Utah State University Installs Cameras ‘To Capture Live Data’ for Sports Betting

Utah State University has installed cameras in its basketball arena as part of a deal to supply data to online sportsbooks.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, USU has positioned 12 cameras and intends to capture game data to sell to third parties.

In reality, under the agreement USU will provide accurate information to Genius Sports, one of the industry leaders in real-life game data.

However, it raises questions on how this will sit with Utah’s lawmakers, who have vehemently opposed legalizing sports betting over the years. College basketball data is to be used at online sportsbooks that are strictly prohibited within Utah state borders.

What Will the Cameras Capture?

USU is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, joining in July this year. The move coincided with the start of the 2026–27 academic year and they join full-time members including Texas State University and Washington State University.

The Pac-12 had earlier in the year announced an “integrity and data rights partnership” with Genius Sports.

Under the agreement, Genius Sports is deploying its AI model GeniusIQ across college basketball courts. It’s intended to track real-time data on players’ movements before providing data to licensed sportsbooks.

Genius Sports CEO Mark Locke said that GeniusIQ would help the company “build the data infrastructure that connects leagues, sportsbooks, broadcasters and advertisers in real-time.”

Many states with legal online betting allow wagers on college basketball, provided they don’t feature home teams.

The Salt Lake Tribune added that USU’s camera system would be “fully functional” within weeks.

Genius Sports: What’s in the Integrity & Technology Set-Up?

• Performance Studio: Offers coaches and players access to video tools for greater performance analysis.
• Integrity Safeguards: Genius Sports will have exclusive distribution of Pac-12 game data to regulated sportsbooks.
• Authorized Gaming Operator (AGO) Program: Provides transparency between sportsbooks and Pac-12 teams and stop prohibited gamblers from placing bets.
• Moment Engine: Allows betting brands to advertise during Pac-12

Utah’s Anti-Gambling Conundrum 

At the heart of the Genius Sports move is not only access to data. It also claims to be improving the integrity of a sport that has made headlines for corruption.

In January, college basketball players were among a group of 26 found guilty of being part of an international gambling syndicate.

Players were paid up to $30,000 each to throw NCAAB games and help alter the scores. The NCAA only banned student-athletes from betting on sports last year.

Utah’s Anti-Gambling Conundrum

While USU is part of the Pac-12 agreement with Genius Sports, it calls into question how the agreement will play with state lawmakers.

Utah is one of only a couple of U.S. states with strong anti-gambling laws. The Beehive State has no legal online casinos or sports betting. Utah even has no lottery.

Utah AG: Online Gambling a ‘Public Nuisance’

If anyone was in any doubt as to Utah’s position on sports betting, they need only have looked to the state Attorney General last week.

AG Derek Brown declared online gambling a “public nuisance” as he launched a lawsuit at prediction exchange, Kalshi.

Prediction markets are available in Utah through the protection of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). However, under Utah’s eyes, they are no different from unlicensed sports betting. The state is seeking immediate geographical lockout for Kalshi and $60 million in restitution.

Kalshi had earlier sued the state over its attempts to rein in prediction markets. However, a judge rejected the lawsuit in August, arguing that state laws took precedent over federal rules.