Twitch has unveiled Predictions, a feature meant to help creators spur engagement. Viewers will be allowed to wager Channel Points — an existing points program on the platform — on specific outcomes during streams, winning a proportionate amount for guessing correctly. 

Predictions could range from betting on how long it will take for a streamer to accomplish a task in-game to when they will finish a meal. Channel Points can be earned through watching and subscribing to channels and used to unlock rewards, like highlighting their text in chat or making a host dance.

Amazon’s livestreaming platform likely hopes the new engagement tool — currently available on 50% of channels — can help continue its lead against competitors like YouTube and Facebook Gaming. More than 4.8 billion hours were watched on Twitch in the third quarter, representing 63.6% of the market.

Naomi Osaka’s new Nike streetwear collection is the latest example of sponsors warming up to athlete activism. After donning face masks with the names of police brutality victims at August’s U.S. Open, Osaka has seen an outpouring of support from her partners, including Nike.

The top-earning female athlete in the world, 23-year-old Osaka views her status as a way to “spread goodwill and empowerment.” Her new Nike line incorporates colors and designs representative of her Japanese, Haitian and American background.

Notable Osaka Endorsements

• All Nippon Airways
• bareMinerals
• BodyArmor
• Citizen Watch
• Hyperice
• Mastercard
• Nike
• Nissan Motor
• Procter & Gamble

U.S. sports bettors wagered a record $5.95 billion in the third quarter, according to the American Gaming Association. A crowded sports calendar, pent-up demand and new markets — like Illinois and Michigan — helped generate $352.3 million in revenue, up 47.1% year-over-year. 

New Jersey remained the main driver, setting several all-time U.S. monthly records in the quarter. Overall betting revenue, including slots and table games, was $9.04 billion, down 18.9% year-over-year. 

Year-to-Date 2020 Betting Revenue:

Overall: $20.74 billion, down 36.5% year-over-year

Slots: $13.24 billion, down 38.3%

Table Games: $3.63 billion, down 42.6%

Online Casinos: $1.07 billion, up 205.7%

Sports Betting: $667.8 million, up 27%

Former South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp will walk away with a buyout of approximately $13 million after the school fired him Sunday. The payout comes as many athletic department faculty members were furloughed to help mitigate financial strains caused by the pandemic.

Prior to the season, athletic director Roy Tanner estimated South Carolina’s athletic department would miss out on $58 million in revenue because of the pandemic. School President Bob Caslen previously estimated the university will see a revenue dip of $165 million during its fiscal year.

Analysts expect some coaches could be spared with athletic departments watching their budgets under pandemic stress.

Largest Current College Football Coach Buyouts: 

• Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher — $53.1 million
• Clemson’s Dabo Swinney — $50.0 million
• Ohio State’s Ryan Day — $45.4 million
• Alabama’s Nick Saban — $36.8 million
• Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley — $30.9 million