Press Releases
Yahoo Sports and NBA Bring Future of Sports Entertainment to Life through Virtual Reality, Fantasy and Betting Relationship
Yahoo Sports and the National Basketball Association (NBA) are joining forces to enhance the at-home fan experience with a multiyear relationship that will make Yahoo Sports an Official Marketing Partner of the league and RYOT a live virtual reality (VR) production partner during the NBA Restart in Orlando. The relationship will also allow Yahoo Sports to engage fans through fantasy and sports betting in unprecedented ways, including the right to create sports betting content and expanding Yahoo Sports’ existing distribution of NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription product, to include gaming integrations.
To bring an immersive, arena-like experience to fans, RYOT, an innovation studio, will produce live NBA games in VR and transport the physical games taking place at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex to fans at home via their Oculus devices. This next-gen content is the latest example of how VR can transform sports and entertainment by blurring the lines between virtual and physical.
More than a dozen live NBA League Pass games will be distributed in VR via Oculus Venues on Oculus Quest and Oculus Go headsets beginning Friday, July 31 through Friday, Aug. 14. For a full schedule of games available in VR, visit nba.com/vr.
“RYOT’s powerful VR capabilities will deliver a truly immersive live experience at home, creating a seamless experience between the physical and digital world,” said Guru Gowrappan, CEO of Verizon Media. “NBA League Pass in VR is exactly the kind of innovative solution we love to create with our partners. Working with the NBA to redefine the fan’s experience of the game has amazing implications for the future of sports and entertainment.”
“As the NBA Restart tips off this week, our expanded relationship with Yahoo Sports will offer a variety of unique ways for fans to engage with the NBA,” said Bill Koenig, NBA President, Global Content & Media Distribution. “With everything from fantasy games, sports betting integrations, gaming-focused content and NBA games in VR, there will be no shortage of opportunities to get closer to the game.”
Yahoo Sports will continue to operate the exclusive season long fantasy game of the NBA, create NBA-branded daily fantasy and sports betting integrations and will collaborate at marquee events including the NBA Draft presented by State Farm and NBA All-Star weekend. Yahoo Sports will also be the presenting partner of NBA Pick’Em: Playoffs Bracket Challenge which will be integrated into NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and other NBA Digital assets, which are jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports.
Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Fantasy and Yahoo Sportsbook will deliver expanded NBA content throughout its platforms. This will include distribution of live, out-of-market games in NBA League Pass and opportunities to engage fans in fantasy and betting through digital overlays. The relationship will also include two shows focused on fantasy and betting to coincide with the NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals. Game footage from the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League will also be used to create content, such as game previews and recaps, to help inform fans participating in season long fantasy, daily fantasy and sports betting.
About the NBA
The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2019-20 season featured 108 international players from 38 countries and territories. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.8 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
About Verizon Media
Verizon Media, a division of Verizon Communications, Inc., houses a trusted media ecosystem of premium brands like Yahoo, TechCrunch and HuffPost to help people stay informed and entertained, communicate and transact, while creating new ways for advertisers and media partners to connect. From XR experiences to advertising and content technology, Verizon Media is an incubator of innovation and is revolutionizing the next generation of content creation in a 5G world.
About Yahoo Sports
Yahoo Sports is the mobile home for sports fans, offering the most robust access to live, local and primetime NFL games, an award-winning fantasy platform, comprehensive news, original series, scores, standings and more. With real-time, personalized content and immersive mobile experiences, Yahoo Sports is innovating for the next generation of sports fans. Download the Yahoo Sports app on iOS and Google Play and download the Yahoo Fantasy app on iOS and Google Play to sign-up and play with Yahoo Fantasy Sports. Yahoo Sports is part of Verizon Media.
Stake Colombia is proud to announce its sponsorship and the incorporation of Juan Sebastián Cabal, the Colombian tennis legend, as its new ambassador. This alliance celebrates Cabal’s unparalleled career and reinforces Stake Colombia’s commitment to sports, excellence, and the Colombian community.
