Maryland Sports Properties have agreed to a multi-year deal with PointsBet Sportsbook, becoming the first online bookmaker to partner with an athletic department with a school in the Big Ten Conference. PointsBet was also the first sportsbook to partner with an NCAA Power 5 athletic department which was the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
Why a deal like this even took place between Maryland Athletics and Pointsbet
This deal was agreed to the day before retail sports betting was going to enter Maryland. So far, five sportsbooks have been given approved licenses to operate in the state, and mobile sports betting will be the discussion for 2022.
This deal with the Playfly Sports property will cover a bunch of different promotions that include fan-facing in-game and campus activations inside and outside Maryland XFINITY Center and Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. It will allow for commercial and activation assets to be seen or heard across Maryland’s digital channels and numerous sports radio broadcasts.
There will also be a philanthropic component that will be announced at some point in the future. Athletic Directors across the country have expressed their concerns about allowing bettors to place a wager on collegiate sports due to the concern for the student-athletes on and off the field.
As part of the deal, the “strategic” responsible and problem gambling education will be available to the fans, students, and staff members of the University of Maryland. The University of Maryland campus sponsors twenty varsity sports, over 500 student-athletes, and over 200 full-time staff members.
PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken stated in a press release that; ” Investing in the University of Maryland athletics program expands our ability to impact local communities and the greater DMV region while also connecting PointsBet with alumni that remain actively involved in reverence to their alma mater.”
Sports betting education will be key to the company’s and state’s long-term success. Working with a high-profile University will give both parties the opportunity to have a positive impact on the community. This is a powerful way to raise awareness for not only the student-athlete and the University of Maryland community in regards to responsible sports gambling.
Craig Sloan, COO at Playfly Sports Properties, also stated that Maryland’s relationship with PointsBet will elevate both brands while strategically enhancing the rooting experience for fans, alumni, and local communities.”PointsBet first gained access in the state through a deal with the Riverboat on the Potomac.
Other sportsbook competitors are taking the same approach
Sports betting in Colorado has been live since May 2020, which allowed PointsBet to strike a five-year deal with the University of Colorado. PointsBet also has its headquarters stationed in Denver. However, the Australian-based company is not the only one to have a partnership with collegiate schools.
In September of this year, LSU announced a multi-year agreement with Caesars Sportsbook that included renaming the club level at the Tigers’ football stadium. The University of Denver has partnered up with SuperBook Sports. Nevada and UNLV had an agreement since 2017