Sports technology company IMG Arena has partnered with nVenue to expand its live and micro-betting offerings for Major League Soccer. The collaboration will combine their official MLS data rights with nVenue’s predictive betting platform, which IMG Arena says will create a broader range of in-play markets for operators.
Key Takeaways
- IMG Arena partners with nVenue to expand Major League Soccer betting
- Deal combines MLS data rights with a predictive betting platform
- Follows deal with Sportradar for the company’s global sports betting rights
“As we looked to expand our live betting portfolio for MLS, it was essential to find a technology partner with the capability to deliver at scale. After an in-depth review, nVenue emerged as the clear leader in delivering real-time, live and micro betting products that match the speed and energy of the game,” said the Director of Commercial Partnerships for the Americas at IMG Arena, Andrew Turner, explaining why nVenue was the first choice.
The deal builds on IMG Arena’s 2022 acquisition of MLS data distribution rights and follows its work with over 470 gambling brands worldwide, covering 39,000 official data events annually across 14 sports.
Sportradar secures IMG Arena in $225 million acquisition
Sportradar announced an agreement to acquire IMG Arena and its sports betting rights portfolio for $225 million in March. It included rights for tennis, soccer, and basketball, which comprise around 70% of the world’s betting activity.
IMG Arena’s portfolio features over 70 rights holders, including Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, Roland-Garros, EuroLeague basketball, the PGA Tour, and Major League Soccer. Combined with Sportradar’s existing tennis coverage, the deal secures rights to three of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
At the time of the deal, Sportradar CEO Carsten Koerl said the acquisition would accelerate revenue and cash flow growth and strengthen Sportradar’s strategic position in global sports betting. The transaction is expected to conclude in the final quarter of 2025.
Sportradar reports record quarter
The partnership with IMG Arena has further boosted Sportradar's good second quarter of the year. The company reported record revenue of €318 million ($368.8 million), up 14% year-over-year.
Profits rose to €49 million ($56.8 million), representing 15.5% of revenue, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 31% to €64 million ($74.2 million). The company also repurchased $65.5 million of shares under its buyback plan.
Based on this performance, the company has raised its full-year outlook to at least €1.28 billion ($1.48 billion) in revenue, representing a 16% increase.
Commenting on the results, Sportradar CEO Carsten Koerl said they resulted from the company’s scale and portfolio, adding that the IMG Arena acquisition will add to their capabilities and long-term value creation.