Juan Sebastián Cabal, an iconic figure in Colombian tennis, reached the top of the doubles world ranking in 2019, forming one of the most prominent duos of the last decade with Robert Farah. Together, they conquered Wimbledon and the US Open, were finalists at Roland Garros and the Australian Open in men’s doubles, and Cabal also won the Australian Open in mixed doubles. Furthermore, they achieved multiple victories in ATP 1000, 500, and 250 tournaments. His career is a clear example of perseverance, talent, and excellence, leaving an indelible mark on global tennis.
“Having Juan Sebastián Cabal as an ambassador is key for Stake Colombia. At a time when paddle is experiencing an explosion in popularity across the country, fostering entertainment among young people is fundamental. Supporting, connecting with the community, and offering new experiences is what drives us, and this alliance is an opportunity to truly excite both paddle and tennis enthusiasts alike,” stated Diana Otálora, Country Manager of Stake Colombia.
Beyond his impressive records and titles, Juan Sebastián Cabal embodies the fighting and resilient spirit of Colombian athletes. He has represented Colombia in three editions of the Olympic Games and has been a fundamental pillar in the Davis Cup for more than 15 years. Currently, Cabal continues his legacy in padel and sports development through his club “Padeling by Cabal,” which promotes well-being and physical activity in his hometown, inspiring new generations of athletes and strengthening national pride.
Regarding this new alliance with Stake Colombia, Cabal stated that “it is a fantastic opportunity to continue promoting the values of sport and dedication that have accompanied me throughout my career. I am excited about the idea of working together to inspire more people and support sports development in our country.”
The collaboration between Stake and Juan Sebastián Cabal is a testament to their shared passion for sports and entertainment. Through this partnership, Stake Colombia will seek to promote sports integrity and connect communities with innovative and exciting experiences.
Latest News
Buffalo Run Casino & Resort Selects QCI Go to Empower Hosts and Enhance Guest Engagement
Buffalo Run Casino & Resort has chosen Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Go, a native mobile app designed specifically for casino hosts, to elevate host productivity and deliver a superior guest experience.
QCI Go provides hosts with powerful tools including player card scanning, real-time player lookup, seamless access to QCI Meet and QCI Events, and robust task management features—all in a user-friendly mobile interface. By putting these capabilities directly in the hands of hosts, QCI Go enables faster service, deeper guest relationships, and greater operational efficiency on the casino floor.
Mary Jewett, Vice President and General Marketing at Buffalo Run Casino & Resort, expressed excitement about the implementation:
“Bringing QCI Go to Buffalo Run Casino & Resort represents a significant advancement in how we empower our hosts to serve guests. With mobile access to key player information, events, and task management, our team can deliver personalized service in real time, enhancing both the guest experience and host effectiveness.”
Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, shared his perspective on the partnership:
“We are thrilled to deploy QCI Go at Buffalo Run Casino & Resort. By providing hosts with mobile access to the QCI platform, we enable them to deliver exceptional, timely service and foster stronger player relationships. This is a great example of how our mobile-first innovations help operators improve team productivity and guest satisfaction.”
QCI Go is part of Quick Custom Intelligence’s broader commitment to innovation in the gaming industry, providing operators with state-of-the-art tools that support host teams, streamline operations, and drive meaningful guest engagement.
BMM Testlabs (“BMM” or “the Company”), the world’s original gaming test lab renowned for exceptional product compliance and certification services, today announced that Amit Sharma, former Chief Executive Officer of its BIG Cyber business, has not been affiliated with the Company in any capacity since October 2024.
BIG Cyber is focused on delivering world-class cybersecurity solutions to the global gaming industry under the leadership of Marzia Turrini, President, iGaming & Cybersecurity at BMM Testlabs. Turrini provides executive oversight for BIG Cyber’s strategy, services, and partnerships, ensuring the highest standards of security, professionalism, and customer care.
BMM Testlabs Chief Executive Officer Martin Storm said, “We take the integrity of our brand and communications seriously. While we thank Amit for his past contributions, we want to make it clear that he no longer represents BIG Cyber, BMM Testlabs, or BMM Innovation Group in any form. Our BIG Cyber solutions business continues to grow under the trusted leadership of Marzia Turrini and our global team of experts.”
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