NFL squad New York Jets and popular online gambling brand 888 have agreed on an official sponsorship deal that would see the latter’s logo be prominently displayed at the former’s home arena, the Met Life Stadium.
888casino NJ would be able to showcase the Jets’ logo on its own online casino platform and in their other marketing collateral, which includes television commercials and social media posts.
The Jets already have an agreement in place with MGM Resorts International, which is the official casino partner for the franchise. However, the deal with 888 is the Jets’ first deal with an online casino, and would now see 888casino NJ being made an official club sponsor.
Yaniv Sherman, who is head of commercial development at 888casino, says the deal as “a dream come true” for them, saying, “We are so excited to be the first NJ online casino to sponsor an NFL team.”
Incidentally, the Jets play their home games in the state of New Jersey, a place where there is a massive presence in the gambling sector. Its sports betting revenues consistently compete with Nevada, while its casinos have also put on strong performances year after year.
888 has been seeking to expand its presence in the United States and is first concentrating on its New Jersey operations. In August, 888 introduced the new version of its online casino in the state. This latest move sees the brand collaborating with one of the region’s favorite teams.
However, 888 does have to be wary of falling in line with the league’s sponsorship rules. Since September 2018, NFL teams have been able to acquire casino sponsors. However, there can be no association between the respective teams and sportsbooks. Therefore, NFL teams can only form part of promotions for the likes of casinos.
If there is any hint of an NFL team being used to promote a sportsbook, the NFL will immediately terminate the sponsorship deal.
To date, there have been a number of NFL teams that have gone into partnerships with casinos. The Buffalo Bills have an agreement in place with Seneca Resorts and Casinos, which is based in New York. The Dallas Cowboys have partnered with the WinStar World Casino Resort in nearby Oklahoma.
The Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore sponsors the Baltimore Ravens, while the Oneida Nation tribe is sponsoring the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin. The soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders has a 15-year deal signed with Caesars Entertainment. And finally, the Arizona Cardinals recently announced their sponsorship deal with the Gila River Hotels and Casinos company.
