Exclusive sports betting partner
PointsBet has announced that it is a founding partner and exclusive sports betting partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) team Austin FC. The MLS franchise took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the news of its long-term agreement with the sports betting operator:
The deal will see PointsBet becoming the exclusive official sports betting partner of Austin FC. It will cover various aspects of the burgeoning US gambling sector, including online and retail sports betting, free-to-play games, and daily fantasy sports.
Austin FC is the only professional sports team in Austin. This year it is playing its first MLS season, with home games taking place at the newly built $260m Q2 Stadium. It was the 27th club to join the MLS in January 2019.
deal is the first that the Australia-based operator has entered with an MLS club
PointsBet joins a number of other companies as founding partners of the soccer club. The newly announced deal is the first that the Australia-based operator has entered with an MLS club; it also marks its initial partnership with a major sports team in Texas.
An agreement with extensive opportunities
As part of the agreement, PointsBet will get access to extensive brand integration opportunities at Q2 Stadium, which includes the PointsBet Sports Bar on the North Building’s second level. The area will be open to match ticket holders.
PointsBet will also be able to use Austin FC logos, marks, and IP, as well as engage in different types of sponsorship and brand visibility opportunities across the team’s digital and linear assets. The two parties will also come together to organize promotional sweepstakes, events, and giveaways.
Finally, the two parties will work together when it comes to protecting the integrity of MLS and Austin FC matches.
Welcoming the partnership
Speaking about this exclusive partnership, PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken said the creation of Austin FC is extremely exciting for soccer fans. He added that PointsBet is excited to work alongside the team, saying: “We look forward to a future when our groundbreaking technology will be in the hands of Austin FC’s passionate and tech-savvy fanbase.”
PointsBet is emerging as one of the leaders of the US sports betting space
Austin FC president Andy Loughnane also welcomed the news, describing how PointsBet is emerging as one of the leaders of the US sports betting space. He said: “We are honored that PointsBet has chosen to strategically align with Austin FC and Major League Soccer as they continue to expand their impressive North American footprint.”
PointsBet expanding its US presence
PointsBet is rapidly expanding its presence in the US online gaming market. It currently has online sportsbooks operational in West Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Colorado. It also has market access in other states, in addition to online casino offerings in New Jersey and Michigan.
PointsBet has entered partnerships with major sports teams in other states, including the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. It also has a relationship with numerous major sports organizations, including being an approved NFL sportsbook operator.