Online bookmaker Marathonbet has inked its biggest sports sponsorship to date with English Premier League powerhouses Manchester United.
On Wednesday, Marathonbet announced it had signed on as Man U’s new official global betting partner, excluding China and the United States. Terms of the multi-year deal weren’t disclosed, but the club’s previous deal with Bwin.party digital entertainment was believed to be worth an estimated £2.4m per year.
Whatever they paid, Marathonbet will have loads of branding opportunities in Old Trafford stadium as well as across the team’s digital platforms while the team’s fans will have access to exclusive free bet offers. Marathonbet will also be allowed to feature Man U’s star players in marketing pitches.
Marathonbet CEO Stan Reoutt called Man U “one of the most recognizable names in the world, let alone in world football” and described the deal as “a clear marker of our global plans” that “cements [Marathonbet’s] aims as a brand. ”The deal follows the regional betting partnership Marathonbet signed with EPL stars Liverpool FC last month and the brand’s existing deal with Tottenham Hotspur.
This week also saw Marathonbet launch its new full live casino offering courtesy of live dealer gaming specialists Evolution Gaming. Desktop versions of live roulette, baccarat, blackjack, immersive roulette and casino hold’em have already gone live while mobile versions will follow in September, along with Evolution’s desktop version of SHFL’s Three Card Poker. The products will all be hosted at Evolution’s Latvia studios.
Evolution is also readying a number of native speaking dealer services for Marathonbet, including London Roulette, Deutsches Roulette and Sports Roulette, which Marathonbet will utilize for further expansion into regulated markets.
Evolution CEO Jens von Bahr noted Marathonbet’s strength in the sports betting vertical, which he said had proven to be “a perfect pairing with live casino in terms of cross-selling potential and conversions.” Marathonbet’s online casino manager Christian Melin said the live dealer offering was already “gaining strong momentum and attracting a high number of unique players.”
