President of Fubo Gaming: Arizona will be our main focus for the foreseeable future.
Fubo Sportsbook was the twelfth of eighteen new Arizona sports betting apps to launch, debuting right before Christmas in order to kickstart their goals for the upcoming year of 2022.
The company initially introduced its online betting app in Iowa in November and has since expanded to Arizona, marking the second state where the app is now accessible. Furthermore, the company has secured market access agreements for Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New Jersey.
Yengols.com spoke with Fubo Sportsbook President Scott Butera about the company’s launch strategy in Arizona and its vision for the state.
The conversation below has been shortened and simplified for clarity.
Yengols.com: Why was it important for your company to launch Fubo Sportsbook in Arizona by the end of the year?
Scott Butera expressed excitement about their presence in Arizona, attributing it to the timing of obtaining licenses and solidifying partnerships.
The sports betting market has shown remarkable success in its brief existence. Fubo Gaming is leading the industry by pioneering the full integration of TV, video streaming, and wagering.
Our media company, FuboTV, sets itself apart by actively engaging in the licensing process for gaming, which enables seamless integration and synchronization of our product.
With the Fubo Sportsbook app open alongside FuboTV, you can effortlessly track the live action on your screen.
Our “Watching Now” feature, along with other integrations, enhances your viewing experience by providing unique experiences and new betting options, including real money, free play, and other forms of engagement, as you watch your game or match.
Arizona is a crucial market for our company, as it boasts a significant family demographic and high brand recognition. We provide coverage for more than 50,000 sports events each year, catering to a passionate soccer fan base and offering a specialized Latin American package. In terms of location, Arizona holds strategic importance for us.
Living in Arizona, having an amazing partner, and finding a home that complements our passion for watching and betting on races was essential for us.
Could you clarify how Fubo’s sports betting and TV streaming services are combined on yengols.com?
In a traditional partnership between a media company and sportsbook, it usually functions as an affiliate arrangement. The media company will promote a particular brand, feature betting odds, and secure advertising deals.
If you want to place bets through the sportsbook while watching that channel, you will need to open a separate app. This creates two separate platforms with different interfaces. Media companies typically steer clear of the gaming licensing process and do not want to be involved in operating as gaming operators. Therefore, they often outsource this aspect of their business.
Because we are fully licensed, our product is created as a cohesive entity, seamlessly integrating our sportsbook into the streaming TV environment.
If you’re tuning in to the game on TV, just launch the Fubo sportsbook app and utilize the “Watching Now” function to view the game and all the betting options on your screen.
By changing channels or choosing a different game, the app will seamlessly switch to the new game. As the game progresses, we can offer betting choices that correspond with the live action, ensuring you remain fully engaged in the experience.
In my previous job in the gaming industry, it was crucial for us to have a thorough understanding of our customers. As a casino patron, your hosts will be well-versed in your preferences, daily habits, dining choices, entertainment interests, family dynamics, and more.
As a sportsbook, being aware of your sports spending habits helps me grasp your game preferences, favorite sports, and preferred teams. Nonetheless, my understanding is restricted to just that.
If a customer exceeds 130 hours of TV viewing per month, we can gather valuable insights into their preferences. For instance, if a customer is a fan of sports, we can create customized promotions or events just for them using our in-depth understanding of their interests.
We strive to make the process of syncing and integrating sports betting acquisition and conversion more efficient and cost-effective compared to traditional retail marketing methods, taking into account numerous factors.
Yengols.com: How has the collaboration with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, working alongside both Caesars and Fubo, benefited your team?
Butera: Our collaboration with Caesars has exceeded expectations. They introduced us to the Ak-Chin Indian Community, with whom we have built a strong alliance. Together with Caesars, we are working on projects in Indiana and New Jersey, and they have been instrumental in our success. The Ak-Chin Indian Community has also been a valuable partner in our shared endeavors.
We love their property and the surrounding community. As a mobile operator, we have no issues with the activities taking place on the property. Our aim is to attract more people to the property and support them in any way possible.
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We are thrilled to have three tightly integrated groups with a track record of collaboration, eager to work together even more in the future. This is an ideal situation for us.
What makes the Arizona sportsbooks marketplace unique in your view?
Butera: Our product’s strength is what distinguishes it from others. With a successful launch and minimal seasonality, we are able to market our soccer packages in Latin America, giving us a valuable presence in Southern America, which is vital for our success.
Arizona is considered the second largest state, and currently holds the title of our largest state. Strategically, Arizona boasts many positive aspects, and early feedback suggests that the state has strong potential.
Moreover, some states have a higher level of market presence, and we are stepping into a competitive landscape where some of our rivals have a two-year advantage. This places us in a favorable competitive position early on, which we find very attractive.
In what ways does Arizona support Fubo Gaming’s future vision on yengols.com?
Butera stressed the importance of Arizona for various reasons discussed earlier, asserting that it is expected to become the main state for their operations on the West Coast in the future.
Our goal is to broaden our marketing initiatives to encompass nearby states and entice travelers from Mexico who visit Arizona.
This year-round community is essential to us because of our viewership, the type of product we offer, our prominent presence on the West Coast, and the performance of the states. It holds great significance for us.
Yengols.com inquires about the distinguishing factors that separate Fubo Sportsbook from other competitors in Arizona’s bustling market.
At Butera, our approach sets us apart. We specialize in developing interactive TV products that provide immersive experiences for viewers to engage with and bet on sports. Our goal is to surpass the conventional sportsbook model by offering a diverse range of entertainment options for our audience.
Our platform aims to offer sports fans a synchronized watching and betting experience, providing exciting opportunities for enjoyment.
Our focus is not just on sports betting, but also on creating a welcoming social environment where friends can come together to watch games and participate in casino activities. We will offer a diverse range of engaging statistics to enrich the overall experience.
Our utilization of technology extends to incorporating wagering to boost sports viewership. This tactic not only creates more advertising possibilities and generates extra subscription income, but also enhances customer retention for our subscription network. The collaboration between FuboTV and our wagering services sets us apart from conventional sports betting firms.
yengols.com: Is there anything else you would like to discuss?
Butera thinks that the main feature of their platform is the unique blend of video streaming and betting, which will provide a range of distinct qualities that emphasize synchronization and improve the pleasure of viewing sports.
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Author
Peterson Christopher, who has over seven years of experience covering sports and sports betting in Arizona for publications like ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News, now holds the position of lead writer at yengols.com.
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