Slumping NBA Finals Viewership Potentially Impacts Bookmaker Profits
The 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder concluded on June 23, marking the Thunder's first championship victory. However, the series did not attract the usual viewership numbers, potentially impacting sportsbook operators' earnings.
The first five games of the series averaged 9.18 million viewers, making it the worst five-game average in the Nielsen people meter era (1988-present), excluding the Lakers-Heat series in the fall 2020 'bubble.' The Pacers and Thunder were tied 2-2 entering the fifth game, which is surprising considering the lack of a viewership increase that typically occurs in a seven-game series at that point.
The Indiana-Oklahoma matchup lacked the requisite pizazz, potentially leading to a lid on second-quarter earnings for sportsbook operators. Casual fans and bettors require a compelling playoff matchup to turn on their televisions and place wagers.
Oklahoma City's championship win may have sparked heightened betting interest and sportsbook revenue due to favorable odds and star players. The NBA's emphasis on parity and competitive balance supports strong fan engagement, which translates into robust TV ratings and sportsbook activity around Finals matchups involving teams like Indiana and OKC.
Despite the low ratings, the NBA season kickoff events and global preseason games highlight a continued strong fan base and media presence that would support high television ratings. The absence of explicit TV ratings data from available sources limits precise quantification, but the context indicates an overall positive impact on both sportsbook earnings and television viewership.
Entertainment mogul and rapper Jay-Z lost his $1 million bet on Oklahoma City winning in five games. According to Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey, sportsbook operators such as Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT) may experience weaker second-quarter earnings due to the low ratings of the 2025 NBA Finals.
The major injury suffered by Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum earlier in the postseason confirms the NBA's balance of power will remain in the West while the Eastern Conference will be wide open next season. FanDuel parent Flutter's results for the April through June period may not be significantly damaged by low NBA Finals ratings due to the New York Knicks reaching the Eastern Conference finals.
In conclusion, while the 2025 NBA Finals did not attract the usual viewership numbers, the Thunder's first championship win and the NBA's emphasis on parity and competitive balance may have positively impacted sportsbook earnings. The absence of teams from large media markets such as Boston, Los Angeles, or New York may have contributed to the low viewership numbers.
- The disappointing viewership of the 2025 NBA Finals, despite the Thunder's championship win, raises questions about sportsbook operators' earnings for the second quarter.
- Sportsbook operators like Flutter Entertainment, affected by the low ratings, may have experienced weaker earnings, even with the presence of the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
- The low viewership numbers could be attributed to the absence of teams from major media markets like Boston, Los Angeles, or New York, affecting fan engagement and TV ratings.
- The Thunder's championship win might have boosted sports betting interest and revenue, but the lower-than-anticipated viewership numbers could have counteracted these gains.
- The NBA's continued focus on parity and competitive balance, exemplified by matchups like the Indiana-Oklahoma series, can support both strong TV ratings and sportsbook activity.
