BetMGM and Cincinnati Reds Partner Up
Casino and sports betting operator BetMGM, a brand name which is recognized worldwide, has announced that it has become the official sports betting sponsor of the Cincinnati Reds MLB team. The news of the multi-year deal comes shortly ahead of the much-anticipated launch of legalized sports betting in Ohio, which finally arrives on January 1st, 2023.
Casino and sports betting operator BetMGM has come out and announced that it has become the official sports betting sponsor of the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball (MLB) team. ©danpend/Pixabay
Forthcoming BetMGM Sportsbook at Reds’ Home Stadium Will Be Operator’s Second Stadium Facility
BetMGM, a brand known to virtually all gambling aficionados worldwide, has come out and revealed the exciting news that it has struck a deal with Major League Baseball (MLB) team and franchise the Cincinnati Reds, in which it will become the team’s official sports betting sponsor.
The noteworthy news arrives not long before the long-awaited and much-delayed launch of legalized sports betting in the US Midwestern state of Ohio, which is set to take place on January 1st, 2023.
Two pieces of legislative bills are responsible for introducing sports betting in the state – Senate Bill 176 and House Bill 29. The two were first introduced in May 2021, going through much debate and multiple versions before, eventually, an evolved version of House Bill 29 ascended to Ohio’s state House and Senate, where it was finally passed.
The deal between BetMGM and the Cincinnati Reds takes the somewhat typical form of a multi-year deal. Perhaps most importantly, it will see the establishment of a BetMGM sportsbook at Great American Ball Park, which is the home stadium of the Cincinnati Reds.
After the sportsbook project is completed and up and running, it will stand as BetMGM’s second sportsbook at a Major League Baseball stadium. The first is at Nationals Park in Washington DC, which opened at the outset of 2022.
Deal Will Also Involve BetMGM Signage at Great American Ball Park; Exclusive VIP Experiences for Fans Too
On the occasion of the announcement of BetMGM and the Cincinnati Reds’ sports betting sponsorship agreement, Adam Greenblatt, who is the CEO of BetMGM, claimed it was the beginning of a deep engagement with sports betting in Ohio for the storied operator:
“Today’s announcement marks the beginning of our plans to create the most entertaining and dynamic sports betting experiences in Ohio. Through our relationships with the Reds and MGM Northfield Park, we look forward to bringing unique BetMGM content to Ohio’s passionate sports fans.”– Adam Greenblatt, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), BetMGM, Press Release
Crucially for BetMGM, its agreement with the Reds will see BetMGM signage on prominent display at the team’s home stadium, the Great American Ball Park, as well as a VIP experience for BetMGM fans, featuring the likes of on-field access for batting practice.
For its part, Doug Healy, chief financial officer for the Cincinnati Reds, explained that the team’s search for the highest quality sports betting operator is what informed its decision to sign on to a sports betting sponsorship with the Reds:
“With sports gaming coming to Ohio, the Reds sought to bring the highest quality operator to our ballpark for those fans who choose to participate in sports gaming. BetMGM is renowned for their expertise in entertainment and sports gaming, and we believe their brand best fits our high customer standards and will also help draw visitors to our city.”– Doug Healy, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Cincinnati Reds, Press Release
BetMGM Partnered with NBC Sports in September 2022
In other related news, BetMGM announced just recently in September 2022 that it had entered into an exclusive deal together with the major TV network NBC Sports, providing weekly wagering integrations during the broadcaster’s running coverage of National Football League (NFL) games.
In return, BetMGM integrations will be displayed front and center on the Football Night in America (FNIA) show, as well as across a wide range of additional content, such as for example a weekly production hosted by one-time NFL quarterback Chris Simms together with sports betting and fantasy sports pioneer Matthew Berry.
The Football Night in America show will feature real-time betting odds in the form of a scoring ticket thanks to BetMGM. The sports betting operator’s odds and lines will also be displayed in all Matthew Berry-hosted content on NBC Sports platforms.
NBC Sports Next & Fandango president Will McIntosh stressed the television network’s desire to excel in the United States’ fast-growing sports betting market as a key motivating factor behind the deal:
“As we continue to innovate within the rapidly growing sports-betting marketplace, this new partnership with BetMGM will allow NBC Sports to engage more fans across multiple platforms. We’re looking forward to collaborating with BetMGM and are excited about the future activation opportunities this partnership will present.”– Will McIntosh, President, NBC Sports Next & Fandango, Press Release
MLB and MGM Extended Storied Partnership Together in July 2022
It’s no wonder BetMGM and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team partnered together, given that the casino giant and sports league have a long-running relationship between each other, with the two even revealing in July 2022 that they are extending their existing sponsorship partnership.
Along with continuing its usual marketing and branding duties, MGM Resorts’ highly popular loyalty program, MGM Rewards, will play a key role in the agreement by acting as the title sponsor of 2022’s All-Star Celebrity Softball Game. Data will also play a part in sports betting promotion on MLB platforms.
The baseball league’s chief revenue officer, Noah Garden, voiced optimism that the operator would be able to continue to develop its business ventures with the help of Major League Baseball (MLB):
“Since creating this historic partnership four years ago, MGM Resorts and BetMGM have been truly collaborative and innovative business partners to Major League Baseball. With the success of Bettor’s Eye and introduction of All-Star Saturday’s Extra Innings concert, we look forward to seeing how MGM Resorts and BetMGM will continue to broaden their business with baseball.”
