SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Sportradar has bolstered its standing in the US betting space, gaining a suppliers licence in the state of Ohio.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) licence, granted to the firm’s Sportradar Solutions subsidiary, will make Sportradar one of the earliest movers in the Ohio market.
A Swiss-founded international sportstech and data company, Sportradar – like many other B2B firms with interests in sports betting – has been targeting an enhanced profile for its stateside business.
The company now holds 41 licences across North America, in both the US and Canada, specialising in data provision for sportsbooks and gambling providers as well as integrity safeguarding via its Sportradar Integrity Services (SIS) division.
A notable achievement in Sportradar’s US journey was its listing on the Global Nasdaq in September 2021. Both before and since the listing, the firm has signed agreements with a range of betting providers and sports teams in the country.
Speaking to SBC News following the listing, the firm’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ed Blonk, stated that ‘big opportunities’ in the US required ‘big investments’.
“The market growth is not just about sports betting alone – if you look at the digital transformation and how fans are interacting with sports and their teams, this world is changing,” he explained.
Ohio is the seventh most populous state in the US, home to several major league sports teams and is due to launch its regulated betting market on 1 January 2023.
The OCCC has approved either Type A online wagering or Type B retail sportsbook licences for six sports franchises in the state – the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, FC Cincinnati, Cleveland Guardians, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
