Ever since sports betting became legal in New Jersey, both the state and sports leagues have been quick to embrace it. In just a few short months since the first bets where placed (I remember that day, it was like Christmas for me, except I spent a lot more money and lost a lot of it on baseball), multiple online gambling sites became available to gambling enthusiasts across the great Garden State. Many sports leagues teamed up and formed partnerships with apps to welcome the inevitable new wave in the sports-watching landscape.
The New Jersey Devils wasted no time bringing sports betting into their operations. William Hill and Caesars Entertainment both have a presence at Prudential Center, as does FanDuel. Well, FanDuel has one thing their competitors don’t, with an official partnership with MSG Networks.
From the official press release:
MSG Networks (NYSE: MSGN) and FanDuel, the country’s premier gaming destination, announced today a new comprehensive sponsorship agreement that will designate FanDuel as an official sports gaming partner for New York Knicks and New Jersey Devils broadcasts on MSG Networks.
The unique partnership includes a mix of in-game and halftime integrations, branded content and commercial spots that will air during MSG Networks’ Knicks and Devils game broadcasts, as well as features that will air during the team’s pre- and post-game shows. Devils telecasts will also showcase live updates and updated betting odds on the ticker during each intermission to keep fans up-to-date between periods.
Now part of every Devils’ broadcast on MSG Networks will be a short segment called “Line To Line,” featuring betting tips and news on that night’s hockey matchups. “Line to Line” will air during the New Jersey Devils’ pregame. Gambling updates, such as odds and scores, will be broadcast during intermission. A similarly entitled basketball-specific segment, “Inside The Lines,” began airing with the New York Knicks broadcast Wednesday night.
On FanDuel’s part, this was an outstanding business move. MSG Network is the region’s top cable sports network, and no matter how many fans pack into Prudential Center, more fans will always be watching from home. Plus, when the inevitable happens and sports gambling gets legalized in New York, FanDuel will have a significant head up over its competitors. This brings the information that hockey fans and gamblers want right into their living room. Remember the olden days when you had to leave your couch to gamble? Kids these days will never know how good they have it.
The betting segments on Devils broadcasts will feature revolving talent giving tips to viewers. Whether you’re a first-time gambler or someone who’s in it way too deep at this point (I don’t have a problem, I swear) they’re out to give you winning picks. We used to have our own betting column here at Devils Army Blog (remember Bardown Bets), so hopefully, FanDuel does a better job than we did.
So if you watch the game and have the sudden urge to place some hard-earned money down at the hands of John Hynes and company, download the FanDuel app and play along. Remember, Devils were the odds on cup favorites at the beginning of the year. Players must be over 21 and PHYSICALLY in New Jersey, as the app is actually GPS enabled. If you cross over state lines for whatever reason, bets can’t be placed.
As always, watch MSG for the best New Jersey Devils television coverage. Their FanDuel sponsorship should be a welcome addition to an already excellent broadcast. The New Jersey Devils take on the Edmonton Oilers tonight at 9:00 PM on MSG+.