ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — On Tuesday, the NHL finalized its US broadcast partners with the league and Turner Sports signing a seven-year media rights agreement. That means that TNT and TBS will broadcast regular-season, Stanley Cup Playoff and Stanley Cup Final games starting next season through 2027-28.
This followed an earlier announcement that ESPN will hold the primary media rights in the US for the same seven-year period. The Canadian broadcast rights are held by Rogers Communications who signed a 12-year, $5.2 billion deal which began in the 2014-15 season.
Things are changing quickly on the NHL landscape as the league looks to engage new business partners to create a whole new immersive experience for hockey fans.
What does that mean?
With more of us watching games from the comfort of our homes, the NHL is taking advantage of opportunities for enhanced fan engagement with innovations in tracking and the way the hockey is broadcast utilizing 5G technology. Governments are opening the door to creating a legal framework for sports betting recognizing considerable economic opportunities. And the sports gaming industry is ramping up to welcome a whole new legion of fans.
Sports betting, is it legal?
At this point, this question does not have a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Firstly, let’s deal with the product that is, with a few exceptions, legal for most everyone. Daily Fantasy Sports is a product for many fans in our North American audience including 43 US states.
Daily Fantasy Sports is much like the season-long fantasy sports leagues with which you may have participated. However the contests are shorter, from a day to a week long, available in a wide range of sports. Choose your contest, draft a player roster, collect points based on the athlete’s performance and cash in your winnings.
DraftKings, a Rocket Sports partner, is an expert in Daily Fantasy Sports. They offer Casual contests, Head-to-Head matchups, public or private Tournaments, Fantasy Leagues and Live Events. In February, DraftKings and the NFL reached an agreement to bring its DFS product to Canada just in time for the Super Bowl.
Our Rocket Sports staff, on both sides of the border, without any prior experience, dipped a toe in daily fantasy sports, and have thoroughly enjoyed what what they found.
But I just want to watch the game!
We completely understand that sentiment. But we also know that all games are not created equal. Not every match in an 82-game (or 56-game) NHL season keeps you on the edge of your seat. Remember the Flames – Canadiens series? Some fans said, ‘never again!’
But add to the mix, entering a few daily fantasy contests, and all of a sudden your hockey watching becomes much more engaging!
If you are new to the concept of daily fantasy sports, here’s a great primer titled Game On! A Rookie’s Review of Daily Fantasy Sports by our Rocket Sports colleague, Amy Johnson. DFS can be fun, affordable, safe and legal!
Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily Fantasy Sports is a skill-based game that requires some knowledge of players to assemble a roster. This is a distinctly different product from games of chance, like Sportsbook. Traditionally, this form of sports betting is focused on a single team.
Rather than gathering individual athletes from a variety of teams, many fans find prognosticating about how their favorite team will perform a much more exciting method of sports gaming. And now that the internet has brought this type of entertainment to our homes, thousands of fans are enjoying the thrill of watching and predicting the outcome for the sports team they support.
In the US, DraftKings sports betting is legal online in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. In Canada, the situation just became very interesting this past week.
Coming soon to Canada!
On April 22nd, the House of Commons passed Bill C-218 which will legalize single event sports betting in Canada. The market potential for legal, online gaming in Canada is “an industry worth $14 billion in Canada,†according to MP Kevin Waugh.
Waugh, a member of parliament for Saskatoon-Grasswood introduced Bill C-218 as a private members bill. “I am pleased that today, Bill C-218 passed the House of Commons with the support of Members of Parliament from all parties. The Justice Committee’s study on this bill highlighted the fact that legalizing single-event sports betting will create great economic opportunities for Canadian workers, businesses, and employees,†said Waugh.
Bill C-218 now proceeds to the Senate for reading and adoption. If the bill becomes law, it will significantly open the industry for retail and mobile sportsbooks in a regulated marketplace in Canada. There’s no doubt that more US states will be added soon to that growing list.
Get in on the fun!
So, is daily fantasy sports a better fit for the way you enjoy sports or sportsbook betting? It need not be a choice as, depending where you live, both options may be available to you now, or in the near future.
As the industry continues to evolve, your opportunities to enhance your sports viewing experience are about to expand considerably. Isn’t it time for you to explore the exciting, ever-expanding world of sports gaming?
By Rick Stephens, Editor-in-Chief
All Habs Hockey Magazine
Copyright © 2021 Rocket Sports
