PointsBet hits home run with first-ever MLB betting partnership
Australian operator inks first-ever MLB franchise partnership with Michigan's Detroit Tigers
PointsBet has signed a multi-year partnership with the Detroit Tigers to seal the first sponsorship agreement between a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise and a betting operator.
Under the remit of the deal, PointsBet will be afforded signage and branding opportunities at Comerica Park and will be featured on the Tigers’ radio network and live-streamed content.
The sportsbook will also be integrated into two mobile apps, the official MLB ballpark app and District Detroit, which details the areas surrounding Comerica Park.
PointsBet will gain access to official MLB data, and will be able to use MLB logos and branding within its sportsbook products, after inking a separate deal with the league prior to the link-up with the Tigers.
Chris Granger, the president of Ilitch Holdings, the company which represents the Tigers, said: “As we usher in legal and responsible sports betting, we look forward to the fan-friendly enhancements that it will make to the game-day experience in and around Comerica Park.”
In a company statement Aitken said: “PointsBet operates in a rare space within the industry by owning our technology 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’re excited to inject a unique and robust betting proposition into the great state of Michigan,” he added.
Speaking to ESPN, PointsBet CEO Johnny Aitken said baseball offers a swathe of potential betting market innovations.
Aitken added: “I view baseball as arguably the most disruptable sport when it comes to innovation around betting. I think there’s a huge amount of innovation that can happen around baseball betting.”
The firm expects to go live in Michigan with its sportsbook by the end of the year, and its first-ever mobile casino product once regulation is fully passed. It is partnered with local casino tribe Lac Vieux Desert Public Enterprise and Finance Commission (LVD) in the state.
Elsewhere, US sports teams continue to take tentative steps towards bookmaker partnerships, with NFL outfit the Denver Broncos recently partnering with FanDuel and MLS club DC United boasting a sleeve sponsorship agreement with Caesars Sports.