Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced a partnership with Sparket, an online gambling platform that focuses on creating a social environment for betting.
The one-year partnership will allow MLR fans to access Sparket through its app and website and compete in real money picks and free-to-play contests. Sparket currently operates in 42 states across the US, partnering with sports betting sites and tribal casinos to offer its services. It advertises as letting fans “bet on anything”, including sports, reality TV, pop culture, and politics.
Commenting on the deal, Lucas Reid, chief revenue officer of MLR, stated, “The growing gaming industry is providing new opportunities for casual consumers and fans to engage with all sports, teams, and players, and our league wants to align itself with the industry’s momentum,
“Sparket provides a unique opportunity to connect in a new way to our fans and the emerging online predictions market, and we look forward to integrating the company’s offerings into our platforms.”
Growth tool for sports leagues
Sparket COO Evan Fisher issued a statement on the deal, commenting, “Sparket’s skill-based contests are a fan engagement and growth tool for sports leagues and teams, and we are excited to bring North America’s top rugby league into our collection of partners,
“We are reimagining the future of gaming with a platform that lets fans engage with their favorite topics: sports, entertainment, or real-world outcomes in a fun, social, and dynamic environment, and MLR’s strategies perfectly align with our goals.”
The partnership comes at a time when prediction market platforms are facing increased regulatory scrutiny. Other sports leagues, including the NBA, contacted the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over concerns about the spread of sports event contracts that allow users to predict the outcome of matches.
Sparket has taken a different approach than other prediction market sites, such as Kalshi and Crypto.com, by partnering with licensed operators, and now with the MLR. It is unclear whether the partnership will allow users to place real-money bets in states that have not legalized sports betting.
Bringing real money gaming to rugby
Stephen Crystal, Founder & CEO of SCCG Management, a gambling advisory firm, commented on the partnership as part of MLR’s press release. Crystal stated, “Major League Rugby continues to lead the way in fan engagement by embracing innovation and opening the door to new interactive experiences,
“We’re proud to support this collaboration with Sparket, which brings both social and real money gaming to MLR events for the first time. It’s exciting to see two visionary partners come together to create something truly unique for sports fans.”
Rugby has grown in popularity in the US recently, and the country will host the 2031 Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup. MLR was started in 2018 with seven teams and has continued to expand, with the 2024 season featuring 12 teams. The sport also attracts interest from bettors, a report indicated that 77% of American bettors had placed wagers on rugby.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
