Frank Zaccanelli joins Past the Wire to integrate prediction markets, sports betting content

Past the Wire has appointed former Dallas Mavericks President, GM and Minority Owner Frank Zaccanelli as the organization’s new Partner, Executive and Co-Host, helping to expand coverage into sports wagering, prediction markets and original programming.

The media organization was originally founded by Jon Stettin, offering horse racing coverage built around handicapping, investigative reporting, exclusive interviews and educational content.

"Past The Wire has never been about chasing clicks, it has always been about earning trust. Horse racing is where we built our reputation, but today's bettors don't think in silos anymore,” Stettin said. 

“They're looking for insight wherever opportunity exists. This partnership allows us to expand that mission while staying true to the independence, transparency and credibility that earned our audience's trust. If someone spends time with Past The Wire, our responsibility is to make sure they leave knowing something the crowd doesn't."

The new partnership will look to expand Past the Wire’s coverage beyond horse racing and into sports wagering, prediction markets, video programming, technology and data-driven analysis.

With Past the Wire, Zaccanelli will oversee strategic growth, technology initiatives, membership offerings, business partnerships and expansion into new wagering markets, as well as co-host programming content. 

Addressing his new position, Zaccanelli said: "I've spent my career building organizations, and I don't enter partnerships lightly. The wagering industry has changed dramatically over the last decade, but the need for credible information, disciplined analysis and trusted voices has only grown.

“Jon built something bettors trust, and I saw an opportunity to help take it to the next level. We believe the future belongs to those who are better informed, not simply better entertained."

According to Past the Wire, several technology initiatives are currently under development, with additional product announcements expected “in the coming months.”

On July 7, North Carolina became the first US state to recognize the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC)’s "exclusive" authority over prediction market operators following Governor Josh Stein’s decision to sign the new state budget into law. 

A provision included within the budget acknowledges that operators registered with the CFTC are now legally eligible to conduct business in North Carolina under the Commodity Exchange Act.