Deal just in time for 2019-2020 season
On Tuesday, the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers announced a multi-year deal with Parx Casino. The Bensalem Township casino, just northeast of Philadelphia, is now the “Official Winning Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers.” The partnership comes just a week before the start of the team’s preseason games, and three weeks before the first regular-season game.
partnership comes just a week before the start of the team’s preseason games
The 76ers president Chris Heck said the relationship “will create an interactive opportunity between our fans and Parx Casino’s gaming platforms.”
76ers wins mean free bets
The primary “interactive opportunities” involve betting on sports. One promotion highlighted by the team in the announcement is called “Win for All”. This is open to participants who are 21 years of age or older and located within 150 miles of Philadelphia.
There will also be “special bonus offers” for specific games, such as the Christmas Day game against the Milwaukee Bucks. This will be the first home Christmas game for the 76ers in over 30 years.
this could see a lot of free play money doled out by Parx Casino this season
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to be one of the league’s best teams this year, with a season win total over/under of 54.5. This could see a lot of free play money doled out by Parx Casino this season.
Professional sports and casino relationships continue
The NBA has been mostly ahead of the other U.S. sports leagues when it comes to gambling. Several years ago, NBA commissioner Adam Silver wrote an op-ed for The New York Times expressing his interest in seeing sports betting legalized. Last summer, the NBA named MGM Resorts International the league’s official gaming partner.
The 76ers’ deal with Parx Casino follows a string of partnerships some NFL teams have entered into with gaming venues at the beginning of the football season. In August, the Green Bay Packers named Oneida Casino as its official casino sponsor. In September, there were three more sponsorship deals: the Buffalo Bills with Seneca Resorts & Casinos, the Arizona Cardinals with Gila River Hotels and Casinos, and the New York Jets with 888 Casino. The latter was the only partnership with an online-only gambling company.
The partnership will also extend to the brick-and-mortar confines of Parx Casino. The casino will host “76ers Nights” where patrons can party with the team’s mascot, dancers, the Dunk Squad, and former players. Parx will also be the sponsor of the team’s radio post-game show.