A new authorized gaming partner

Sports media platform and sportsbook operator theScore has signed a multi-year sports betting partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) in the US.

theScore will be permitted to make use of MLB’s trademarks and logos

Through the new agreement, the Toronto-based company will benefit from access to the league’s official data. Effective immediately, theScore will be permitted to make use of MLB’s trademarks and logos in its mobile sportsbook, theScore Bet.

According to a company statement, theScore and MLB will also collaborate on measures to protect the integrity of MLB games.

John Levy, founder and CEO of theScore, said: “We’re thrilled to work with MLB, helping bring our fans an even deeper experience as we begin our multi-state expansion of theScore Bet.”

He added that the company was well-positioned to offer its betting services once mainstream sport returns.

Meanwhile, Kenny Gersh, MLB executive vice president of gaming and new business ventures, described the deal as “another important step in offering baseball fans a variety of unique gaming options.”

From media company to sportsbook operator

In September 2019, theScore launched its first sports betting app in the state of New Jersey. At the same time, the company also benefited from an investment of C$40m (US$30m) from Fengate Asset Management, which Levy said would be used to help it expand in the US sports betting market.

Although theScore Bet is currently only active in New Jersey, theScore has plans to launch its sportsbook in both Indiana and Colorado in the coming months, subject to receiving all licenses and approvals.

As part of its US expansion strategy, the operator signed a sports betting partnership with the NBA earlier this year. Similar to its deal with MLB, the multi-year agreement permits access to the NBA’s official statistical data, in addition to its logos and trademarks.

MLB’s sports betting partnerships

Major League Baseball has been one of the most active US professional sports leagues when it comes to forming sports betting partnerships.

This latest agreement will mark MLB’s fifth operator partnership. The league inked its first deal with MGM Resorts in 2018, while DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fox Bet all signed similar multi-year partnerships with the league last year.

In February 2019, MLB agreed to a multi-year partnership with sports betting data company Sportradar for the distribution of its real-time game statistics across the globe. The agreement provides Sportradar with exclusive rights to MLB’s official content and statistics.