LGPA Partners With IMG Arena, Signaling Sports Betting Plans
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What seemed completely unheard of years ago is now a reality as both pro teams and entire leagues are partnering up with popular sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel. Well, it looks like another organization is getting more involved in the world of wagering on sports, as the LPGA Tour has made a new agreement that, while not with a sportsbook, has deeper roots in betting and signals the growing popularity of golf betting. Here’s how the LPGA is becoming the next big name in sports to embrace betting.
LPGA Tour Partners With IMG Arena
The LPGA has just made a move that will make golf bettors swoon. Golf Digest has recently reported that the organization has reached an agreement with IMG Arena, which shows deeper plans for sports betting. The company, which is based in London, is a sports wagering service that will look to support the LPGA in a number of different ways. The two biggest aspects of the deal will have IMG Arena provide live streaming distribution rights for LPGA events as well as supply sports wagering data for the organization.
How Will This Affect The LPGA BetMGM Deal?
In May of 2021, BetMGM Sportsbook partnered with the LPGA, officially making it the organization’s first deal with a sportsbook and solidifying BetMGM as an exclusive partner and sports betting operator. The BetMGM deal had numerous aspects to it, such as the ability to post LPGA Tour odds on the wagering platform’s menu. The IMG Arena deal is going to benefit BetMGM as well. Per the agreement, IMG Arena will provide broadcast streams, leaderboards, and additional info to the LPGA’s sportsbook and casino partners, which includes BetMGM and Bet365. While LPGA wagering had been fairly restricted in the past, the deal signals a more convenient future. With the surge of popularity when it comes to professional golf betting, IMG Arena also has a similar agreement going with the PGA Tour.
More Leagues Are Embracing Betting
The fact that the LPGA Tour has collaborated with both BetMGM Sportsbook and IMG Arena signals what most sports leagues are bracing for: more bets and bigger bets. It’s a classic case of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” as more and more pro sports organizations have gotten friendly with betting platforms. Possibly the most notable is the NFL, which now has numerous official wagering partners after so many years of distancing itself from the topic. Now, the major sports league has deals with WynnBET, BetMGM, PointsBet, and FOX Bet.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The NBA has made deals with two of the biggest sportsbooks out there, DraftKings and FanDuel. Back in May, the WNBA also partnered up with PointsBet as the league’s main sports wagering operator. Plus, DraftKings struck a major deal with the NHL to make the company the main sportsbook, DFS platform, and iGaming partner of the league. Now, with the LPGA making massive moves as well, one thing’s for certain: it’s a great time to be a bettor.
