nVenue integrates predictive outcomes into live NASCAR broadcasts

The news: NASCAR has taken a major step toward real-time fan engagement by integrating live predictive probabilities into its In-Season Challenge broadcast—thanks to a new collaboration between data tech firm nVenue and Warner Bros. Discovery. The first-of-its-kind integration debuted on truTV’s AltCast, offering fans real-time head-to-head driver matchup probabilities powered by nVenue’s AI and machine learning platform.

Zoom in: The on-screen probabilities were just one layer of the rollout. Behind the broadcast, nVenue’s B2B platform enabled real-time betting on driver matchups, stage winners, and dozens of new in-race markets. The collaboration is part of a multi-year partnership between NASCAR and nVenue, which first teamed up in 2023 to build out in-race betting experiences.

Why it matters: The news marks a watershed moment for NASCAR—and motorsports more broadly—as it experiments with blending betting, broadcast, and predictive data into a unified product and fan experience. Rather than pushing fans to second-screen, the broadcast itself becomes a betting interface, surfacing context-rich probabilities lap by lap. It’s also a signal of where the market is headed: toward faster, deeper, and more interactive sports viewing.

Betsperts acquires Fantasy National for golf data, betting platform

The news: Betsperts Group has acquired Fantasy National, a subscription-based golf data platform popular among DFS players and bettors, expanding its footprint in the growing golf betting market. The deal builds on Betsperts’ existing portfolio, which includes Rabbit Hole (its PGA Tour analysis tool) and content partnership with Paige Spiranac. Fantasy National co-founder Pat Mayo will join the team to contribute content and promotion across sports.

Zoom in: Golf has become a fast-growing part of the business, with Betsperts reporting 50% year-over-year growth and projecting seven figures in 2026 revenue from the vertical. The company plans to run Rabbit Hole and Fantasy National as complementary products, each with its own audience and dataset. The acquisition comes as Betsperts leans into expansion, backed by profitability in 2024 and more than $1.5M already committed in a new raise to fund marketing, subscriptions, and new DFS tools.

Why it matters: Golf may not rival football in handle, but it’s become a sticky category for data-savvy bettors and long-shot hunters—especially around majors. With a nearly year-round schedule and betting integrations now baked into PGA Tour coverage, the sport offers depth, frequency, and monetization potential. As for the product itself, it’s further proof that betting tools are a red-hot commodity right now; Betsperts CEO Reid Rooney told Sportico he’s been “blown away” by the consumption of them.

Sponsored by Zero Labs

The news: Applications are now open for Zero Labs Cohort 6, happening Oct 3–5 in Las Vegas, just ahead of G2E. It’s a three-day sprint built to get early-stage startups investor-ready, faster.

Why it matters: Zero Labs has quietly become one of the industry’s most valuable launchpads. Just ask past participants like WagerGames (SBC Americas First Pitch winner) and Odditt (fresh off a new raise). If you’ve got a bold idea in gaming, sports, or entertainment—and the hunger to build—Zero Labs is the shortcut to clarity, traction, and capital. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—apply now.

Sparket is betting on culture, while its founder bets on balance

The news: Sparket founder Evan Fisher is opening up about a side of startup life that rarely makes the pitch deck: the toll it takes on mental health. In a recent Substack post titled Managing Mental Health as a Founder, Fisher writes candidly about the pressure, burnout, and emotional weight that comes with building in public.

Zoom in: From the moment he wakes up until the seconds before he falls asleep, Sparket is always top of mind. “Vacations no longer have the same meaning,” he wrote. “I fly with my laptop and end up taking meetings and working in hotel rooms.” The feeling: if he’s not working, he’s letting the company down. To manage it, Fisher created what he calls “macro and micro boundaries,” like daily movement, phone-free walks, and offline time on weekends. He also leans on gratitude and reminds himself that having the chance to build something at all is a privilege.

Why it matters: Even as Sparket scales—with new operator partners, a patent pending, and $2.5M raised to-date—rejection is still constant. “We get way more nos than yeses,” Fisher said on The BettingStartups Podcast, adding that after ten straight pitches with no traction, it’s easy to lose confidence. “You have to very consciously celebrate every win for yourself, for your team, for the company, and really focus on that to bring that energy to overcome to the extent you can.”

Listen to the full podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

News, money, and alpha

• VC firm Drive by DraftKings plans to “double down” on real-money gaming with a second fund.

• GRID deepened its official esports data portfolio through an exclusive partnership with ESL FACEIT Group.

• Waterhouse VC explored how overregulation is pushing players toward the black market. 

From the studio

Catch up on the latest episodes of The BettingStartups Podcast.

• Managing the grind of going from starting to scaling w/ Evan Fisher from Sparket

• Bringing innovation to instant games w/ Kenny Huang from TinyRex Games

• Productizing first-party sports data w/ Richard Acosta from VOR Interactive

You’ve made it to the end of the newsletter—seems like you should probably subscribe if you haven’t already.

Are you a startup in real-money gaming looking to announce a new product launch, partnership, or funding round? Get it on our radar! Email: [email protected]