It sure seems like the NFL is cozying up to the prospect of sports betting being associated with their product, as the Indianapolis Colts have joined a growing list of teams that are partnering with corporate giants within the industry of NFL Sportsbooks.
The Hoosier State was one of the first to pass regulation to allow for domestic sportsbooks, with BetMGM, Caesars, and PointsBet all debuting sportsbooks during the fall of 2019.
Now that sports betting in Indiana has been welcomed with open arms, the Colts have entered into a deal with Caesars and William Hill that will commence prior to the end of the 2020 NFL season.
“This partnership with Caesars Entertainment and William Hill will help us better connect with Colts fans everywhere as we navigate this very unique season in 2020 and offer a greater fan experience well into the future.”
Roger VanDerSnick, the Colts’ Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Part of the rollout plan includes a mobile game from Caesars that will be offered on the Colts app titled “Pick 6 Predictor,” which will give fans a chance to win trips to Las Vegas to stay on properties owned by Caesar’s Palace, along with a host of other weekly prizes.
The game will be offered for free, and although there has been no indication of the rules or gameplay, the title indicates that it could involve the prediction of when an interception return for a touchdown will occur, and who will be the player to take it to the house.
According to a report from Fox Business, Caesars and William Hill will eventually enter into logo and brand sharing, with the potential to include Colts-related promotions in the future. Any special offers in regards to the Colts will require approval from the Sports Wagering and Paid Fantasy Sports Division, the arm of the Indiana state government that is responsible for all sports betting regulation.
Also pending regulatory approval is a full-fledged mobile betting app that will pair up with the Colt’s marketing arm, making appearances across their glut of multi-media platforms.
The announcement was just made yesterday, so we expect more details of the partnership to emerge in the coming weeks, but now we’re curious if there are plans for a betting lounge in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
A lounge is already under construction at Mile High Stadium in Denver, and there is movement that suggests that these types of betting palaces will spread across the league.
Now that there is an existing NFL franchise in Las Vegas, the appetite for sports betting is growing, as the league seems ready to make the leap toward treating their fans like responsible adults and acknowledging that the gambling odds are a part of the game.
The benefit will be mutual for the league and the sportsbooks, and the sooner that the reigns are taken off of sports betting in the United States, the better. Once the sports betting revenue reports start coming in from each state, lawmakers will begin to get the picture and take a more aggressive stance toward legal gambling operations and the torrent of tax dollars that they generate.
Source: Fox Business
