Mobile sports betting app BetMGM has announced a free-to-play bracket competition for the upcoming NBA 2K Players Tournament featuring 16 NBA stars such as Kevin Durant and Trae Young. The prediction contest will only be available to BetMGM users based in New Jersey.
For predicting the perfect bracket, BetMGM will reward users with $20,000. The company will also match each perfect bracket win with a $20,000 donation to New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. That nonprofit was recently established by Tammy Murphy, wife of New Jersey governor Phil Murphy, to support local communities impacted by COVID-19. New Jersey has more than 22,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 350 deaths.
The four-round, single-elimination NBA 2K tournament will tip-off April 3 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. It will last through April 12, and each matchup will air on ESPN or ESPN2 while also streaming on the ESPN app, NBA app, and NBA.com, as well as NBA2K and NBA social channels. The winner of the event will choose a charity that will receive $100,000 from 2K, the NBA and the NBPA in support of coronavirus relief efforts.
NBA players competing in the online tournament include Andre Drummond, Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Hassan Whiteside, Demarcus Cousins, Patrick Beverly, Zach LaVine, Derrick Jones Jr., Devin Booker, Rui Hachimura, Montrezl Harrell, Domantas Sabonis, DeAndre Ayton, Harrison Barnes, and Michael Porter Jr.
BetMGM is owned by Roar Digital, a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and British gambling firm GVC. Last month, SportTechie interviewed Roar Digital CEO Adam Greenblatt as part of our Tech Talks series.
