Sportradar's Exclusive Deals Spark EU and UK Antitrust Battle

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-15

When you think about sports betting, you probably don't think about the data behind it. But that data—live scores, player stats, and real-time updates—is the lifeblood of the industry. And right now, a fight over who gets to use that data is heating up in Europe. Sportradar, a major player in sports technology, is facing competition complaints from rival Altenar Technologies. Altenar claims that Sportradar's exclusive agreements with big sports leagues are locking out other sportsbook suppliers. It's a dispute that could reshape how sports data is bought and sold. ### The Complaint: What's Altenar Saying? Altenar approached the European Commission and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on October 14. They're asking regulators to step in and examine Sportradar's exclusive deals with major sports organizations like Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). According to Altenar, these exclusive agreements give Sportradar an unfair advantage. By securing exclusive rights to official data from these leagues, Sportradar makes it hard for other suppliers to offer competitive products. Altenar argues this stifles competition and ultimately hurts consumers. ### Why This Matters for the Sports Betting Industry Exclusive data deals are nothing new. Sports leagues often sell exclusive rights to their official data to the highest bidder. It's a lucrative business. But the question is: do these deals cross the line into anti-competitive behavior? For sportsbooks, access to reliable, real-time data is crucial. Without it, they can't offer live betting or in-play markets. If one company controls the official data for major leagues, other suppliers might struggle to compete. That's the core of Altenar's argument. > "Exclusive deals can be a double-edged sword. They incentivize investment in data collection, but they can also create barriers to entry." – Industry analyst ### The Regulatory Landscape: EU and UK The European Commission and the UK's CMA are known for taking competition issues seriously. In recent years, they've scrutinized various sectors, including tech and sports broadcasting. Now, sports data is on their radar. If regulators find that Sportradar's deals violate competition rules, it could lead to changes in how sports data is licensed. That might mean more opportunities for other suppliers—or it could result in fines and forced changes to existing contracts. ### What's Next? Sportradar has not publicly commented on the specifics of the complaint. But the company has previously defended its business practices, stating that exclusive deals are common in the industry and benefit sports leagues. Altenar's move is just the beginning. The European Commission and CMA will now review the complaint and decide whether to open a formal investigation. That process could take months, if not longer. In the meantime, sportsbooks and data suppliers will be watching closely. The outcome could set a precedent for how sports data is licensed in the future. ### The Bigger Picture: Data as a Competitive Edge In the digital age, data is power. And in sports betting, it's the key to offering a compelling product. As the industry grows, the battle over data access is only likely to intensify. For now, all eyes are on Europe. The decisions made there could ripple across the Atlantic and influence how sports data is handled in the U.S. market, where states are increasingly legalizing sports betting. One thing's for sure: the game over sports data is far from over.