A major milestone
The Detroit Tigers have announced that they have signed a multi-year deal with PointsBet, making them the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) to partner with a sportsbook. It is also the first time a major sports team in Michigan has partnered with a sports betting operator.
As part of this agreement, PointsBet will advertise at Comerica Park from the start of the season. PointsBet will also be featured on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network and on the team’s live-streaming show, The Word on Woodward. PointsBet will be integrated into both the MLB ballpark and District Detroit apps.
we look forward to the fan-friendly enhancements that it will make to the game-day experience”
Speaking about the new partnership on Thursday was Chris Granger, a group president for the Detroit Tigers owner, Ilitch Holdings. He said: “As we usher in legal and responsible sports betting, we look forward to the fan-friendly enhancements that it will make to the game-day experience in and around Comerica Park.”
Embracing sports betting
In advance of this deal with the Tigers, PointsBet became an official betting partner of MLB itself. It is one of multiple sportsbooks to do so; the relationship allows the company to access the league’s official data feed and use the MLB logo and marks for its products.
The other major sports leagues and teams in the U.S. are also embracing sports betting. The NHL, NFL, and NBA, as well as a number of teams in each league, all have their own deals with sports betting operators.
Sports betting in Michigan
The partnership deal between the Detroit Tigers and PointsBet was announced the same week that the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) opened the online sports betting licensing application process. The MGCB hopes to roll out online gambling at the end of 2020 or in early 2021.
PointsBet also plans to open a retail sportsbook at the Northern Waters Casino Resort
In January 2020, PointsBet announced that it had partnered with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians to offer online casino games and sports betting in Michigan, pending a license. As part of the 20-year deal, PointsBet also plans to open a retail sportsbook at the Northern Waters Casino Resort.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation allowing online casinos and online sportsbooks on December 20, 2019. The three casinos in Detroit opened retail sportsbooks on March 11, but the coronavirus pandemic closed them all just a few days later on March 16.