The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has agreed to expand its long-term partnership with sports data and tech specialist Genius Sports. Under the extended agreement, the latter party will leverage its unparalleled computer vision technology and AI-powered capabilities to enhance basketball leagues across the globe.

Under the new agreement, Genius Sports will continue to work with the FIBA for another 10 years, with the new term set to expire in 2035.

By supplying the basketball sector with new technology, Genius Sports will transform its entire data and video ecosystem. The sports technology specialist will provide a unified, connected solution to automate and synchronize the collection of live game statistics and video production with advanced player tracking, the announcement says.

To that end, Genius Sports will leverage its optical system that has been trained in the reading and understanding of live game plays. Its capabilities allow it to predict outcomes in real time, providing bettors with important insights.

This will mark the first time FIBA Leagues and National Federations have had access to an AI-powered automated player tracking system. Thanks to this, users will be able to access many cutting-edge coaching tools and analytics, automated officiating and broadcast augmentation tools.

Genius Sports Is Looking Forward to Enhancing Basketball Leagues

The new agreement will also cement Genius Sports as FIBA’s official data & video capture and production partner. The sports data specialist will also serve as the association’s official innovation & technology partner from 2025 onward.

Andreas Zagklis, FIBA’s secretary general, commented on the new deal, praising the almost 20-year partnership between the two bodies. He said that Genius Sports’ automated solution will assist National Federations and Leagues, helping them bolster revenue and reduce costs.

We’re delighted to expand our partnership with Genius Sports to achieve this goal and equip the FIBA Family with first access to this cutting-edge technology in basketball.

Andreas Zagklis, secretary general, FIBA

Mark Locke, Genius Sports’ chief executive officer, was likewise pleased to expand this “landmark partnership” with FIBA. He said that his team is looking forward to transforming international basketball through Genius Sports’ technology.

Powered by our unique AI-driven system, Leagues and National Federations at all levels of basketball will be able to automate data and video collection and utilize the highest quality player and team tracking data.

Mark Locke, CEO, Genius Sports

Genius and FIBA first teamed up in 2004. Since then, the two parties have provided 200 Leagues and National Federations worldwide with both FIBA LiveStats and FIBA Organizer.

A month ago, Genius Sports integrated its new BetVision solution into FanDuel.

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Bally’s Chicago Casino, housed within the historic Medinah Temple, has made an impressive debut in the city’s bustling River North neighborhood. Despite being in operation for just three weeks, the casino attracted over 80,000 visitors and generated approximately $6.7 million in revenue, according to data released by the Illinois Gaming Board.

Bally’s Chicago Emerges as State’s Second-Busiest Casino

The figures, while promising, place Bally’s Chicago as the second-busiest casino in the state, trailing behind Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, which reported a substantial $41.5 million in revenue for September. However, Bally’s revenue places it in the middle of the pack among the state’s 15 casinos, showcasing a strong potential for growth.

Bally’s Chicago, which opened its doors on September 9, transformed the historic Medinah Temple into a vibrant gambling venue, featuring 800 slot machines, 56 gaming tables, a central bar, two restaurants, and a coffee shop. The casino’s soft launch was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other city officials.

Soo Kim, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Bally’s Corporation, expressed optimism about the casino’s future despite the initial challenges faced during the early phase of operation in a statement for The Chicago Tribune. He stated that it was early days and they were still in the phase where they were working out the kinks, acknowledging the “whispered offering” and traffic disruptions downtown as challenges during the casino’s first month.

One of the notable aspects of Bally’s Chicago’s opening was the unexpectedly younger crowd at the table games, indicating a shift in the demographic compared to other Bally’s properties. Soo Kim expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to introduce gaming to downtown Chicago, aiming to change the perception of the area as a viable location for such entertainment.

Bally’s Chicago Temporary Casino Soars, Promising Lucrative Future Returns

The temporary casino, operational until 2026, aims to generate between $15 million and $25 million in earnings this year, according to projections. In September alone, Bally’s Chicago contributed approximately $868,000 in state taxes and $695,000 in local taxes, with the city expecting nearly $70 million in total revenue from the casino in 2023, including a one-time $40 million upfront payment from Bally’s.

Looking ahead, Bally’s Chicago has ambitious plans for the future. The Rhode Island-based company won a competitive bid last year and intends to build a $1.74 billion permanent casino at the site of Tribune Publishing’s Freedom Center printing plant in River West by 2026. Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed confidence in Bally’s ability to meet its long-term projections, envisioning an annual tax revenue of $50 million from the Medinah location and $200 million per year from the permanent site.

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Gambling software developer Playtech announced an extension of its exclusive partnership with Betfred. The two companies will continue their collaboration, which will see the former company supply the operator with more sports betting machines.

As agreed, more Playtech Self Service Betting Terminals will be installed in Betfred shops, helping Betfred keep up with the rising demand for sports betting. Over the past two years, the number of such machines employed by Betfred has swelled by a stellar 50%.

In addition, the expanded deal will make horse and dog racing markets available to Betfred customers for the first time. In addition to that, a variety of recent exciting features and products will be added to Betfred’s arsenal. These include Playtech’s new and improved Betbuilder, dynamic content display and premium content.

Playtech has cemented its reputation as a top provider of retail sports betting terminals. The company is famous for the quality of its products and its exclusive features. Betfred, on the other hand, is a top sports betting operator that will greatly benefit from the deal and expanded lineup of Playtech machines.

Playtech Is Happy about the Opportunity to Reach More Players

The expanded agreement was addressed by representatives of the two companies.

Betfred’s group chief operating officer, Mark Stebbings, said that the agreement highlights the importance of the relationship between the two companies. He lauded Playtech as a market leader in retail betting machines and said that Betfred’s deal with the supplier will only continue to grow in importance.

The importance of Betting terminals to our retail offer continues to increase, becoming an increasingly essential gaming component for our customers and, therefore, a crucial part of the future of our company.

Mark Stebbings. COO, Betfred

Shimon Akad, Playtech’s chief operating officer, also commented on the agreement. He said that Betfred is a major gambling business that continues to grow in strength and popularity. Akad is happy about the opportunity to supply Betfred with more machines, helping it meet the demands of its players.

Expanding the capacity of the Betfred offering through both more terminals and an ever-increasing range of betting events and exciting features has been a key pillar of our work together as we continue to develop new technologies aimed at digitizing the retail space and adapting to the changing Retail customer demands.

Shimon Akad, CEO, Playtech

Akad added that there is still room to improve and further develop this partnership. He concluded that the Playtech team continues to look for opportunities to proliferate the company’s products and machines.

A few days ago, Betfred secured an esports-oriented deal with PandaScore.

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