NBC Sports Washington has announced it will be including in-play betting coverage during an alternative showing of the Washington Wizards fixture on Thursday.
The fixture will be aired on NBC Sports Washington plus overflow channel. It will feature the same commentators and advertisement breaks as the regular feed. However, the alternate broadcast will feature a free-to-play predictive contest as well as real-time sports betting data and match analytics.
Live data will include win probability, both team and player statistics, as well as odds and point spreads that will update as the match plays out.
Players will be able to predict outcomes and player performance by answering a series of question that will be displayed throughout the game, with a chance to win a $500 prize.
NBC Sports Washington Senior Vice President and General Manager, Damon Philips, said: “Combining the excitement of live Wizards games with engaging predictive gaming and data feeds will deliver a very entertaining experience for viewers, from first-time gaming players to savvy sports bettors.
“The level of interest from fans, partners and sponsors in this area continues to increase, so we are pleased to offer this compelling product this season.”
The move comes after District of Columbia Council proposed amendments to the recently approved sports betting bill. Amendments, if approved, would mean that the DC Lottery provider Intralot would be granted access to bypass the competitive bidding process for sports betting in the district, allowing them to become the sole contract allowed to operate a sportsbook.
City lawmakers in Washington DC voted overwhelmingly in favour of legalising sports betting in the US Capital back in December. However, DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser has yet to sign or veto the bills, which means that no official decision has been made.