Fox Sports Midwest Has a Plan to Expand on Sports Betting
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Last week, Sinclair Broadcasting formed a sports betting partnership with Bally’s for the two to integrate between the sports betting and media landscape. The deal gave Bally’s control over sports betting operations for 21 regional Fox Sports broadcast for the next 10 years.
Now, Fox Sports and Bally’s are already seeing the wheels in motion on a potential position for Fox Sports Midwest to allow fans to bet on games the company is broadcasting. Although this remains an idea, Sinclair Broadcast executives are looking at the possible idea to offer sports betting on local events sooner than later.
Bally’s and Sinclair’s president and CEO George Papanier and Chris Ripley are on record stating that the two parts are working quickly to get a deal done. However, it is easier said than done as Fox Sports Midwest covers the St. Louis Blues and Cardinals, and Missouri currently does not have legal sports betting.
However, this might not stop the two entities from making a deal.
Is This Possible?
Any sort of sports betting content is possible in 2020. The industry is doing great in the U.S., and everyone is looking to get in on the action while sports betting is hot. The process is still in the very early stages as the financials have not officially been hashed over from both parties.
Sinclair and Fox Sports would have to create a sports betting app for this to happen, which is another step in a potentially long process. However, a statement made that “time is of the essence” for the two entities to get some sort of sports betting deal done to make this happen.
Fox Sports and Sinclair can get ahead of Missouri’s curve as the state tries to pass a sports betting bill as early as next year. By the time the Show-Me State passes sports betting, there is a chance that Sinclair and Fox Sports will be ready to create and launch a sports betting app.
Long-Term View
Overall, this could be a great long-term opportunity for the two entities to complete. Sports betting is growing exponentially, and Missouri will eventually launch sports betting in the state.
The Show-Me State has a sports betting bill attempting to make its way through the state Congress and passed in 2021. If Fox Sports Midwest wants to stay ahead of the curve, they will want to do whatever is possible to launch some sort of sports betting idea.
If Fox Sports and Sinclair are serious about an app like this and have something up sooner than later, there is still a chance for people to take advantage despite Missouri not having legal sports betting.
St. Louis is right on the Mississippi River along the Illinois-Missouri river. People from Illinois can take advantage of the new Fox Sports Midwest betting app if available before the Blues and Cardinals start back up next season.
FanDuel recently began operations and Fairmount Racetrack in southern Illinois. It could bring competition to the area, especially if Fox Sports Midwest created a St. Louis specific sports betting app.
