US sports betting giant FanDuel has become the official betting operator of the PGA Tour in golf.
The deal will span across multiple years and cover both content and marketing aspects.
FanDuel will now have access to a range of marketing materials, as well as support the growth of betting in golf.
The new partnership between both parties also comes with an option to extend if they wish to do so.
Golf betting is growing in the US
In a year which saw many sporting events cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, players looked elsewhere for entertainment. Golf appears to be one sport where they did this.
Over nine of the last 12 Sundays, golf has accounted for the highest single-event betting handle on the FanDuel sportsbook app.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the operator’s app has already taken more wagers on golf this year than had been the case over the entirety of 2019. This is despite the PGA Tour being out for 13 weeks due to the pandemic.
FanDuel Group CEO Mike Raffensperger spoke about the growing popularity of golf, as well as the new partnership with the PGA Tour.
“Golf interest is up on FanDuel, so we are excited to deepen our relationship with the PGA Tour.
“We will now be able to offer unique gaming experiences on our platform, special Tour-related promotions for our customers and an enhanced content experience across the Tour’s properties to really prove to bettors across the nation that there are more ways to win at FanDuel.”
Details of the partnership
In recent years, FanDuel has also partnered with other major US sporting associations. Last year, it signed a deal with Major League Baseball (MLB) to become the league’s official gaming partner.
FanDuel will now gain access to official PGA Tour marks – as well as rights to advertise on the media and partner platforms. In addition to this, the operator will be able to take advantage of content and video rights – enabling it to create a more engaging betting experience for fans.
Odd-based content will also be delivered to golf fans in the US through PGA Tour platforms, such as PGATOUR.com and the official PGA Tour app.
PGA Tour Senior Vice President for Media and Gaming Norb Gambuzza had the following to say about the new partnership.
“We have long admired FanDuel’s brand, product and marketing strategies as well as the leadership position it has taken since the legalisation of sports betting in 2018.
“We are excited to bring FanDuel into the PGA Tour’s Official Betting Operator program as we continue to engage new fans in this rapidly growing space.”
