Panda Interactive Sues Genius, Sportradar, Alleges Coercive Behavior

Posted on: March 3, 2025, 03:48h. 

Last updated on: March 3, 2025, 03:48h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More

Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.

• Company adds antitrust claims to patent infringement suit
• Panda claims rivals purposefully limit customer choice

SportsCastr Inc., the sports betting data provider that does business as Panda Interactive, today announced that it amended a 2023 patent infringement suit against rivals Genius Sports and Sportradar to include parallel antitrust claims.

The amended complaint asserts that Genius and Sportradar — the dominant providers of data to sportsbook operators — “have unlawfully tied” access to their technology, resulting in coercive behavior that stifles competition while limiting customer choice.

The expanded claims allege that Genius Sports and Sportradar have engaged—and continue to engage—in anticompetitive conduct,” according to a statement issued by Panda. “This includes coercing sportsbooks into using their technology as a condition for accessing essential, real-time league data, which they exclusively control through long-term agreements with all major sports leagues, including the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA, and others.”

In October 2023, Las Vegas-based SportsCastr filed suit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging that Genius and Sportradar infringed on patents it holds on cloud-based software. One of the points of emphasis in the original suit is Panda’s contention that its rivals infringed on its technological patents that enhance services related to in-game or live betting —

a frontier that’s profitable for sportsbook operators and highly popular among bettors.

Panda Says Genius, Sportradar Are Bullies

On the customer-facing side of the sports wagering business, DraftKings and FanDuel are widely viewed as holding a nearly impenetrable duopoly — one largely born out of those operators’ marketing acumen, technology, brand recognition, and customer preferences.

“The Defendants’ bullying takes bad behavior to new heights—illegally using our own patented technology against us by packaging it with their platform, tying it to their exclusive data, and effectively shutting the door to fair competition,” said Panda Chairman Donald Schupak in a statement.

Panda claims Genius and Sportradar have long used strong-handed tactics to prevent upstarts from making inroads in the space, all but forcing gaming and media companies to rely on their products.

“This has created an unfair system where companies are backed into agreements that benefit only those who control access to essential data—Genius Sports and Sportradar,” according to the statement.

Panda Wants Level Playing Field

Panda’s amended suit arrives at a time when in-game wagering is a small percentage of overall bets placed in the US, but one analysts believe is expected to surge in the coming years. The prevailing thought is that boom will occur as operators acquire the technology needed to better price live bets and get those wagers in front of customers prior to changes in the action.

For Panda, the suit is about leveling the playing field while ensuring sportsbook clients have choice when it comes to selecting data providers.

“The facts speak for themselves—this action is a necessary response. Many in the industry have raised concerns about how Genius Sports and Sportradar operate, and their strong-arm tactics have coerced the market at the expense of all layers of sport,” said Kevin April, CEO of PANDA Interactive. “Their unchecked dominance has persisted for far too long. The future of sports betting should be driven by innovation and competition, not control and coercion.”