The Detroit Tigers have agreed a multi-year sports betting partnership with PointsBet, confirming Major League Baseball (MLB)’s first-ever relationship between a team and operator.
This deal will come into effect for the Michigan-based side’s 2020 season, which will be a reduced 60-game campaign.
Sports betting itself in Michigan was signed into law last December, with regulators hoping to launch the online market by the end of this year.
Teams in other US sports have also moved towards sports betting partnerships, such as the Denver Broncos in the NFL.
“Thrilled to welcome PointsBet”
The Tigers’ deal with PointsBet will be used to enhance fan engagement at the team’s Comerica Park home. It’s also hoped that matchday excitement will be increased.
PointsBet will also receive branding at the stadium, which will be visible for television broadcasts. Moreover, the operator will be integrated both into the MLB Ballpark and District Detroit mobile apps.
Ilitch Holdings Group President for Sports & Entertainment Chris Granger spoke about the new deal. His words were as follows.
“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 personalised 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.”
Extensive deal
PointsBet has also agreed to a recent deal with the MLB itself, which made the Tigers partnership possible. The company is now an Authorised Gaming operator of MLB. This means that they can use official league data in their products, including the MLB logo and other marks.
PointsBet will have a sponsored presence on the Tigers’ digital platforms. They will also feature regularly on Word on Woodward, a live streaming show appearing on the club’s channel twice each week. Featuring on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network will also be fulfilled.
PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken spoke about the new partnership with the Detroit-based side and said the below.
“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 US 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 personalised 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.”
