San Francisco-based sports betting technology company Swish Analytics has filed a lawsuit against rivals OddsJam and OpticsOdds, accusing them of unlawfully misappropriating its proprietary sports betting odds. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, alleges that the two companies scraped Swish’s odds data directly from the website of its sportsbook customers, repackaged it, and sold it to third parties without permission.
Swish Levies Some Substantial Accusations
A recent LinkedIn post by US Gaming Law and Sports Betting attorney Daniel Wallach revealed that the lawsuit alleges over $100 million in damages. Swish Analytics accuses OddsJam and OpticsOdds of engaging in “free-riding” on its meticulously acquired data by employing unauthorized techniques like web scraping and unauthorized API access, to extract odds information from the websites of Swish’s licensees, such as FanDuel and bet365.
Defendants prominently advertise that they take odds information from third-party sportsbook websites and then repost and resell that same information.
Swish Analytics vs OddsJam and OpticsOdds
Swish also alleges that OddsJam and OpticsOdds have used this data to compete directly against Swish by offering sportsbooks and other customers access to Swish’s proprietary odds at lower prices, thereby undercutting Swish’s business model. The lawsuit claims this conduct harms the broader market and could have significant long-term consequences if left unchecked.
Defendants’ conduct is also causing Swish irreparable harm and, if left unchecked, threatens to destroy the market for the independent creation of sports-related odds information.
Swish Analytics vs OddsJam and OpticsOdds
Swish expressed its fear that the continued unauthorized use of its proprietary data will discourage future innovation and investment in sports betting odds development. The company added that the estimated $100 million in damages included not only lost revenue but also lasting damage to its reputation and market share.
victory-for-swish-could-lead-to-a-significant-market-shakeup”>A victory for Swish Could Lead to a Significant Market Shakeup
This lawsuit comes on the heels of OddsJam’s recent acquisition by Gambling.com Group, a prominent player in digital marketing services for the online gambling industry. The acquisition aimed to incorporate OddsJam’s capabilities and revenue streams into its portfolio, strengthening Gambling.com’s global online gambling market position. However, this newest legal challenge casts a shadow over this deal.
Swish was adamant that this lawsuit was about more than financial compensation. It also aimed to safeguard the integrity of the sports betting data ecosystem. The company argues that its considerable investment in developing real-time odds systems and data analytics must have adequate protection to ensure a level playing field within the industry.
Defendants are destroying the incentives for Swish and other independent developers to continue investing the time, effort, and money to independently generate odds information.
Swish Analytics vs OddsJam and OpticsOdds
The outcome of this legal battle could set a significant precedent for how the broader market treats proprietary sports betting data. A potential victory for Swish Analytics could lead to stricter regulations on how businesses utilize odds data, forcing competitors to rethink their strategies for acquiring and distributing this valuable resource.
