Caesars Entertainment Monday announced a partnership with NOLA.com, the publisher of the Times-Picayune and the New Orleans Advocate. Under terms of the deal, the publication will become an exclusive sports betting and odds provider for Caesars Sportsbook.
The deal comes in advance of legalized sports betting in Louisiana. In November 2020, state voters approved sports betting in 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes; Gov. John Bel Edwards signed legislation legalizing sports betting in June 2020.
Gaming operators are now seeking sports betting licenses in the state.
“The partnership with NOLA.com allows us to deepen our connection to the people of Louisiana, a community with which Caesars shares a rich history through casinos, hospitality, entertainment, and the recently renamed Caesars Superdome,” said of Caesars Digital Co-President Chris Holdren in a statement. “Through collaborative content, we will bring sports fans closer to the games they love by delivering fun, engaging, and timely updates to keep readers apprised on what’s happening in the sports world.”
The deal with NOLA.com is the gaming operator’s second major partnership deal within a week. On Sept. 17, Caesar’s Sportsbook announced a deal to become the exclusive gaming and sportsbook partner with LSU athletics.
NOLA.com follows Gannett, which in June struck a deal with Tipico USA Technology, and the Associated Press, which partnered with FanDuel in May, as journalism companies partnering with gaming companies.
BetNOLA.com was launched in August as a gaming resource in anticipation of legalized sports betting in the state.
Caesars Sportsbook will provide odds, trends, analysis and exclusive offers to readers via Bet.NOLA.com. The partnership also will integrate live lines and odds directly from Caesars Sportsbook with newspaper content.
“Caesars is the leader in this space, and with their presence in Louisiana already, they were the natural choice to be our premier partner,” said NOLA.com President and Publisher Judi Terzotis in a statement. “Our goal is to provide our readers with the widest variety of the most accurate odds. Caesars is the only one who can provide that. With Caesars’ vast sports betting options and our unmatched audience reach, we are the one-stop-shop for sports betting in Louisiana.”
“Caesars has long operated in the region, and we know that for so many of us, our days start by visiting Nola.com or grabbing a copy of the paper,” said Caesars Entertainment Regional President Dan Real in a statement. “As we look to blaze the trail into legal sports betting in Louisiana, our collaboration with The Advocate, Times-Picayune and Nola.com staff is another example of our commitment to serving the community.”
