Major League Baseball Taps FanDuel As ‘Co-Exclusive’ Sports Betting Partner

Games and highlights will air regularly on operator’s various TV and streaming platforms
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Mike Seely has written about horse racing for The Daily Racing Form and America’s Best Racing, and has contributed pieces on a multitude of topics including casinos to The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, among other publications. He can be reached on Twitter (@mdseely) or via email at [email protected].

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Even though it’s still very much winter, pitchers and catchers reported to spring training a few weeks ago — and now FanDuel has as well.

The leading U.S. sportsbook operator just announced a multi-year partnership with Major League Baseball, becoming MLB’s “co-exclusive” official sports betting partner alongside BetMGM. According to a press release, FanDuel, which has worked with MLB as an authorized gaming operator since 2019, will be able to use official league branding across its sportsbook and DFS platforms. It will work with MLB “to bring consumers new sports betting product innovations to drive deeper fan engagement.”

“The baseball fan is one of the most engaged in all of sports, which is why we’re delighted to be the new sports betting partner of Major League Baseball,” said FanDuel Group President Christian Genetski. “Our team is eager to showcase FanDuel in nationally broadcast MLB games and help enhance game narratives and bring America’s Pastime directly into our mobile app and OTT platform for fans to watch and wager.”

Responsible gambling emphasized

As part of the collaboration, FanDuel will stream MLB.TV’s free game of the day on both its sportsbook app and FanDuel+ OTT platform. The partnership also gives the sportsbook operator access to MLB highlights that it can air on its cable station, FanDuel TV (nee TVG), and the press release emphasized FanDuel and MLB’s respective commitments to responsible gambling, with March being Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Like most professional sports leagues, MLB has engaged in a snug embrace of legal sports betting since PASPA was struck down in 2018. But the league continues to hold its personnel to occasionally punitive standards when it comes to legal wagering, as minor league pitcher Pete Bayer — suspended indefinitely for betting on MLB games during the pandemic work stoppage — is well aware.

Photo: David Madison/Getty Images

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