation – with EGR having reached out to BetMGM for comment but is yet to receive a response at the time of writing – its completion would represent a landmark moment for the industry.
The ability to place bets directly from a major social media platform would be an industry first.
And while there are Telegram casinos, a major player entering into the space in the shape of BetMGM via X, is a significant milestone. BetMGM, which sits behind the US duopoly of FanDuel and DraftKings, and is currently facing pressure from a fresh-faced ESPN Bet, would effectively have a monopoly on X’s millions of users who gamble or may be interested in gambling.
Fortune did not report any financial details of the deal, nor the contract’s length, or how the pair would ensure appropriate age-gating measures would be put in place.
Controversial X owner Elon Musk has made no secret of his plans to turn the social media giant into an ‘everything’ app. Plans are already afoot to launch peer-to-peer payments on X as well as the ability to make and receive voice and video calls.
The reports of the BetMGM and X partnership have emerged ahead of Super Bowl 58, which is due to take place on 11 February in Las Vegas.
The Super Bowl is one of the largest traffic events for X, with last year’s showpiece event causing an outage following Rihanna’s halftime show.
Elsewhere, BetMGM recently debuted the first teaser of a three-part advertising campaign for the Super Bowl, which stars NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, NFL icon Tom Brady and veteran comedy actor Vince Vaughn.
The campaign is promoting Entain and MGM Resorts JV’s first-ever Big Game television spot.