A leading British sports betting site has inked a deal with the Cleveland Guardians for gambling ads.
Bet365, which launched in the Buckeye State on Jan. 1 along with rival online gambling portals, announced the deal on Wednesday.
Terms of the “multi-year” deal were not disclosed by either the Guardians or the sportsbook.
“Everyone at bet365 is thrilled to partner with the Guards as we launch the world’s favorite online sports betting brand in Ohio,” a bet365 spokesperson said in a statement. “The Guardians’ rich history is deep-rooted in the Cleveland community, and we’re excited to become part of their exciting future.”
Sports gambling isn’t a community-centered activity, with many fans being exposed to addiction as a result. However, it does bolster fan engagement.
The partnership arrives as the Guardians are bidding to retain their AL Central title, their first since 2018. Manager Terry Francona won 2022 American League Manager of the Year.
“We’re very excited to work with bet365 as our exclusive mobile sports betting partner and welcome them to the State of Ohio,” said Guardians Vice President of Corporate and Premium Partnerships Ted Baugh. “There is a tremendous bond between our organization and bet365. With nearly 90 million customers registered worldwide, bet365 is one of the world’s leaders in online gambling and will provide our fans a trusted source to complement our organization’s success on and off the field.”
We look forward to launching our partnership with bet365 at our upcoming Guards Fest on Jan. 21. This will provide our fans a great introduction to bet365 and give a glimpse of the many activations and entertainment opportunities available beginning this season,” added Baugh.
Bet365 is still a fledgling online gambling site in Ohio. It has operations in New Jersey and Colorado, its only two other markets despite sports betting being legal in over 30 states.
“We can’t wait to engage with Guards fans at Guards Fest,” added a bet365 spokesperson. “The Guardians are an elite franchise with a passionate and loyal fanbase, and we’re excited to create fan-focused activations that give back to the faithful Cleveland baseball fans.”
Ohio recorded 11.3 million sports betting transactions over New Year’s weekend, according to GeoComply, a geolocation provider for the online gambling industry.
