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Did the Vegas Golden Knights really just get into bed with an offshore sports betting tout? Apparently so.
On February 24, the Golden Knights announced a new partnership with UpickTrade.com, making the Mexican-based sports touting service an “Official Sports Pick Service Partner” of the team. It probably comes as no surprise that it marks the first sponsorship deal between an NHL team and a “sports betting recommendation service.” According to UpickTrade.com CEO Carlos Lazo Reyes, it is a first-of-its-kind sponsorship for any major professional sports franchise in the United States.
Many people in the business of sports and betting seemed very surprised and perhaps even dismayed by the announcement.
Is there really such a difference between partnering with a sports betting operator and a company that sells picks for people to consider using when transacting with those operators?
MGM Resorts became the first official sports betting partner of the NHL in October 2018. One month later, the NHL added a multi-year partnership with FanDuel to also be an official sports betting partner as well as the exclusive daily fantasy partner of the league. Then, in March 2019, the NHL added yet another sports betting partner in William Hill. To be clear, the league has no reservations about taking money from sports betting operators in exchange for their ability to use the intellectual property of the NHL and the right to call themselves official sports betting partners.
So why is it such a big deal that the Golden Knights have now associated with a company that simply provides information surrounding the sports betting activity that the NHL has impliedly, if not expressly, blessed by way of its myriad partnerships in the space? In fact, it should come as no surprise that it is the Golden Knights franchise to be the first to break ground in this sector since it was also the initial NHL team to broker a partnership with a sportsbook in William Hill.
The bottom line is that no one requires the general public to necessarily agree with the goods or services offered by every sports sponsor. However, it is clear that sports betting has become and will continue to be a major partner for professional sports teams and leagues, including those within the NHL. If sports betting is permissible and even promoted, then what is the big deal about a sports touting service getting the same treatment? Ultimately, it is up to the consumer to decide whether the service and its pricing are worthwhile.
Great work – Darren. Awesome that Outkick now has a legal expert on sports law and a practitioner in the space. Think you are going to nail it and do a much better job than the likes of Michael McCann whose bland and biased coverage of the sports legal landscape is uninsipiring.
Thanks, and it’s good to be here. Although I do have a lot of respect for McCann, I appreciate your kind words.
You’re so right. Glad to have Darren here.
Good take. Just like the general public doesn’t need gatekeeping and filtering of its news, it also doesn’t need protection from advertisers. We’re big boys and girls.
Thanks. I just find it hard to believe that there’s a clear line where on one side sports betting partnerships are perfectly acceptable and on the other side touting services are like the Devil.
Welcome. All this partnership with gambling drifts me back in time to Arizona State and Boston College point shaving scandals. Set those programs back 20 years. History repeats itself.
A lot more transparency, so hopefully not a repeat! Thanks.