- Genius Sports has been selected to supply offside decision making technology for the English Premier League.
- England’s Premier League is one of the most popular and financially successful soccer circuits in the world.
- Genius Sports is scrambling to diversify their offerings as the US sportsbook ecosystem implodes.
How bad is the US sports betting ecosystem? Thanks to the machinations of inept regulators, crooked politicians, juiced in financial benefactors, state lotteries and legacy gaming interests it is best described as being in ‘freefall’. Here’s a press release that underscores just *how* messed up it is.
Genius Sports is among the biggest players in the sports betting data industry. They’re scrambling to diversify, however, as the once promising US sports betting business collapses all around them. In addition to expanding internationally, they’ve worked to move into data hungry industries that *aren’t* sports betting. That’s a smart move, but what really interested me about the press release announcing their deal with the English Premier League is the way they downplay their prominent position in sports betting. The only mention is this very oblique reference in the ‘ABOUT GENIUS SPORTS’ section of the release (emphasis added):
Genius Sports is the official data, technology, and broadcast partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting, and media. Our technology is used in over 150 countries worldwide, creating highly immersive products that enrich fan experiences for the entire sports industry.
To paraphrase the late Paul Harvey, here’s ‘the rest of the story’:
Genius Sports Limited, a leading sports data and technology company, has been selected as the official Semi-Automated Officiating supplier for the English Premier League. This partnership aims to enhance offside decision-making in the world’s most-watched football league, ensuring a better experience for fans, players, and officials alike.
At the heart of this agreement is Genius Sports’ state-of-the-art semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), powered by the company’s next-generation AI and data platform, GeniusIQ. The system utilizes an AI-generated digital twin to deliver quick and precise offside decisions, minimizing breaks in the game and ensuring accuracy.
This cutting-edge system will be installed in every Premier League stadium, setting a new standard for officiating technology in world sport. The level of data collection involved far surpasses existing systems, offering unparalleled precision in offside rulings.
Tony Scholes, Premier League Chief Football Officer wants more consistency in games:
“The introduction of semi-automated offside is an important move to maintain the flow of the game in the Premier League. We are confident that by using the newest and most accurate technology available, we will see the time taken for offside decisions reduced significantly alongside a consistent application of the offside lines. The experience for all participants, including supporters, will also be enhanced through quicker communication and clearer imagery around offside decisions.”
Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports, described the partnership as a monumental step for the company.
“I am thrilled that Genius Sports is now the Premier League’s Semi-Automated Officiating supplier. This is a seismic moment for our business, as we bring our unique AI and data platform GeniusIQ to the world’s most-watched league. This partnership builds on our track-record of delivering game-changing technology for the world’s biggest leagues.”
Genius Sports is already the long-term optical tracking partner of the Premier League. Its AI-powered data and services are used by all 20 Premier League teams. In collaboration with Premier League Productions, the company also powers the Premier League Data Zone, a data-driven broadcast feature that includes live tracking insights and statistics.
Genius Sports is a global leader in sports data, technology, and media, providing services across more than 150 countries. The company partners with over 400 sports organizations, including some of the world’s most prominent leagues and federations such as the NFL, EPL, FIBA, NCAA, NASCAR, AFA, and Liga MX.
Through cutting-edge technology and innovative use of big data, computer vision, machine learning, and augmented reality, Genius Sports connects the entire sports ecosystem, enhancing the experience for fans, teams, and broadcasters.
