FairPlay Sports Media partners WagerWire on prediction markets

As part of the agreement, FairPlay Sports Media has also made a strategic investment in WagerWire, alongside a broader partnership across affiliate, technology and media networks.

FairPlay CEO Stuart Simms said prediction markets are a “natural fit” for the business, citing the company’s existing focus on “helping consumers make more informed decisions, connecting audiences with market-leading technology and creating new ways for media brands to engage and monetise their users”. 

Wire Markets aggregates available order books into a single marketplace and routes trades to the best price. Under the partnership, FairPlay will be able to market and promote the platform across selected brands within its portfolio and integrate the platform into its wider media network.

“Partnering with Wire Markets, FairPlay can provide users research and comparison tools, whilst accessing the best predictions. Together we believe we can bring these new capabilities to a wide range of media environments, creating more useful, engaging experiences,” Simms added. 

WagerWire initially developed marketplace technology for a secondary market in online sports wagers in the US before expanding the model into global event contracts and prediction markets through Wire Markets. The platform has received approval in principle from HM Government of Gibraltar, the second company to receive the designation under the jurisdiction’s regulatory framework.  

WagerWire and Wire Markets group CEO Zach Doctor said the partnership would give the platform access to FairPlay’s existing sports audience.

“Prediction markets are a new engagement layer for sports, politics and entertainment channels, and the race is now on to connect these markets with global audiences. Recent major acquisitions and funding rounds in predictions are a major signal of where the industry is headed; FairPlay’s investment in WagerWire reflects that same conviction on an international scale.

“FairPlay already sits at the point where millions of sports fans research, compare and decide what they think happens next. By integrating Wire Markets, that intent can be converted into action directly on the platform, giving users a superior experience while unlocking a new high growth revenue stream for FairPlay.”