Major League Rugby Partners With Online Gambling App Sparket
Major League Rugby (MLR) has secured a significant partnership with Sparket, an innovative online gambling platform designed to foster a dynamic and social betting environment.
This one-year collaboration will enable MLR fans to access Sparket through its app and website, participating in both real-money picks and engaging free-to-play contests. Currently, Sparket operates across 42 states in the U.S., establishing partnerships with various sports betting sites and tribal casinos. The platform promotes its unique approach by allowing users to “bet on anything,” ranging from sports and reality TV to pop culture and politics.
Lucas Reid, Chief Revenue Officer of MLR, expressed enthusiasm regarding the alliance, stating, “The burgeoning gaming industry is generating fresh opportunities for casual consumers and fans to connect with sports, teams, and players. Our league aims to align itself with this momentum.” He further added, “Sparket offers a distinctive avenue to engage with our fans and tap into the emerging online predictions market, and we eagerly anticipate integrating their offerings into our platforms.”
Driving Growth in Sports Engagement
Evan Fisher, COO of Sparket, also commented on the partnership: “Sparket’s skill-based contests serve as an essential fan engagement and growth tool for sports leagues and teams. We are thrilled to welcome North America’s premier rugby league into our portfolio of partners.” He emphasized, “We are reimagining the future of gaming with our platform, enabling fans to engage with their favorite topics—be it sports, entertainment, or real-world outcomes—in a social and dynamic setting. MLR’s strategic objectives align seamlessly with our vision.”
This partnership emerges at a crucial time when prediction market platforms are subjected to increasing regulatory scrutiny. Notably, other sports leagues, including the NBA, have reached out to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regarding concerns over sports event contracts that allow users to predict match outcomes.
Unlike other prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Crypto.com, Sparket has chosen a distinctive route by collaborating with licensed operators—now with MLR included in that mix. However, the specifics regarding whether this partnership will enable users to place real-money bets in non-legalized sports betting states remain unclear.
Pioneering Real Money Gaming in Rugby
Stephen Crystal, Founder & CEO of SCCG Management, a reputable gambling advisory firm, underscored the significance of this partnership in MLR’s official statement: “Major League Rugby is at the forefront of fan engagement by embracing innovation and creating interactive experiences.” He continued, “We are proud to support this collaboration with Sparket, marking the introduction of both social and real-money gaming to MLR events for the first time. The convergence of these two visionary partners presents an exceptional opportunity for sports enthusiasts.”
Rugby’s popularity has surged in the United States, particularly as the country prepares to host the 2031 Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup. MLR’s inception in 2018, starting with seven teams, has seen impressive growth, with the 2024 season featuring an expanded roster of 12 teams. Notably, a report indicated that 77% of American bettors have engaged in wagers on rugby, highlighting the sport’s increasing appeal within the betting community.
