NEW YORK (AP) – The NHL announced Monday the signing of a multi-year agreement to provide MGM Resorts International with data for use in sports betting. This is the second largest American professional sports league to reach an agreement with the casino giant last spring.

The GMM, based in Las Vegas, is the first official sports betting partner of the league, just as it is with the NBA and WNBA. This agreement was concluded in July.

As part of this agreement, MGM obtains access to proprietary NHL data that could potentially include puck and player tracking information once they go through a test phase. Access to this data will allow MGM to provide custom game details as well as wagering opportunities for US customers where the game is legally available.

The data will not be exclusive to MGM. The NHL does not get a reduction in the profits of the game, but the other terms have not been disclosed.

"The new sports betting landscape offers a unique opportunity to engage fans using proprietary technology and data in our league," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "Fan engagement, technological advancements and innovation are essential to our progressive approach and will be at the forefront of everything we do."

MGM and other casino operators are trying to capitalize on the US sports betting market, which is gaining momentum after the Supreme Court ruled in May that states could accept sports betting if they wanted to. MGM has taken a number of important steps, including the multi-year agreement with the NBA and WNBA.

Bettman and Jim Murren, President and CEO of MGM Resorts, said the NHL's deal was different from that reached with the NBA.

"Jim has made me believe that our deal is more comprehensive and includes the basic sponsorship we have together," Bettman said.

The deal will include promotions at league highlights, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs, All-Star Game and Winter Classic.

"We could not be more excited about this historic partnership with the NHL," said Murren.

Bettman said that the follow-up of the players will be put in place next season.

"That was the plan," he said. "Although we tested it in some form at the World Cup, it represented 16 games in two weeks in an arena, having to trade that for 1,271 regular season games in 31 arenas is a little harder. . "

It is not intended to change the way teams report injuries to players, which are often described only in generic terms, such as high or low body.

"Our players tend to be injured," said Bettman. "I'm not sure that we have an interest in modifying our reports, we are comfortable with the way things are going because it's important for the well-being of our players. not that they are being targeted when they play hurt. "

Bettman said that the league and the NHL Players' Association would share the "fixed income" generated by the partnership with MGM, in accordance with the collective agreement. Bettman cited a report commissioned by the American Gaming Association that estimated that an expansion of sports betting could increase the league's revenue by more than $ 200 million.

Bettman also said that the deal with MGM would not prevent the teams from entering into agreements with individual sports bets. Earlier this year, William Hill, the bookmaker, entered into a contract to do promotional work and publish odds in the Las Vegas and New Jersey Devils Golden Bowl arenas.

NHL Executive Vice President of Revenue, Keith Wachtel, said that being able to provide improved data and analysis to MGM will allow "unique and creative things that do not really exist in the sport at the present time ".

"The more a data-gaming operator has access to data and analysis, the more it will be able to allow it to set ratings," Wachtel told The Associated Press. "Whether or not they use the data for real purposes of creating betting on promotional items, among other things, it's certainly something (that's possible)." But, more importantly they will use it to be able to establish appropriate odds and odds that they will be able to create. "

In an email to the Associated Press, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said MGM "will have access to (NHL data) through our third-party provider, SportRadar. not change in the future. " SportRadar also provides data from the NBA.

Some leagues, including Major League Baseball and the NBA, had claimed "integrity fees" – essentially, states would give them a share of the money wagered on their games to pay increased scrutiny of suspicious bets and protect the game. intellectual property. The effort has been largely unsuccessful so far.

"We have no worries about the integrity of our game, our players and our officials," Wachtel said. "We've never had a problem." Second, the integrity of the sports betting landscape is just as important to bookmakers, which is why the NHL has no discussion and we do not talk about this concept of integrity fees. "

Bettman dismissed concerns that NHL players could be persuaded to play or even play games.

"We are watching every game," said Bettman. "Thanks to the resources of third parties, we are watching what happens, whether the betting lines are changed or not … This has not been a problem and we do not anticipate that it's going to happen." act of a problem. "

Scott Butera, president of MGM Resorts' interactive games and former Football League commissioner Arena, explained how the puck and game tracking data will help bettors.

"If I know that one player is faster than another, if I know that one player spends less energy than another, if I know that". one player has a faster shot hit than the other, it gives me information I can bet on, "he said. "If I bet on the one who scores the most goals, I have this tool, so in the end, when enough data is collected, we can bet on the data itself, so you can bet on the player of your choice. choice." will have the highest average slap shot throughout the game. "

According to Butera, MGM believes that extended sports betting will be available in 25 to 30 states. The 24 US-based NHL teams play in 18 different states, with seven more in Canada, banning single-game betting. The league is moving towards adding a 32nd team to Seattle in what would be its 19th state (Washington).

Bettman said the seven Canadian teams "have worked with the lotteries that control the game at the provincial level."

"I think it will continue," he said. "I know there has been a lot of talk about the one-play gamble versus parlay, which is what exists now, and as the law evolves, you will see our evolution evolve."

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Stephen Whyno, writer at AP Hockey, contributed to this report.

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