MLB Signs Multiyear Partnership Contract with MGM Resorts International

Major League Baseball signed a deal with MGM Resorts International to make the company the league's "first official gaming and entertainment partner," ESPN.com's David Purdum and Darren Rovell reported Tuesday.

According to the report, MGM will have exclusive access to "enhanced stats" from MLB and have the ability to use MLB intellectual property at sportsbooks and in its advertising.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred discussed the move:

"We are pleased to partner with MGM Resorts International, a clear industry leader in the sports gaming area, to work together on bringing innovative experiences to baseball fans and MGM customers. Our partnership with MGM will help us navigate this evolving space responsibly, and we look forward to the fan engagement opportunities ahead."

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court nullified a 1992 federal law that prohibited sports betting in almost every state. While the ruling didn't automatically legalize sports gambling across the country, it allowed individual states to make their own decisions regarding the practice.

As a result, numerous states have either legalized sports betting or introduced legislation to get the process started. Along with that, major professional sports leagues have struck official partnerships with gaming corporations.

MLB is the third league MGM Resorts International has signed to an exclusive deal. It reached agreements with the NBA in June and the NHL in October.

In addition to its role with MLB in the United States, MGM will be an advertising partner for the company during events in Japan.

According to Purdum and Rovell, neither MLB nor MGM provided the financial details of their agreement.