World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is reportedly having discussions with gambling regulators in two states.
The talks are about legalizing wagering on scripted WWE matches in Colorado and Michigan, the report said.
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"WWE is working with the accounting firm EY (Ernst & Young) to secure scripted match results in hopes it will convince regulators there’s no chance of results leaking to the public," sources told CNBC.
Accounting firms PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and EY have existing relationships with events such as the Academy Awards to maintain the secrecy of results.
Wagering on the Academy Awards is possible through some online betting sites, although most states don't allow it, according to the report.
"While Academy Awards voting results are known by a select few before they’re announced publicly, they aren’t scripted by writers," CNBC wrote. "Even if regulators allow gambling, betting companies would have to decide if they’re willing to place odds on WWE matches even if it’s legalized. Those discussions have yet to occur at betting firms."
Betting on scripted match outcomes would have a large impact on how they are produced.
"In discussions about how gambling on wrestling could work, WWE executives have proposed that scripted results of matches be locked in months ahead of time," CNBC said. "The wrestlers themselves wouldn’t know whether they were winning or losing until shortly before a match takes place."
Vince McMahon, controlling shareholder in WWE, returned to the company in January as executive chairman and is getting started on negotiations for a new television deal.
McMahon is considering a sale of WWE for as much as $9 billion, Bloomberg reported in February.
At 77 years old, McMahon is overseeing a strategic review of the company, having originally left WWE in 2022 after revelations he had settled sexual misconduct claims for millions of dollars.
It is currently legal to bet on WWE events in the U.K. using services such as Unibet.
