The Business of Vice: UFC, Sports Gambling, and Tobacco’s Comeback

Motley Fool Money

The Motley Fool

Business, Investing

4.4 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 August 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

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Summary

Today on Motley Fool Money, analysts Emily Flippen and Nick Sciple discuss the reemergence of “sin stocks” and whether today’s market is building lasting moats for these controversial businesses or simply pulling forward returns. From billion-dollar UFC rights deals to the shifting economics of sports betting and a regulatory revival in tobacco, we’re diving into what’s driving profits in industries built on vice, who’s executing best, and where the biggest risks lie for investors. They discuss: - TKO Group’s billion-dollar UFC deal with Paramount - The growing dominance of sports betting - Changing regulatory guidance fueling tobacco’s resurgence Companies discussed: TKO, PSKY, DKNG, FLUT, BTI, MO Host: Emily Flippen, Nick Sciple Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today on Motley Fool Money, Vice is Hot again.
0:08.0	We'll hit TKO's Monster UFC deal, the state of sports betting, and a surprise twist in tobacco.
0:19.0	I'm Emily Flippin, and today I'm joined by analyst Nick Seifle to discuss
0:24.9	SIN stocks.
0:26.2	In particular, these polarizing businesses that have made an increasingly large amount of money
0:30.9	off of the worst of human nature.
0:33.2	Today, our goal is to answer the question, is today's environment really creating modes
0:36.9	for these businesses, or is it just pulling forward returns? We'll discuss what's changing in the
0:41.3	industry, who is executing, and where the risks really are. But first, Nick, we have to talk
0:47.5	about the news out earlier this week. Paramount, right after its merger with Skydance, has made a deal
0:53.2	with TKO Group for exclusive rights to all
0:55.9	U.S.-based UFC events starting next year. It's a seven-year deal with a whopping $1.1 billion
1:02.6	a year on average in rights fees. Now, I know we've seen this sprint over the course of the past
1:08.6	few years towards live events, especially fights.
1:11.2	It's not really up my alley, but Nick, I know TKO Group is one of your largest personal
1:15.6	holdings. So I think I know where you stand on this. But I also have to imagine that a lot of
1:20.1	our listeners have maybe never even heard of this business or thought about investing in
1:24.1	things like live sports entertainment before. So what should investors know about this deal?
1:28.9	Thanks, Emily. Yeah, great to be here with you for folks who aren't familiar with the TKO group.
1:33.5	It is the parent company of the WWE and the UFC, a content provider that in this world of
1:40.1	streaming, where they want to keep folks on the platform all year long, keep them from churning.
1:45.3	Both of these are sports that don't have an offseason.
	...

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