Caesars Sportsbook Thursday announced an agreement to become Michigan State Athletics’ Official and Exclusive Sports Betting and iGaming Partner. The multi-year partnership includes fan engagement opportunities, a premium seating area at Spartan Stadium and increased responsible sports gaming education.
Caesars Sportsbook players will also be able to access a range of hospitality and VIP experiences.
“Michigan State has a proud tradition of excellence and partnering with an internationally recognized brand in college athletics is a great opportunity for us,” said Caesars Digital Co-President Eric Hession in a statement. “The Spartan fan base and alumni network is passionate and well-established across the country. We look forward to building upon our connection with them while strengthening the legacy we hold in the state of Michigan and advancing scholarship opportunities through this partnership.”
Per the agreement, Caesars Sportsbook will be able assets including broadcast and digital content across MSU athletics; visible signage across basketball, football and hockey television broadcasts; naming entitlement for new premium seating area inside Spartan Stadium (set to debut during the 2022 football season) along with an outdoor tailgating area; and access to unique alumni and fan engagement opportunities. Spartan fans can also soon enjoy promotional offers on mobile sports betting, igaming, and The World Series of Poker products.
“The opportunity to partner with Caesars, a leading force in the sports and entertainment industry, will help enhance gameday experiences for Spartan fans and provide significant resources to support the growing needs of each of our varsity programs,” said Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller in a statement. “We are excited to be on the cutting edge of this innovative opportunity, while recognizing the importance of Caesars’ commitment to responsible sports gaming education both for the student-athletes and the University community as a whole.”
Caesars Sportsbook also will provide annual funds to support student-athlete responsible gaming education, and support the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling (MAPG), regulators and the community with responsible gaming resources for eligible sports bettors in the state.
The gaming operator also will provide funds for student scholarships, internships and professional development opportunities for Michigan State students pursuing careers in the sports industry.
The partnership with Caesars Sportsbook was facilitated by Playfly Sports, Michigan State’s third-party multi-media rights holder,.
“The rapidly expanding interest around gaming in the college space has pushed us to create strategic opportunities for our college properties that not only provide impactful gaming education resources but also significant opportunities to drive new sources of revenue,” said Playfly Sports Properties President Christy Hedgpeth in a statement. “Connecting Caesars’ iconic brand to MSU’s passionate community of students, fans and alumni is a perfect fit and another example of how partnerships like this are creating tremendous benefits for all parties involved.”
