About: Kelly Brooks, FairPlay Sports Media CPO, is a technology evangelist, driving the development of hundreds of innovative software applications across North America. Having founded SpeakFeel Corporation, powering tech solutions for finance, insurance, tech, and social media, she now brings her transformation and AI expertise to the FairPlay group with the aim of empowering sports bettors and partners with unique insight and enhanced revenue streams, respectively.
What is FairPlay Sports Media, and how did you start your career in sports betting?
Kelly: FairPlay Sports Media empowers clients and users to better compete in sports betting, while delivering significant efficiencies and added value through the use of our game-changing betting technology. I have deep experience in progressing traditional industries with innovative technologies.
At Quarter4, we recognized an absence in accelerated data and analytics processing. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning really solved that problem.
Originally, the Quarter4 plan was to understand athletic performance, and we were able to propel beyond that vision with our neural network. FairPlay was our perfect match, and now we are powering one of the most exciting organizations in the industry.
How did you learn sports betting?
Kelly: 100% through the love of sport. My fascination stems from the athletes themself. What drives them? What determines their performance in the next game? Team sport is a mental and environmental play. Many events impact the outcome. Once you learn about an athlete and their style of play, you can begin to make educated betting decisions.
The interest and investment in women’s sports have grown significantly in the last few years. What do you think is driving this? At the same time, women players could be earning more. What needs to happen to further increase viewership, sponsorships, and subsequently salaries in the women’s sports arena?
Kelly: Exposure to women’s sporting events is key. Broadcast partnerships, sponsorships, and other lucrative opportunities are imperative to boosting the female athlete. Graduated athletes, male and female, who analyze play on media platforms are key as well. They bring validity to these players’ skillset and normalize the conversation.
Ultimately, viewership drives engagement and propels familiarity. The time is now. There is a demand and it will keep increasing with every publicized game or match. We are experiencing real change, and it is very exciting.
What do you think is missing from the sports and sports gambling industry today? Where do you see the biggest gaps?
Kelly: “In-the-moment” opportunities are still being innovated and discovered. Sport is defined by real-time action. We want to live it and feel exhilarated by it. Whether it is in-game analysis or in-play actions, the landscape needs to be roadmapped. Technology and demand are driving here-and-now experiences, and we have to, as an industry, capture that.
What is your betting style? Do you have a strategy that you follow? And what betting tips do you have for those who are starting out?
Kelly: I am a props bet, total score, and brackets bettor. I love betting on the sleeper, the underdog who has been underperforming. I also enjoy looking at hockey matches and guessing the final outcome.
Brackets are exciting, and with MarchMadness always driving that passion, it is a fun and social way to engage. I do use Quarter4 predictions for props and total score, but with brackets, it’s a popularity contest. Fill in the favorites and add in the odd upset. It seems to define the tournament every year.
Looking ahead, what excites you the most about the future of sports betting?
Kelly: I am a technology evangelist. Data, broadcast, virtual environments, and personalization are all areas of focus. Everyone should be able to experience the best live moments through sport and with the analysis that they desire.
What do women want (in sports betting and/or Igaming)?
Kelly: We want to keep innovating and experiencing the opportunities that sport, media, and iGaming deliver. We want to drive the next best platform and diversify revenue streams. We are ambitious and brilliant and will deliver on our visions. It is an exciting time to be in the sports, media, and betting industry.