Sportradar’s blockbuster deal with IMG Arena is to be investigated by the UK’s competition watchdog due to fears it could negatively impact the market.
Sportradar, a multinational corporation based in Switzerland that collects and analyses sports data for online casinos, struck an agreement with IMG Arena back in March.
The acquisition of IMG Arena from Endeavor Group, who hold global betting rights to Wimbledon, the PGA Tour and US Open, adds over 39,000 ‘official data events’ and 30,000 streaming events to Sportradar’s portfolio.
The transaction, valued at around $225 million, sent shockwaves through the sports betting industry and the UK’s Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) wants to take a closer look at the impact.
CMA To Investigate If Deal Could Result In ‘Substantial Lessening Of Competition’
In a statement, the CMA said: “The CMA is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services.
“This invitation to comment is the first part of the CMA’s information-gathering process. To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.”
The CMA has launched a two-week period of initial consultation, which closes at the end of July, combing through the potential impact of the deal within the UK betting site and data services sector.
Sportradar To Cover Three Of The Four Tennis Grand Slams With IMG Deal
If or when the deal is finalised, Sportradar will hold the betting rights to three of the four tennis Grand Slams – in the form of Wimbledon alongside the US and French Opens.
Not only will it gain access to the PGA Tour, but the MLS and UFC too. Sportradar is coming off a record year where revenue grew to $1.2 billion and that is expected to increase by 15% come the end of 2025.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
