Basketball ratings may be down, but sportsbooks are targeting the hardwood to bring them back.
As a way to draw attention to basketball and further drive interest in sports betting, DraftKings told the Post that basketball is “number one.” There is only one priority. ”
DraftKings Chief Revenue Officer Greg Karamitis said the site will be rolling out a special promotion to all users on Christmas Day this year.
The promotion, for which users will begin opting in on December 24th, will distribute $2 million in free bets to bettors who bet on the player with the highest cumulative points + rebounds + assists (PRA) on Christmas Day.
The five-game NBA header will feature Spurs vs. Knicks, Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, 76ers vs. Celtics, Lakers vs. Warriors, and Nuggets vs. Suns.
Christmas Day has historically been hosted by the NBA, but in recent years the NFL has scheduled games, with a doubleheader on Netflix this year.
DraftKings ran a similar $1 million promotion earlier this year to preview the first few weeks of the NBA season.
Those who opted in and placed a player prop bet on November 13th when Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 59 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists (80 total PRA) received an additional 69 on their winning bet. Received a free bet of $.
The promotion comes amid criticism of declining ratings as the NBA seeks new stars and better quality of play.
The Sports Business Journal reported that viewership for NBA Cup group play was down 10% compared to last year, which was as of Nov. 21, when ESPN's ratings were reportedly down 28%. Compared to his regular season numbers, it's actually up a notch.
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DraftKings added that it is exploring other ways to incorporate different types of engagement into the sport, seeing basketball as a key growth spot.
In preparation for the NBA Cup, the league isNBA Creators Cup” featured streetball legends and trick shot specialists.
Karamitis speculated that participating in more celebrity-style basketball games could be an opportunity for further growth.
“I absolutely love it,” Calamitis said. “Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson was a big deal, but it wasn't allowed in certain jurisdictions. Regulators always choose what we can and can't offer. But I We actually love offering free-to-play billiards products as a way to participate in these events. These generate a lot of enthusiasm and I'm looking forward to developing these additional events further. I love going to exciting sports. If there is content, we want to be a part of it.”
The Tyson vs. Paul fight is the most highly wagered fight in martial arts history.
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Erich Richter is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but has a black belt in mixed martial arts gambling. During football season, he proved to be a huge moneymaker for the Post in the player prop market the past two seasons. Always betting on the long shot, the return on investment from 2022 onwards is 30.15%.
