PokerStars and the Flyers
Two of Flutter Entertainment’s biggest brands have linked up with North American hockey. The first to announce a new deal last week was PokerStars, which has partnered with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.
PokerStars players will also have the opportunity to win Flyers tickets and autographed memorabilia
As an official sponsor of the team, PokerStars’ ads will be seen both at the Wells Fargo Center and on game telecasts. PokerStars players will also have the opportunity to win Flyers tickets and autographed memorabilia in poker tournaments and PokerStars Casino sweepstakes promos.
This isn’t the first NHL sponsorship for PokerStars. It already has partnerships with the Detroit Red Wings and Ontario’s Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of both the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. PokerStars, as one might guess, has real money poker sites in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ontario.
FanDuel and the PWHL
A few days after the PokerStars announcement, Flutter’s biggest US brand, FanDuel, announced that it has been named an Official Sportsbook Partner and exclusive In-app Streaming Partner of the fledgling Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
FanDuel will stream up to 90 regular season and PWHL playoff games on its app. It will also, of course, offer sports betting on league games.
helping grow the visibility of women’s professional sports”
“This partnership is about creating a new era of fan engagement—one that brings hockey closer to fans while helping grow the visibility of women’s professional sports,” said General Manager of FanDuel Canada Dale Hooper in a press release.
The PWHL was founded last year with six teams: Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres.
Toronto finished atop the regular season standings in the inaugural season and chose to face Minnesota in the first round (yes, the #1 seed gets to select its first-round opponent in the PWHL). The decision backfired, though, as Minnesota won the series in five games and went on to defeat Boston for the Walter Cup.