Penn Entertainment Amps Up Sports Betting Game with MLB Players Inc. and OneTeam Partners deal
MLB Athletes Ink Deal with PENN Sportbooks for Licensing Agreement
Penn Entertainment is solidifying its grip on the sports betting scene with a fresh collaboration. This time, they're teaming up with MLB Players Inc. (MLBPI) and OneTeam Partners. The recent arrangement officially licenses Penn's sportsbooks - ESPN BET in the U.S. and theScore BET in Canada - to sport the MLBPI seal of approval.
The deal gives Penn the green light to flaunt MLB player names, mugshots, and likenesses across their digital betting platforms and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. And what does this mean for sports enthusiasts? Fans will now share the screen with their favorite ballplayers during ESPN BET's marketing blitz and promotions, making the baseball season even more thrilling.
Penn already manages 32 land-based sportsbooks, with 19 bearing the ESPN BET name. By blending player-themed content into both their online and offline offerings, Penn aims to create a stronger connection between the fans and the game.
Frank Arthofer, OneTeam Partners' President, enthusastically voiced his enthusiasm for the partnership. "Connecting MLB player rights to Penn Entertainment's platforms brings fans closer to the game, while tapping into new revenue avenues in sports betting," he said. "It symbolizes the growing influence of players in shaping premium, fan-focused betting experiences while boosting player NIL rights and expanding distribution."
Jason Birney, Vice President of Operations at Penn Interactive, shared Arthofer's excitement, particularly with the baseball season kicking off. "With baseball season in full swing, we're stoked to offer a heightened betting experience that showcases player likenesses, expanded wagering options, and a livelier product," Birney declared. ". Partnering with MLB Players strengthens our bond with the league and the star athletes, spawning additional chances to engage fans throughout the season."
With this agreement, Penn Entertainment joins the growing list of sportsbooks working hand in hand with professional athletes and their unions, signaling a changing tide in the gaming industry.
Sources:
- MLB Players Union Files Suit Against DraftKings and Other Betting Companies Over Name, Image, and Likeness Claims
- MLB Teams Up with SportsBooks to Strengthen NIL Rights for Players
- Penn Entertainment, through its sportsbooks ESPN BET and theScore BET, will now display MLB player names, images, and likenesses, marking a shift in the industry's approach to sports-betting.
- The partnership between Penn Entertainment, MLB Players Inc., and OneTeam Partners aims to bring fans closer to their favorite ballplayers, blurring the lines between sports and sports-betting.
- The recent alliance also opens new revenue avenues in the sports-betting industry, further exploring the potential of Fintech and finance in the sports environment.
- With this move, Penn Entertainment solidifies its position as a front-runner in the sports-betting market, especially considering the upcoming baseball season.
- The growing trend of sportsbooks partnering with professional athletes and their unions reflects a shift within the sports-betting industry, and Penn Entertainment is poised to capitalize on this transition.
- The strategic collaboration echoes the industry's increasing recognition of the value of athletes' Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, reinforcing the changing landscape in sports-betting, finance, and Fintech.
