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SPORTS Wednesday 7 august 2019

Redskins to offer gambling-focused preseason telecast

By BEN NUCKOLS the alternate telecast on quarter of each game. year, although the regula- Delaware and West Vir-
AP Sports Writer eight games this season, “We think this is the way of tions have not been final- ginia, which are in the NBC
The Washington Redskins and they saw increased the future. There’s going to ized and no sportsbooks Sports Washington viewing
will become the first NFL ratings and fan engage- area, are among the 10
team to have a gambling- ment, said Damon Phil- states that already have
focused telecast of their lips, the network’s general legal sportsbooks. Neither
games, offering cash prizes manager. state currently has online or
to viewers who correctly Starting the interactive mobile betting, however.
predict in-game outcomes telecasts now allows the The NFL has historically
during the preseason. network to be ready when been opposed to gam-
The telecasts on the re- legal online or mobile sports bling on its games, al-
gional cable network NBC betting becomes available though it publishes injury
Sports Washington will fol- in its viewing area, Phillips reports that sportsbooks
low a formula established said. The network in theory use to adjust point spreads,
by the Redskins’ NBA neigh- could accept real-time and it has embraced daily
bors, the Washington Wiz- wagers on proposition bets fantasy sports, in which fans
ards. The Wizards, however, offered during the telecast wager on the performanc-
offered the free-to-play if it partnered with a sports- es of individual players
contests during the regular book. rather than the outcome
season, while the Redskins “Down the road there are of a game. The NBA, NHL
will have them only during a number of possibilities,” In this Aug. 5, 2019, file photo, Washington Redskins wide and Major League Baseball
the four preseason games, Phillips said. “Who knows receiver Terry McLaurin (17) runs drills with teammates Samaje have been more eager to
when NBC Sports Washing- where the different regu- Perine (32) and Darlin Kidsy Jr., (84) during the Washington embrace sports betting in
ton has TV rights. latory entities are going to Redskins NFL football training camp in Richmond, Va. states where it is legal, and
Associated Press
The network will continue to end up on sports betting, they have created business
offer a traditional telecast and we just want to make be a gamification of televi- have opened. Bills have partnerships with sports-
on its main channel, while sure we’re ready to be able sion broadcasts, and this is been introduced to legal- book operators. Caesars
the gambling-focused tele- to respond to it.” one of the first examples of ize sports betting in Virgin- Entertainment became the
cast will air simultaneously For now, the games are it,” Phillips said. ia and Maryland, which NFL’s first casino sponsor
on its secondary channel, free to play and the net- The District of Columbia would require voters in this year, but the deal does
NBC Sports Washington work will give away $1,000 Council legalized sports those states to approve it in not include sports betting
Plus. The Wizards offered in cash to one winner per betting in Washington this a referendum. or fantasy football.q