Nascar ramps up integrity focus with new Sportradar deal
Nascar has entered into a multi-year partnership with Sportradar in an effort to protect the integrity of the stock car racing series, as the US legal sports betting market grows.
Sportradar will deploy its Fraud Detection System to monitor both domestic and global betting activity for unusual wagering patterns across three of Nascar’s major contests: the Nascar Cup Series, Nascar Xfinity Series and Nascar Camping World Truck Series.
The pair, which have already agreed a data rights partnership, will work together to develop a tailored betting integrity program that covers wagering-related rules and policies regarding gambling and Nascar.
Nascar will also gain access to the Sportradar Education and Prevention Services, which will see the supplier conduct on-site workshops for drivers, teams, officials and associated stakeholders.
“It is critical to be proactive in developing safeguards that protect Nascar’s on-track product from any potential integrity threats,” Nascar vice president of global media strategy and distribution Brian Herbst said.
“Sportradar is the leader in this space and knowing that our races will be monitored extensively, while also equipping our industry with the tools and knowledge they require, gives us peace of mind in being able to preserve the integrity of NASCAR as the US wagering market continues to open.”
Confirmation of the Sportradar deal comes after Nascar in October introduced legal on-site betting at the Dover International Speedway in Delaware.
At the time, Nascar president Steve Phelps said the series would seek to implement gambling rules from its 2019 season, with drivers and team members not currently prohibited from betting on races.
The deal further consolidates Sportradar's presence in the nascent US sports betting market, with the supplier securing a number of data-related partnerships since the repeal of PASPA in May.
Last month, both Sportradar and Genius Sports became the first data partners of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US. This built on Sportradar’s existing data deal with the NBA, as well as the NHL ice hockey league, the NFL, MLB and Nascar.
Sportradar also has a US-focused data agreement in place with the MGM GVC Interactive joint venture, covering a range of pre-match and live betting services across major leagues that it has the right to distribute in the US. In addition, Sportradar in July entered into a betting services deal with AmTote International, a division of the racing industry wagering technology specialist, the Stronach Group.
All of the deals came on the back of Sportradar in July unveiling a number of new North American investors, designed to aid its growth in the region. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Silicon Valley-based growth equity firm TCV were confirmed among the new investors.
Image: Max Pixel