Sports programming giant ESPN is betting big on Southern Nevada, with the debut this week of a broadcast studio at a Las Vegas casino.
The network began operations in the 6,000-square-foot studio at the LINQ Hotel on Aug. 24, with produced segments for its digital platforms and a SportsCenter news and highlights show.
Beginning Sept. 8, the Daily Wager sports betting program will originate from the LINQ studio, airing on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. ET on weekdays.
Daily Wager was put on hold in March when the coronavirus pandemic prompted college and professional sports leagues to halt play. However, major professional leagues began playing again this summer in venues without fans. The National Football League and some college football conferences, including the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, are slated to kick off in September.
With these leagues back in action, sports wagering is picking up.
The appetite for sports betting content continues to grow among fans,” Connor Schell, ESPN’s executive vice president of content, said in a statement on the network’s website.
Live sports betting is legal in 18 states and has been legalized, but is not yet operational, in four states, according to the American Gaming Association. Sports-betting legislation is pending in seven states.
Las Vegas has become “a destination for the biggest events in sports,” Schell said.
The LINQ, owned by Caesars Entertainment, is on the Las Vegas Strip, only about a mile from T-Mobile Arena, home of the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights and the site of other sporting and entertainment events.
A short distance from the arena is Allegiant Stadium, where the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League are scheduled to begin play this year. The Raiders moved from Oakland after last season.
Schell noted the LINQ studio allows the network “to meaningfully cover” events such as the Raiders, Golden Knights, and more, including boxing and the NBA Summer League.
VSiN Joins With BetMGM
Meanwhile, the Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN) is expanding its operations. VSiN was launched by veteran sports broadcaster Brent Musburger in 2017.
The network has a studio at the South Point Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, and is adding a second studio at the Circa Resort Casino under construction in downtown Las Vegas. The Circa is expected to open this fall.
VSiN founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Musburger announced this week the network is adding new shows and additional broadcasters to its lineup. Danielle Alvari of the NFL Network is among those moving to VSiN.
“This new programming will allow us to cover sportsbooks around the country and provide unique and valuable insights to our growing audience of sports bettors,” Musburger said in an email to Casino.org.
The network also is joining with the betting platform BetMGM to launch Betting Across America, providing betting data and analysis.
Starting Aug. 31, VSiN plans to broadcast Betting Across America live in BetMGM sportsbooks and studios in large markets nationwide, according to a statement emailed to Casino.org.
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