Sports betting technology provider Altenar recently filed lawsuits against global sports data giant Sportradar in both the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and the High Court of London, accusing it of restricting access to key sports data and undermining market competition. Altenar claims that Sportradar, using its exclusive data rights for major leagues such as the NBA, NHL, MLB, and ATP, abuses its monopolistic position to completely exclude Altenar from the U.S. market. The company is seeking millions of dollars in damages and is asking the court to take measures to restore competition, including forcing Sportradar to provide data access. Frankly, if this lawsuit continues, the entire sports data distribution game might have to change.
Market Monopoly Accusation: The $6 Million Annual "Supply Cut"
According to the lawsuit filed in the U.S., Altenar claims to have "one of the world's top one-stop platforms" and competes effectively in other global regions, but is completely blocked from entering the U.S. market due to Sportradar's abuse of monopoly power over "key inputs for Altenar products—real-time official league sports data." Altenar points out that it had paid over $6 million annually to access Sportradar's data, but later lost its ability to operate in the U.S. because Sportradar allegedly failed to fulfill the terms of the agreement. The lawsuit states: "Sportradar wants to occupy as much of the U.S. one-stop platform market for itself as possible. It did not fulfill its promise to provide Altenar with the rights to use data in the U.S.—as both parties had done in long-term business dealings overseas—instead, it decided to cut off Altenar's access to its business lifeline and try to capture market share for its own one-stop product."
UK Litigation: Competition Violation After Acquiring IMG Arena
The dispute is not limited to the U.S. Altenar has also initiated litigation in the UK, accusing Sportradar of violating the Competition Law. The company claims that after acquiring IMG Arena, Sportradar used its position to influence business relationships and limit competitors' access to betting data. The lawsuit points out that during the period when Sportradar and IMG were supposed to operate independently, Sportradar interfered with Altenar's contract renewal with IMG. Regulatory authorities had previously reviewed the acquisition of IMG Arena due to concerns about market concentration but ultimately approved the transaction. An Altenar spokesperson stated: "Sportradar is trying to maintain its market dominance by unfairly eliminating competitors. It relies on controlling key sports data to suppress businesses with competitive products, although it had previously condemned other companies for doing exactly the same thing. We are still willing to discuss with Sportradar, but its unilateral aggressive actions leave us no choice but to take legal action."
Industry Impact: ORAKO Product and Data Monopoly Controversy
The case also raises questions about the competitive impact of Sportradar's broader product portfolio. Altenar expresses concern about the "one-stop sports betting solution for operators" ORAKO, launched in 2022, which allows customers to directly obtain various services from Sportradar. Altenar believes that such integrated products may further limit the opportunities for competing providers and, along with products like NSoft, put them at a disadvantage as they compete directly with their sports betting platforms while benefiting from exclusive data access. Sportradar categorically denies these allegations, with a spokesperson stating: "While we prefer not to comment on pending litigation, we strongly oppose the claims made by Altenar, which we believe are baseless and contain many inaccuracies. Sportradar will resolve these issues through legal proceedings." As this legal battle unfolds, Sportradar's business continues to grow. The company is valued at approximately $5 billion, reported revenue of $1.5 billion last year, and a profit of $110 million. Its investors include notable figures such as Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban, while the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board remains its largest shareholder. The outcome of the case could have a profound impact on the distribution and monetization of sports data, especially as the demand for real-time information continues to shape the global betting industry. For more sports betting data and regulatory updates, keep an eye on PASA's official website.
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