On April 25, Genius Sports announced an expansion of its partnership with the NCAA that will last through 2032. This agreement confirms that Genius Sports will provide exclusive official NCAA data to licensed sportsbooks for the March Madness college basketball tournament and all other postseason tournaments.
The renewed deal allows sportsbooks to access official NCAA data feeds through Genius Sports’ Authorised Gaming Licensee (AGL) program, which aims to enhance integrity protections and promote responsible gambling. The AGL provides sportsbooks with exclusive access to official NCAA data and associated trademarks.
The NCAA’s platform, NCAA LiveStats, will remain free for all member schools, offering data from over 70,000 games annually. Additionally, the partnership includes the use of GeniusIQ, an advanced AI platform that will enhance LiveStats by providing real-time analytics for schools and coaches while also developing engagement tools for fans.
Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports, noted that the expanded partnership builds on a collaboration that began in 2018, stating it has "transformed the college sports data ecosystem." He described the extension as a significant endorsement of their vision to deliver top-tier data solutions for NCAA schools and connect sportsbook partners with quality official NCAA content, in addition to rights from the NFL and Premier League. Locke emphasized that the partnership is rooted in innovation, integrity, and a commitment to the future of collegiate athletics.
Sources indicate that the NCAA plans to implement measures to safeguard its rights related to in-venue official data and scout spotting. In October 2022, Genius Sports reached an out-of-court settlement with Sportradar, which restricted Sportradar from unauthorized in-stadium data collection activities. This settlement followed Genius's exclusive agreement from 2019 to collect, license, and distribute live data from several major football leagues. Although Sportradar initially challenged this agreement in court, the resolution provided Sportradar with a sublicense for a delayed secondary data feed, banning in-game unofficial scouting.
