The past month marked a pivotal moment in NASCAR’s push toward innovation as NASCAR and nVenue worked to deliver a new way to watch the race. Using nVenue’s in-race betting product to focus on head-to-head matchups, nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities for each matchup were integrated into the race broadcast.

NASCAR and nVenue have worked together since 2023 and recently reached a multi-year agreement to extend their partnership. As a data partner, nVenue has built a live betting product that allows fans to bet on hundreds of markets during races. nVenue worked with NASCAR to build out live head-to-head markets for each matchup of the In-Season Challenge.

nVenue integrated its proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning platform for live sports with the In-Season Challenge broadcasts. The integration kicked off during the opening race of the In-Season Challenge and continued throughout the Challenge, delivering a new level of real-time insight directly into the broadcast experience.

At the same time, fans across the world were able to place bets in real-time on head-to-head driver matchups, stage winners, and dozens of new in-race markets, marking a historic first for the sport.

Behind the scenes, nVenue’s commitment to execution was on full display. Co-Founder and Chief Sports Officer, Bruce Sears, was in the production control room for the opening race, working hand-in-hand with multiple teams and resources required to bring the integration to the air.

“nVenue has been a fantastic data partner. One of the great things about nVenue’s partnership is in addition to the live betting product it has built, nVenue has the ability to turn odds into probabilities that can be shown on live broadcasts to further promote fan engagement. This lined up well with the format of the In-Season Challenge, allowing us to provide fans with a way to follow the live probabilities of each matchup throughout every lap of the race,” said Joe Solosky, NASCAR, Managing Director, Sports Betting.

“nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities came to life during live NASCAR racing to provide a richer experience of the sport, for fans watching, betting, or both. The nVenue platform meets the incredibly demanding speed and precision required for motorsports, but also sets a new standard for fan engagement and in-race betting. It’s a testament to our team’s unparalleled expertise in bringing such complex, data-driven innovation to market at scale. Innovation has only just begun, and we are excited to continue this work with leagues, media, and sports betting to bring these worlds together for the best experiences in live sports,” said Sears.

With broadcast, betting, and data now converging on race day, this collaboration between NASCAR and nVenue is signaling the future of how fans engage with the sport, one lap at a time.

VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, announced it will air the second season of the betting industry’s first docuseries to bring viewers behind the scenes of the world’s biggest legal betting contest. “Circa Survivor: The Quest for $14.2 Million” debuts its first episode Tuesday, August 5 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on VSiN.com and YouTubeTV.

Produced by Longball Productions, the sports betting docuseries follows contestants as they navigate the 2024 Circa Sports Circa Survivor Pro Football Contest – the largest sports contest of its kind in the world – with a prize of $14.2 million. The show captures the excitement and drama of this high-stakes contest, as well as the characters involved, to see who will win a winner-take-all prize. This year features familiar faces and new contestants alike, including celebrity sightings such as Dana White and Greg Maddux.

Hosted by sports betting venture Circa Sports, Circa Survivor requires contestants to walk through the door to sign up, giving the docuseries filmmakers access to sports betting enthusiasts nationwide. Contestants then make their weekly picks through a local proxy service or in person, where producers follow the thrills and agony of this wild ride through the pro football season. The series features a vast array of characters and incredible stories, including fan favorites and players that viewers will love to hate.

There will be a total of ten episodes in this season.

The combined value of the world’s top 25 gambling brands ranked has surged by 21% year-on-year to USD60.8 billion this year, according to the Gambling 25 2025 rankings by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy.

The latest data from Brand Finance highlights the sector’s remarkable resilience and transformation, fuelled by a post-pandemic tourism rebound, rapid legalisation of online betting in the US, and rising sports sponsorships that have lifted brand awareness among millions of new fans.

Following the 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the US has become the world’s largest regulated online gambling market, with more than 35 states now permitting sports betting. Major operators have responded with record marketing expenditure and high-profile sponsorship deals, driving strong brand growth nationwide.

Online gambling in the US is quickly catching up to Las Vegas in both brand value and public interest. Brand awareness is rising fast, with FanDuel up 26% and DraftKings up 18% since 2022. In contrast, traditional Vegas-based brands like Caesars and MGM have seen more modest gains; just 1% and 14%, respectively. With FanDuel now at 74% awareness and DraftKings at 82%, they’re closing in on Caesars (82%) and MGM (87%), signalling strong future growth for online operators.

In 2024, Americans wagered an estimated USD172 billion online, helping to drive record brand value growth among major players. Online gambling brand, FanDuel (brand value up 25% to USD7.0 billion) has risen to become the world’s most valuable gambling brand ranked this year. DraftKings (brand value up 59% to USD5.1 billion) has entered the global top three for the first time while MGM (brand value up 102% to USD3.8 billion) and Wynn Resorts (brand value up 25% to USD3.7 billion) have also posted significant gains, reflecting strong demand across both online and destination gaming.

Other prominent US names ranked include Harrah (brand value up 4% to USD2.4 billion) which has strengthened customer loyalty through revamped rewards programmes and integrated resort experiences, and Penn Entertainment (brand value down 15% to USD2.2 billion).

China’s Studio City (brand value up 118% to USD801 million) is the world’s fastest-growing gambling brand in this year’s rankings, following its Phase 2 expansion in Macau which boosted operating revenue by 40% year-on-year. Macau’s gaming industry continues to recover strongly, with visitor arrivals up 43% in the first half of 2024 and gross gaming revenue in July rising 12% compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, Marina Bay Sands remains the strongest brand ranked in the casino and gambling sector, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 93.9/100 and an AAA+ brand strength rating, ahead of the US’ Caesars (BSI score 92.4/100) and Malaysia’s Genting (BSI score 87.7/100). These brands continue to stand out for their premium entertainment experiences and strong reputation for customer loyalty and trust.

Henry Farr, Director at Brand Finance, said: “Reaching a record USD60.8 billion in brand value, the gambling sector continues to demonstrate its strength and agility in meeting changing consumer demands. The US online betting boom, with FanDuel now surpassing traditional Vegas giants, alongside major sports sponsorships, has driven impressive brand growth.”