After receiving statements from the Michigan Gaming Control Board and Colorado Division of Gaming, this story has been revised and updated.
On Wednesday, a CNBC report created quite a stir in the sports betting community. According to the report, the WWE has allegedly been engaging in talks with gambling regulators in Michigan and Colorado, with the intention of legalizing betting on its matches.
However, the Michigan Gaming Control Board and Colorado Division of Gaming have both issued statements on Thursday refuting any claims of having engaged in discussions with the WWE.
In response to the report by Playinmichigan on Wednesday, Mary Kay Bean, the Communications Specialist at MGCB, stated that the Michigan Gaming Control Board releases a Sports Wagering Catalog. Whenever there are updates to the catalog that receive approval, the agency shares the information publicly on their website and with sportsbook operators.
As of now, the WWE is not included in the pending or submitted catalog, indicating that no operators have requested it. Even if there have been discussions, it does not imply that an agreement is imminent or under consideration.
MGCB says it has had no direct talks with WWE
On Thursday afternoon, the MGCB issued a statement clarifying that it has not engaged in direct communications with the WWE regarding the inclusion of betting on its matches.
“The MGCB executive director, Henry Williams, stated that in order for any request for inclusion in Michigan’s Sports Wagering Catalog to be considered, it must be submitted by a licensed operator or platform provider based in Michigan. As of now, the agency has not received any formal request regarding wagering on WWE events. Williams suggested that WWE collaborate with the gaming industry if they are interested in presenting a proposal to the MGCB.”
According to the statement, a third-party consultant contacted the MGCB over a year ago regarding the inclusion of WWE events in the wagering catalog. However, no additional details were provided to the MGCB.
Will you be able to bet on WWE matches in Michigan?
According to CNBC’s report, WWE has teamed up with EY, also known as Ernst & Young, to prevent match results from being leaked to the public. Additionally, they aim to keep these results confidential from the wrestlers themselves until just prior to their matches.
“In discussions about how gambling on wrestling could work, WWE executives have proposed that scripted results of matches be locked in months ahead of time, according to people familiar with the matter,” the report states. “The wrestlers themselves wouldn’t know whether they were winning or losing until shortly before a match takes place, said the people.”
According to the report, WWE’s unique selling point to operators and regulators lies in its collaboration with the Academy Awards and Emmys to maintain result confidentiality, as well as the availability of Oscars betting at Michigan sportsbooks.
Naturally, the Oscars are determined through the votes of numerous Academy members who remain unaware of the outcomes. In contrast, WWE matches are orchestrated by a select creative team, occasionally influenced by storylines that have been carefully crafted over several months.
What can you bet on in Michigan?
In Michigan, the Oscars stand out as an exception when it comes to the range of betting options available.
Typically, operators are limited to providing wager options that rely on outcomes determined during the actual gameplay, which can be confirmed through a box score or statistical analysis.
For example, it is not possible to place bets on the color of Gatorade or the duration of the national anthem during the Super Bowl.
