Doug Bonjour is a veteran sportswriter with more than a decade of experience, including in the realm of sports betting. He’s written for the New York Times, Associated Press, CBS Sports and Hearst Connecticut Media...
Read Full BioRegulated betting and daily fantasy contests have arrived on the Disc Golf Pro Tour after the tour operator penned a data and integrity deal.
The MVP Music City Open, held this past weekend in Nashville, was the first event on the Tour to be played under the new regulatory framework.
While sports betting is now legal in 38 states plus Washington, D.C. — that does not include Missouri, which is expected to launch this fall — each jurisdiction has its own rules for when to add new markets. DraftKings and Underdog Fantasy, a DFS platform, both posted lines for the Music City Open, including outright tournament winners and over/unders on finishing positions within the first 24 hours of the announcement.
“We know that for many sports fans, participating in daily fantasy or wagering is part of how they connect with the competition,” DGPT CEO Jeff Spring said in a press release. “We’re excited to see sportsbooks and other gaming platforms open these opportunities to disc golf fans in a way that is aligned with our values of transparency and accountability for all involved.”
To ensure compliance, the DGPT has partnered with U.S. Integrity, a sports wagering monitoring service that works with several different leagues and sportsbooks.
“By ensuring these offerings are hosted in a secure and regulated environment,” Springs added, “the DGPT is focusing on integrity, player education, and compliance. We’re excited about new ways for fans to engage in the sport, expanding the reach of disc golf, and ensuring that players and events are supported by clear policies and strong safeguards.”
Disc Golf Pro Tour’s New Gambling Safeguards
The DGPT’s gambling policy, updated earlier this year, prohibits Tour employees and event staff such as spotters, scorekeepers, and scorers from “wagering on disc golf, sharing inside information, or stroke shaving.”
Those who violate the policy may be subject to “penalties up to and including, but not limited to, fines, suspension, and/or banishment from the DGPT for life.”
The DGPT, founded in 2016, hosts events worldwide and incorporates a playoff system culminating in the 10th Tour Championship, scheduled for Oct. 16-19 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Competitions are aired on the Disc Golf Network.
Disc Golf is the latest emerging sport looking to monetize data and tap into the sports betting world. In recent years, Pickleball and Padel have both looked to do the same.
The state of Colorado reports sport-by-sport statistics on handle, and although Table Tennis is of particular interest to Coloradans, other sports see little to no wagering action. Disc Golf will also need to be added to the sports betting catalog (where required) in order for operators to legally offer markets.
