Four days before the Las Vegas Raiders are set to play their first regular season game in the team’s new hometown, the National Football League franchise has an official sports betting partner.
BetMGM, the joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC International, took on that role Thursday, which was announced as an extension of the team’s current multi-year partnership agreement with the casino operator.
The Raiders play their first home game Monday night at the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium, hosting the New Orleans Saints in a nationally televised contest. The game will be without fans in attendance, however, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
BetMGM operates retail and mobile sports betting in seven states and will look to market the BetMGM mobile app to Raiders fans.
“The addition of BetMGM will open new levels of engagement for Raiders fans and guests of Allegiant Stadium,” said Raiders President Marc Badain.
The Raiders’ move to Las Vegas from Oakland has opened up numerous marketing possibilities for the franchise.
Allegiant Stadium
MGM Resorts is a founding partner in Allegiant Stadium and has prominent branding throughout the building, including in-stadium signage and an MGM Resorts VIP entrance on the west side. The stadium, which is just west of the company’s Mandalay Bay resort across Interstate 15, features a private MGM Club that offers Raiders fans an in-game-viewing experience complete with full-service bar, luxury lounge, and upgraded stadium seating.
Last week, before the start of the NFL season, the American Gaming Association said the league and its teams had formed 26 marketing and data-sharing partnerships with firms associated with sports gaming since May 2018, when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of nationwide legalization of sports betting. Eighteen states and Washington D.C. currently allow regulated sports betting in casinos, racetracks, and online.
BetMGM also has official sports betting designations with the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions.
Last week, MGM Resorts outfitted its 150-foot-tall Lady Liberty statue at New York-New York on the Las Vegas Strip with a 600-pound Las Vegas Raiders jersey for the NFL season.
“This new partnership complements what is already a wonderful and rewarding relationship with MGM Resorts and the Raiders,” said BetMGM’s CEO Adam Greenblatt.
Since partnering in January, MGM Resorts and the Raiders have been committed to collaborating on community outreach programs that benefit Southern Nevada.
“All of us at MGM Resorts are proud to welcome the Raiders and the NFL to Las Vegas,” said MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle. “We look forward to providing Raiders fans a world-class sports betting and entertainment experience.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
