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Reports claims that SportRadar listed sites out of Russia and Iran
The company denies any wrongdoing
The betting and data company Sportradar has relationships with hundreds of illegal gambling operators, according to reports that surfaced this week. Some of those sites were based out of Russia and Iran, allegedly. Sportradar has denied this to be the case.
Sportradar is a leading global provider of sports data, technology, and integrity services, serving clients across the sports, media, and betting industries. Founded in 2001, the company has built one of the most comprehensive sports data ecosystems in the world, covering hundreds of leagues and competitions across dozens of sports.
Sportradar partners with major organizations including leagues, federations, sportsbooks, and media companies to deliver real-time data, odds, and content that power fan engagement and betting experiences. Its solutions include live data feeds, audiovisual streaming, AI-driven analytics, and sportsbook platforms that enable operators to offer dynamic, in-play betting markets.
From The Guardian:
A study compiled by the financial analysts Callisto Research claims to have identified more than 270 unlicensed betting companies offering a variety of services including sports betting, virtual gaming and crypto casinos that purport to be products of Sportradar, whose branding and tools are visible on many of their websites. Callisto Research is an activist research firm that has disclosed short selling Sportradar stock after releasing its report.
A former Sportradar employee is quoted in the report as saying that deals with unlicensed operators are responsible for around one-third of Sportradar’s revenue, which was €1.2bn last year. Separately another short seller, Muddy Waters, also claimed on Wednesday that members of Sportradar’s sales team had told it that it planned to target illegal markets.
Sportradar declined to answer a series of detailed questions from the Guardian, but insisted it works exclusively with licensed operators and upholds the highest ethical standards. “A short report issued today contains factual inaccuracies about the company, and we unequivocally challenge these assertions,” Sportradar said in a statement to the Guardian. “The report demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of our business and the industry and was authored by a short seller trying to erode shareholder value and profit from stock disruption.
“Sportradar works exclusively with licensed operators, follows strict global compliance, and due diligence standards, and we stand by our independently audited financial statements, risk disclosures, and information provided to investors and regulators. We conduct our business with the highest ethical standards consistent with company policies, laws and regulations.”
The company is listed on NASDAQ. Its share price fell as much as 30% following the publication of Callisto’s report on Wednesday, before closing the day 23% down on the start of trading.
