The Australian sportsbook operator PointsBet has partnered with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons ahead of its launch in the state of Michigan.
The Australian sportsbook operator PointsBet has announced a new partnership with the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) franchise, the Detroit Pistons.
In recent months, the Pistons have inked similar deals with DraftKings and FanDuel.
The deal with the Pistons
Under the deal with the Pistons, PointsBet will become an official sports betting partner of the NBA franchise and have access to official team marks and logos. In addition to this, the sportsbook operator will benefit from sponsorship opportunities as well as brand visibility across digital and social media assets.
PointsBet will also benefit from in-game, broadcast-visible, digital signage opportunities and having its brand displayed on the Pistons’ social media channels and mobile app.
On top of this, the three-time NBA All-Star and former Pistons player Rip Hamilton will also serve as a brand ambassador for PointsBet in the state of Michigan. Hamilton will act as the face of PointsBet’s Michigan-based sports betting products.
PointsBet US chief executive Johnny Aitken said: “Michigan is a fantastic sports state, and we look forward to the opportunity to soon serve Michigan sports bettors on a personalised platform with unrivalled speed and ease of use, now alongside both the Pistons and Rip Hamilton.”
In the announcement, Hamilton said: “I’m incredibly excited to join the PointsBet team and help usher in the fastest, most premium sports betting experience to the best fans in sports. Detroit sports fans will love what PointsBet has to offer, such as an app that is specifically tailored for the teams they support, as well as the most betting options in the world, including up to 1,000 markets per NBA game.”
Building a presence in Michigan
The deal with the Pistons marks PointsBet’s second partnership with a Michigan-based team after the Australian operator partnered with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Detroit Tigers in July 2020.
With the Detroit Tigers deal, PointsBet became the first sportsbook operator to partner with an MLB franchise and the first operator to partner with a Michigan-based sports team.
Last month, PointsBet became one of 15 other sportsbook operators to secure a provisional licence to offer online sports betting in the state of Michigan. The state regulator awarded provisional licences ahead of the state launching its legal online betting market.
PointsBet initially secured entry into the Michigan betting market via a partnership with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. This agreement allows PointsBet to offer online and mobile sports betting and online casino gaming in the Great Lake State.
