For the first time, select games from pan-European UEFA men's club soccer competitions are set to be shown for free in Russia.
Through a tie-up unveiled earlier this week between rights-holder Okko and Russia-based betting heavyweight BetBoom, certain games from UEFA's club competitions will be aired via video-streaming platform Twitch (as well as being shown via Okko's streaming platform as normal).
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The tie-up sees BetBoom become the official bookmaker of soccer competitions on Okko, and, as part of this deal, what BetBoom has called "community casting" will be put in place.
Okko holds rights to these properties – the top-tier UEFA Champions League, second-tier Europa League, and third-tier Conference League – through a three-season tie-up unveiled in mid-2024 and running through the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
This is despite Russian teams having been barred from taking part in UEFA events and competitions since 2022, due to the country's invasion of Ukraine early that year.
The previous betting partner of Okko (owned by Novye Vozmozhnosti) was Liga Stavok.
In addition to free coverage of the UEFA club competitions, the tie-up between Okko and BetBoom will include both online and offline activities designed to enhance the viewing experience for fans – according to the bookmaker.
In terms of BetBoom's other sporting involvements, the betting heavyweight also has tie-ups in place with mixed martial arts' Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as with the Professional Fighters League.
Okko, meanwhile, also covered the Winter Olympics in Northern Italy earlier this year, on an exclusive basis.
