PointsBet has achieved two industry firsts with its latest deal.
The Australian sports betting operator, PointsBet has announced an exclusive partnership with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Detroit Tigers.
This deal marks the first deal between a sportsbook and an MLB team and the first-ever partnership between a Michigan-based sports team and an operator.
What’s covered under the deal?
The multi-year deal will begin from the start of the 2020 MLB season on 23 July and comes after the state of Michigan launched sports betting operations in March
PointsBet intends to use the deal as an opportunity to enhance fan engagement and gameday experiences by providing customers access to unique content, experiences, and promotion in and around the team’s stadium, Comerica Park.
PointsBet’s branding will also be featured around the stadium, and the operator will be featured on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network and on its digital platforms. The operator will also receive a regular feature on The Word on Woodard, a twice-weekly live stream on the Tiger’s Facebook page, website and Youtube channel.
The operators explained that the deal was facilitated by a recent deal with MLB which saw PointsBet become an authorized gaming partner of the league. This deal grants the operator access to league data, trademarks and logos and the opportunity to partner with individual teams.
Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc said: “We are thrilled to welcome PointsBet as a gaming partner of the Detroit Tigers. Our incredible fans will love the unique experiences and innovative offerings that PointsBet’s personalized platform provides.
“We look forward to the fan-friendly enhancements this will bring to the game-day experience in and around Comerica Park for years to come.”
Johnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet USA, said: “The PointsBet team is excited to announce our groundbreaking deal with the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball, becoming the first legal sports betting operator in U.S. history to partner with an MLB franchise.
“PointsBet operates in rare space within the industry by owning our technology environment from end to end, which allows us to be extremely nimble on product innovation and personalized offerings to complement our app’s market-leading speed. We offer the most betting options in the world on MLB games via our unique PointsBetting product, and we are excited to inject a unique and robust betting proposition into the great state of Michigan.”
PointsBet in Michigan
The operator secured entry into Michigan’s sports betting market after entering a 20-year agreement with tribal operator Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Under the deal, PointsBet will launch its online and mobile sportsbook, as well as a branded tribal product, when state regulations allow for it. The tribe and sportsbook operator are also negotiating the launch of a land-based sportsbook at the tribe’s Northern Waters Casino Resort.
Sports betting in Michigan
On 20 December 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 916 into law, creating the Lawful Sports Betting Act. Under this law, commercial and tribal casinos can offer land-based and online sports betting in Michigan.
Governor Whitmer also signed HB 4308 into law, legalizing fantasy sports contests in the state of Michigan.
HB 4311 was also signed into law, creating the Lawful Internet Gaming Act. Under this law, mobile and online casino gambling is now legal in the state of Michigan. Under the law, the MGCB was granted the power to issue licenses for online and mobile casino gambling.
Michigan’s sports wagering market went live on March 11 with the opening of sportsbooks at Penn National Gaming’s Greektown Casino and the MGM Grand Detroit. Online and mobile sports wagering has yet to go live in the state of Michigan.
In the first few days of legal sports betting in Michigan, land-based sportsbooks generated a combined revenue of $105,548.
