Despite the favorable legal sports betting landscape for residents of Mountain State, there is still room for further improvement.
Introducing Champion Gaming, a company specializing in sports betting data and analytics, dedicated to offering top-notch content to a diverse audience. Our mission is to become the leading destination for teams, bettors, players, and fans seeking sports intelligence.
Thanks to co-founder and CEO Ken Hershman, Champion Gaming was first launched in April 2021.
During his tenure as president of HBO Sports, he gained recognition by successfully engaging the network in broadcasting prestigious boxing matches. Hershman’s expertise extends beyond sports, as he possesses a legal background from his earlier experience at Shearman & Sterling, where he also familiarized himself with finance and securities.
Champion Gaming has partnered with him for his latest endeavor, aiming to capitalize on the widespread popularity of sports betting in both the United States and worldwide.
Champion aims to elevate the sports betting experience by providing bettors with unique tools for game analysis and decision-making. By leveraging data, content, and simulations, it strives to revolutionize the sports betting process.
Champion Gaming’s sports betting analytics
The popularity of sports betting is steadily increasing across the nation, with legal sportsbooks now available in over 30 states.
The launch of DraftKings WV Sportsbook marked the beginning of West Virginia sportsbooks in August 2019.
Since then, numerous states, including this one, have experienced significant growth in their sports betting industry. For instance, residents of WV now have access to six different online apps for placing bets. This expansion was one of the motivating factors for Hershman to partner with Champion Gaming, as he mentioned in an interview with Proactive.
The rapidly expanding global market of sports wagering caught my attention. I found it enticing to apply my expertise in merging sports and storytelling to this thriving industry.
Progress and partnership
Champion has made significant strides by collaborating with various beneficial brands in the realm of sports betting. It recently secured a funding of $3.65 million and successfully acquired EdjSports.
EdjSports, the parent company of Football Outsiders and a partner of Champion Gaming, is a data provider that utilizes algorithms to assist consumers, NFL teams, and media outlets through its website.
The website has gained recognition for its comprehensive football analytics, covering professionals, college football, and fantasy leagues. It is credited with developing various metrics, including Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), which are now widely utilized in the NFL.
Champion Gaming’s portfolio includes EdjVarsity, an additional brand that specializes in predictive play calling for high school football teams. Currently, over 70 programs across the nation rely on this service for in-game assistance.
Hershman acknowledges that he has already captured the interest of numerous individuals through these established platforms. He stated:
In 2020, our brands, EdjSports and Football Outsiders, have witnessed a significant increase in their audience with over 2.5 billion impressions across various channels. EdjSports, which primarily focuses on NFL, is now venturing into new sports such as the NBA, WNBA, and golf. Football Outsiders, on the other hand, functions as a free service supported by advertisers, while also providing the option to subscribe to a more comprehensive package called Football Outsiders Plus, which includes enhanced tools and content.
Champion Gaming can expect rapid expansion with the support of the existing customer base established at these partners.
Champion Gaming’s footprint
Champion Gaming is expected to gain an advantage due to its capability of offering a more diverse selection of sports coverage. As Hershman acknowledged, in addition to its main focus on football, the company’s websites will now incorporate a variety of other sports as well.
In order to strengthen its position, the company forged additional partnerships. One such collaboration was with Inpredictable, an agreement through which the company would provide basketball-related information for both the NBA and WNBA.
Massey Ratings has introduced another deal, offering unbiased team assessments across various professional leagues, colleges, and high schools, providing objective evaluations for sports.
Champion Gaming currently offers analytics for more than 20 different sports.
While the NFL and football remain a significant focus for the company, it acknowledges the value of a broader perspective. Hershman’s product has been instrumental in establishing connections with the NFL and its teams, lending credibility to their presence in the sports betting industry.
This kind of data can now be utilized by fans, bettors, and even broadcasters of various sports, as explained by Hershman.
The reason I believe our company has the potential for growth is due to our diverse revenue model. We anticipate great success in our future because we are not solely reliant on one aspect of our business.
Champion Gaming’s future outlook
Hershman is enthusiastic about the future prospects of the sports betting industry. The CEO of Champion Gaming is confident that the company has the potential to make significant financial gains in the near future. He expressed his belief by stating:
At present, online sports wagering is accessible to nearly 40% of the US population. The American Gaming Association reports a staggering $13 billion in sports betting today, and my anticipation is that the industry will surpass $100 billion in the near future. We are thrilled to be a part of this thriving ecosystem.
However, Hershman’s ambitions extend beyond that. He aspires to expand his reach worldwide, pointing out that there are approximately five billion sports enthusiasts on a global scale.
Champion Gaming is focused on enhancing its product by prioritizing live wagering. A significant portion of their ongoing content development is dedicated to catering to the growing demand for in-game markets, as live betting continues to gain popularity across all sports.
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