Apple Sports to Feature Odds From DraftKings

Apple Sports is venturing into the world of legal sports betting through a partnership with a top sports betting app, a move that was seen as inevitable.

The recently launched Apple Sports app will be upgraded to include not only scores, schedules, stats, and standings, but also betting odds. The enhanced version of the app will be accessible in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. and was announced on Wednesday.

The upcoming product will include real-time odds from DraftKings, a major player in the legal sports betting industry in the United States. The integration of sports betting content into the Apple Sports app has been in progress for about a year and is timely with the highly anticipated March Madness tournament, a key event for online betting platforms.

Apple is dipping its toe into the online gambling world by joining partnerships with technology and sports wagering providers. BetMGM and Twitter recently announced a deal to embed BetMGM odds on the Twitter platform, while ESPN’s media empire has also expanded to include ESPN BET with odds on the Disney-owned omni-channel platform.

How is Apple’s approach unique? The DraftKings branding is not visible on its app, and clicking on the odds in the Apple Sports app does not lead to a sports betting site.

Apple Sports app

Apple Sports is aiming to establish itself in the fiercely competitive sports media industry in the United States. By partnering with DraftKings, a leading sportsbook, the technology provider gains instant access to the world of sports betting.

Apple Sports now has exclusive rights to Major League Soccer and offers customers the ability to stream Major League Baseball’s Friday Night Baseball. The app can be downloaded from the App Store.

Apple Sports was developed with the intention of providing sports enthusiasts with quick access to scores and statistics,” stated Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services. “Available for free on the App Store, Apple Sports simplifies the process of staying informed about one’s favorite teams and leagues.”

What DraftKings brings to the table

The new Apple Sports app will now showcase DraftKings odds for the most popular sports in North America. Currently, this includes:

• MLS
• NBA
• NCAA basketball (men’s and women’s)
• NHL
• Bundesliga
• LaLiga
• Liga MX
• Ligue 1
• Premier League
• Serie A

The seasons of MLB, NFL, NCAAF, NWSL, and WNBA will be available for streaming on the Apple Sports app once they begin.

To access various betting markets from DraftKings, users of the new Apple Sports app must click on their preferred matchup. Once a game is selected, wagering odds for moneyline, totals, and spread markets will be displayed.

A spokesperson from DraftKings confirmed that they are collaborating with Apple to showcase live betting odds on the Apple Sports app.

If users are not interested in viewing the DraftKings wagering content, they will have the opportunity to disable the odds setting.

While the Apple-DraftKings partnership may not be a game-changer, it is undeniable that Apple’s decision to incorporate sports betting odds on its platform is a significant move towards making betting more mainstream in the U.S. market.