There’s a lot of buzz on the Canadian Football League (CFL) front as the playoff races heat up. There’s off-field news as well, as the league this week announced another sports-betting deal, an add-on to the FanDuel partnership finalized in June.
Licensed in Ontario, 888 is the latest sports-betting operator to sign on. The league announced the betting and gaming companies as its newest Official Authorized Gaming Operator and advertising partner in Ontario.
This is the time of year when divisional races in the CFL’s East and West Divisions start to gather momentum. Currently, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and B.C. Lions are tied for first place in the West with 20 points apiece. The East isn’t nearly as tight; the Toronto Argonauts have run away with it, currently at 24 points. The Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger Cats are battling it out for second place with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
At the center of the CFL’s new sports-betting partnership are the 888 Rivalry Games, the fall’s marquee matchups featuring a number of the league’s biggest clashes.
“The CFL and 888 are the perfect match,” said Roi Nadler, Head of Canada at 888, in a statement. “Through our high-quality, entertaining, and exciting games, we are committed to delivering an exceptional experience, ensuring CFL fans can find ways to keep the action going, even once the matches are over.”
As an Official Authorized Gaming Operator of the CFL, 888casino.ca will also begin placing ads within Ontario’s CFL stadiums via television broadcasts and on the CFL’s digital domains.
888 will present a fall slate of the CFL’s premier games as the season ramps up to the playoffs and the Grey Cup championship, to be held in Hamilton. The 888 Rivalry Games will feature every East Division team going head-to-head with playoff berths and seeding on the line, including the final game of the regular season between the Toronto Argonauts and the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
The Eastern Semi-Final will be held Nov. 4, 3 p.m. EDT, with the Western Semi-Final, just after that, at 6:30 p.m. The Grey Cup will be held Nov. 19, 6 p.m. EDT.
