GolfBet will be powered by The Action Network and hosted at www.actionnetwork.com/golf. It also will be available within The Action Network app for use on smartphones and tablets.
Through the strategic partnership with The Action Network, the PGA Tour will provide GolfBet content distribution via Tour digital platforms, footage rights to support GolfBet video content, and official Tour data to ensure that GolfBet and The Action Network offer golf fans and golf bettors the most accurate data and compelling content available. The service will be subscription-free.
“We believe that golf fans and sports bettors alike are in search of a deeper level of information that has not existed until the launch of GolfBet,” said Norb Gambuzza, PGA Tour’s SVP Media & Gaming. “The Action Network is the perfect partner to create this type of content platform to educate and entertain fans about responsible betting on golf while bolstering the overall gaming ecosystem. We are bullish that GolfBet content and the growth of sports betting will drive fan engagement and expand our overall audience.”
Gambuzza added: “In a typical PGA Tour season, there are approximately 1.2 million golf shots taken across our schedule. This represents a massive opportunity for in-play betting, new types of markets for operators who have access to official PGA Tour data, and tremendous opportunities for content generation. We think that The Action Network has the unique expertise to develop a diverse array of tools, analysis, and other content which will help fans and bettors understand, access, and enjoy these new betting opportunities as the market evolves.”
Patrick Keane, CEO of The Action Network, added: “The PGA Tour is one of the most forward-thinking leagues and rights holders around the massive growing legal sports betting business. Our consumers are passionate golf fans, and we are excited about the opportunity to enhance our coverage via the launch of the GolfBet platform.”
In 2019, The Action Network produced more than 800 individual pieces of golf-related content and offered bet tracking and analysis tools focused on golf. In addition to producing the majority of the weekly content for GolfBet, The Action Network is planning to set up partnerships with other media companies to power the platform.
Max Wright, Senior Vice President of IMG Arena, said: “Golf was one of the few major sports that had not yet offered consistent in-play betting markets. We see a massive opportunity for growth through ‘in-play’ betting once our official PGA Tour betting data hits the market later this year. This partnership between PGA Tour and The Action Network is hugely complementary. We believe that an information hub like GolfBet which delivers high quality content to help to inform and educate users about golf and golf betting will be a net positive for the growing golf betting market.”