Webinar: Keeping track of the Odds: Emerging legal issues associated with the use of Sports Data for Betting (February 2024)

A webinar discussing the emerging issues in sports associated with data and betting with guest speaker, Robyn Chatwood (Partner, Dentons).  This session was introduced by Will Aplin (ANZSLA Director).

In recent years, the use of sports data has expanded, its value has increased – and the betting sector has consequently expanded its reliance on AI-powered technologies to drive revenues. At the same time, sports leagues, teams, stadium operators, athletes and others in the sports ecosystem have become more motivated to control the flow of data in order to monetise it. 

Recent high profile international disputes give an indication of the stakes.

• Data licensing agreements and the sale of sports data seek to control the flow of data – but are they anti-competitive?
   
• Courtsiding - the practice of transmitting information from sporting events for the purpose of gambling, or of placing bets directly from a sporting event - is becoming more common. 
   
• At the same time, the use of artificial intelligence in connection with sports betting has its own challenges given its capacity to identify anomalies or patterns and correlations or to impact fan engagement.

This session asks – is it time to look at the exploitation and ownership of sports data, the pervasiveness of betting in Australia and internationally and to consider the emerging legal issues? 

We unpack some of the thorniest legal frontiers creating the breeding ground for disputes and which are throwing up novel legal questions.  The session considers how the distribution of sports data is regulated – whether in Australia or foreign jurisdictions – and how it should be handled in commercial arrangements. The webinar aims to be thought provoking in its examination of the games within the game and the games outside the game.