888casino has been named the official jersey sponsor and Presenting Partner of the Ultimate Frisbee Association’s Toronto Rush, a commentary on how deep licensed operators are going into the long grass for sponsor deals a little over two years into a regulated igaming market in Ontario.
One of the amazing things we all watched over the first few months of the regulated market going live in April 2022 was how fast licensed sports-betting partners lined up to do sponsorship deals with all the major sports organizations and leagues in Ontario.
The Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA), formerly the American Ultimate Disc League, is a professional league that consists of 24 teams in four divisions. Toronto is in the East Division, along with the Boston Glory, DC Breeze, New York Empire, Montreal Royal, and Philadelphia Phoenix.
The season just got underway and the Rush are currently 0-2.
No, the UFA isn’t the Maple Leafs, Raptors, or Blue Jays. But Ultimate Frisbee is a fast-growing sport, popular with both recreational and competitive players, played in more than 80 countries by, according to USA Ultimate, the governing body for the sport, an estimated seven million men, women, girls, and boys.
888casino, part of 888 Holdings plc, is partnered with the Rush for the 2024 season.
“For years, we’ve watched Ultimate Frisbee go from strength to strength. Today, very much like 888casino, it offers a unique and highly entertaining experience for fans, which is why we felt it was the perfect partner to enhance our long-standing presence in Ontario,” said Roi Nadler, Head of Ontario at 888.
888 is zeroing in on promoting the digital-casino side of their business, not surprising when you look at iGaming Ontario market data showing the size of the casino market in the province.
As of March 31, 47 operators were offering 77 gaming websites in Ontario. Last fiscal year (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024), the Ontario market handled $51.7 billion in casino wagers, an 88% increase over 2022-23 (sports betting, by comparison, did $9.7 billion).
Founded in 1997, 888casino is an online casino offering well over 2,500 games, including exclusive content developed in-house by its Section8 studio.
As Presenting Partner, 888casino will have a real presence this UFA season. The 888casino logo will be featured on the home and away jerseys of the former UFA Division winners, alongside stadium signage and digital promotions at Lamport Stadium, located in Toronto’s Liberty Village.
Also, at every Rush home game, fans will be able to spin the 888casino Prize Wheel inside the Beer Garden (ages 19 and over), offering them the opportunity to win a range of prizes.
