Genius Sports
| File:Genius sports logo.png | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| NYSE: GENI | |
| Industry | Sports data |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Mark Locke (CEO)
Jack Davison (CCO) Steven Burton (COO) |
Number of employees | 1,500 |
| Website | geniussports.com |
Genius Sports specializes in sports technology and data solutions, delivering services including data management, video streaming, and integrity monitoring to sports organizations, betting operators, and media companies.
The company went public in April 2021 through a merger with the special purpose acquisition company dMY Technology Group, Inc. II, listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
History
Formed in 2016, Genius Sports emerged from the combination of Betgenius, a technology provider for the betting sector, and SportingPulse International, a firm focused on sports data and software development.
In 2017, Genius expanded by acquiring Data Project, a volleyball technology firm. That same year, the PGA Tour selected Genius to support its Integrity Program aimed at combating betting-related corruption through monitoring and educational initiatives.
In May 2018, Genius secured a significant 10-year agreement with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to enhance data utilization across its affiliated schools and conferences. Later that year, private equity firm Apax Partners took ownership of Genius Sports Group. In November 2018, Genius joined forces with Football DataCo and Perform Group to develop an integrity framework safeguarding English and Scottish professional football against match-fixing—marking the first collaboration of its kind between two technology companies in the sport.
By May 2019, Genius had become the sole provider of NASCAR data to authorized sportsbooks globally. Additionally, it obtained official rights from Football DataCo to supply live data for the Premier League, English Football League, and Scottish Professional Football League, succeeding Perform Group. In July of that year, FIBA renewed its 15-year collaboration with Genius for statistics collection and event management. During the summer months, partnerships were established with both the German Football Association and Argentina’s Superliga to address match-fixing concerns. In October 2019, Genius enhanced its automated video production capabilities through the acquisition of Oppia Performance.
April 2021 marked a new multi-year agreement under which Genius became the exclusive distributor of live NFL data to sportsbooks and media outlets, replacing Sportradar. This deal also included rights to stream NFL content and manage sports betting advertising inventory.
In May 2021, Genius expanded its portfolio by acquiring Second Spectrum for $200 million, broadening its offerings in data tracking and visualization for leagues, teams, and broadcasters.
September 2021 saw Genius collaborate with WynnBET to deliver official data feeds and fan engagement tools following WynnBET’s designation as an authorized sportsbook operator for the NGL.
By December 2021, Genius had formed a commercial revenue-sharing partnership with the Canadian Football League via CFL Ventures.
In July 2023, Genius extended its NFL partnership through the end of the 2027 season to continue providing play-by-play data distribution services to media companies and betting operators. Two months later in September 2023, it introduced BetVision—a sportsbook streaming platform for the NFL adopted by Caesars, Fanatics, BetRivers, and FanDuel.
Products and services
Genius Sports delivers advanced software solutions to sports leagues and federations, facilitating the collection, management, and global distribution of sports data and statistics. Sports organizations grant Genius Sports the rights to commercialize their data and video assets with sportsbooks, casinos, and media outlets. The company also provides sophisticated tracking technology that captures precise positional information of players and the ball, offering valuable insights to clients such as the WNBA.
The company’s betting partners encompass over 300 sportsbook operators, including prominent names like FanDuel, Skybet, and Bet365. Genius Sports supplies these sportsbooks with real-time data, betting odds, and live streams covering upwards of 240,000 sporting events each year.
Moreover, Genius Sports works alongside sports broadcasters to deliver alternative broadcasts that leverage data and analytics to enhance viewer engagement. Notable collaborations include Prime Vision’s partnership with Next Gen Stats featured on Amazon Prime Video.
In recent years, Genius Sports has focused on expanding its capabilities through strategic acquisitions and technological advancements in live data delivery and sports betting solutions. The company’s initiatives to foster greater transparency and integrity in sports wagering have gained significant traction amid the global growth of legalized betting markets.