The deal has yet to officially close, but Spanish media is reporting that online gambling operator Botemania is negotiating a major sponsorship deal with football powerhouse FC Barcelona.
Earlier this month, Mundo Deportivo reported that Barca had inked a deal to wear Botemania’s logo on the club’s training kit. Assuming it comes to fruition, the four-year deal, which is said to be worth €80m, would commence with the 2016-17 season.
Canadian online gambling operator Intertain acquired the Botemania brand from UK gaming operator Gamesys in February. Breaking free of its bingo roots, Botemania was the first Spanish-licensed operator to launch a slots offering following the country giving the word this June.
TITANBET SPONSOR SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Back in the UK, online gambling operator TitanBet has signed a new commercial partnership with second tier footballers Sheffield Wednesday FC.
TitanBet, an offshoot of gambling software outfit Playtech, has signed up to become the team’s Official West Stand Sponsor for the 2015-16 Championship season. TitanBet will enjoy the usual marketing opportunities in the stadium, Sheffield Wednesday supporters will enjoy the usual sort of exclusive promotional offers, while the team will enjoy cashing TitanBet’s check.
The deal is the first of its kind for TitanBet, and Sheffield Wednesday Paul Bell COO said he was delighted to have popped TitanBet’s sponsorship cherry. TitanBet sports book manager Russell Yershon claimed to be similarly delighted to partner with a team that boasts “great heritage, tradition and a Premier League fan base.”
188BET SPONSOR UK BADMINTON
Sticking with the UK, Asian-facing online gambling operator 188Bet has become the official betting partner of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships. The Open, one of the five Grand Slams of Badminton, will take place in Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena in March. 188Bet has also agreed to sponsor two other badminton events as part of a three-tourney deal.
Badminton England CEO Adrian Christy said the deal would help further develop the Championships while 188Bet managing director Nigel Singer called the All England meet “one of the most recognizable badminton championships in the world” and celebrated exposing his brand to “a growing badminton fan base.”
SPOR TOTO SPONSOR TURKISH ROUNDBALL
Finishing up in Turkey, sports betting provider Spor Toto has signed on as new title sponsor of the Süper Ligi, the country’s top basketball league, for the 2015-16 season, which got underway this month. The Turkish Basketball Federation says the league will now be known as the Spor Toto Basketbol Ligi. The deal builds on Spor Toto’s public presence, having struck a similar naming rights deal with the country’s top football division.
