NFL to broadcast in-game wagering
During the NFL preseason, the Washington Redskins will become the first team in the league to offer telecasts of their games that feature in-game wagering. Viewers of the telecasts will be able to win cash prizes by predicting outcomes of the games.
NBC Sports Washington is a cable network in the region that will provide the telecasts of the preseason games. The network will take a cue from the Washington Wizards when it comes to the way the wagering telecasts are offered.
Viewers of the telecasts will be able to win cash prizes by predicting outcomes of the games.
The NBA team provided contests that were free to play during their regular season. The Redskins will be limited to just four games during the preseason due to the television rights held by the network.
NBC to air gambling-focused telecast
The telecast focusing on gambling will be aired on NBC Sports Washington Plus, which is the secondary chancel of the NBC network. With the interactive telecasts, the network will be prepared for customized programming when legal sports betting is available online or via mobile in the viewing area.
General manager of the network Damon Phillips said: “Down the road there are a number of possibilities. Who knows where the different regulatory entities are going to end up on sports betting, and we just want to make sure we’re ready to be able to respond to it.”
The future of TV broadcast gamification
For now, the interactive games will be free to play. NBC will provide $1,000 in cash to one winner during each quarter of the preseason games.
NBC will provide $1,000 in cash to one winner during each quarter of the preseason games.
Phillips stated that the company feels that this type of content is the way of the future. Gamification of television broadcasts are coming, and the Redskins offering is one of the first examples of this type of television.
Also in the NBC Sports Washington viewing area are West Virginia and Delaware. Both states are among those that have passed sports betting legislation and have sportsbooks in operation. However, online and mobile betting is not offered in the states.
In the past, the NFL has been strongly opposed to gambling. According to the Redskins, the league does know about the planned broadcasts with the wagering component. So far, they have not objected to the upcoming offering.