Miami Jai Alai League Sold to US Collector Betting on Sports-Wagering Growth
Rob Gough, who bought Mickey Mantle and Gretzky memorabilia, now owns the World Jai Alai League and wants more sportsbooks on board.
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited by the ON360 newsroom.
A U.S. collector known for buying rare sports memorabilia has purchased the World Jai Alai League, the last year-round professional jai alai operation in the United States, and says he wants to grow its sports betting partnerships well beyond its current deal with DraftKings.
Rob Gough, 42, closed the deal on August 12, according to Gambling Insider, acquiring the league that plays out of JAM Arena next to Casino Miami. He told the outlet the property “wasn’t actually for sale” before his persistence led its long-time owners, the Havernick family, to sell.
From memorabilia collector to league owner
Gough made his money in his mid-20s through auction and coupon websites, then bought and later flipped the Dope clothing line. Business contacts in Los Angeles led to acting roles alongside Bruce Willis, John Travolta and Terrence Howard, according to Gambling Insider.
He is also a serious collector. Gough owns the New York Rangers jersey Wayne Gretzky wore for his final NHL point, and paid $5 million for a Mickey Mantle rookie card he considered undervalued. He applied the same logic to jai alai, calling the league “so much opportunity” given its history, speed and elite players.
“I didn’t buy this to keep it status quo,” Gough told Gambling Insider. “I bought this thing to make it the next NBA.”
DraftKings deal already in place
The World Jai Alai League, formerly branded Battle Court, already has a sports betting partnership with DraftKings, though the operator could not immediately quantify wagering volume on the sport, Gambling Insider reported.
Gough said expanding sports betting partners beyond DraftKings is central to his growth plan. The league also holds streaming agreements with ESPN+, FuboTV and the Hard Rock Bet app.
Jai alai once ran at frontons across Florida, feeding simulcast bettors nationwide. Today the WJAL is the only year-round professional operation left. Dania Jai Alai, in nearby Dania Beach, is the sole other live venue, running a compact winter-only schedule. Every other formerly licensed Florida fronton has converted to a parimutuel parlour.
Front office stays, season starts in September
The league’s existing front office will remain in place through the current campaign, with pelotas set to fly again on September 15. Gough said his own additions, in personnel and strategy, are targeted for the start of the next full season on February 26.
Before this deal, Gough owned the Fireballs, one of six teams in what was then called the Battle Court league. He said he has looked at a wide range of sports properties, from major brands to emerging leagues, over several years before settling on jai alai.
“If I didn’t feel like the chips were stacked in my favour, I wouldn’t have done this deal,” Gough told Gambling Insider.
No timeline has been given for signing additional sportsbook partners. For now, DraftKings remains the league’s only named betting operator, with ESPN+, FuboTV and Hard Rock Bet handling distribution.
Ontario bettors exploring niche sports markets through regulated apps are reminded that tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion remain available through operators licensed by the AGCO and iGaming Ontario.