It would appear that the UFC has decided to get into the live-betting as the promotion is opening the UFC Event Centre, which will use “official data from UFC, plus logos, photos and fighter bios, and create a full suite of gambling options for betting operators to incorporate into their apps and sportsbooks” according to Bloomberg (via MMA Fighting).
UFC COO Lawrence Epstein says in game better is the fastest growing part of sports gambling and the UFC is getting in on it.
“In-game betting is the fastest-growing part of the sports-gaming industry,” Espstein said. “Some of the stuff we’re doing is stuff that hasn’t been done with respect to UFC in the past.”
While the UFC is the leading MMA promotion in the world, it trails behind the majority of sports when it comes to live betting and the inclusion of the UFC Event Centre is being created to help in that area.
Epstein also says that the creation of the UFC Event Centre will help increase fan engagement when it comes to betting of UFC fights.
“It’s fun to go to a Vegas sportsbook at 11 o’clock at night and watch everybody go crazy over the University of Hawaii game, which no one would care about but for the fact that it’s the only college-football game left,” he said. “We’re for anything that increases fan engagement.”
The UFC Event Centre is expected to offer approximately 50 betting opportunities per fight and potentially 20 new types of betting wagers in real time.
