Asian online betting giant SBOBET has continued its quest to corner the Irish football sponsorship market.
Last month, the Isle of Man-licensed SBOBET’s parent company Celton Manx announced it had signed on as the new official betting partner of Dundalk FC. April is only half over and SBOBET has already added two more Irish footie scalps to its lodge pole.
Last week, SBOBET announced that it had inked a betting partnership with Cork City Football Club, which will allow SBOBET scads of branding opportunities at the club’s Turner’s Cross home ground and via the club’s website.
On Thursday, SBOBET announced a deal with St Patrick’s Athletic FC – the third League of Ireland Premier Division club SBOBET has inked in as many weeks – which has promised the company similar opportunities at its home turf of Richmond Park and on the club’s website.
UNIBET SCORES A DARTS BULLSEYE
Sticking with Dublin, UK-licensed online operator Unibet has expanded its darts portfolio by becoming the new title sponsor of the World Grand Prix tournament. The event, which takes place from October 2nd to 8th at its traditional home in Dublin’s Citywest Hotel, will now be known as the Unibet World Grand Prix.
Unibet is already a major sponsor of Professional Darts Corporation events, including the European Championship, the Masters and the World Series of Darts Finals. The World Grand Prix was formerly sponsored by PartyPoker, from whom Unibet also stole the European Championship.
188BET FLEXES ITS AUTHORIZED BETTING PARTNER MUSCLES
Meanwhile, Isle of Man-licensed 188Bet has wasted no time taking advantage of its new status as an Authorized Betting Partner of British racing. Just one day after donning its ABP cap, 188Bet has signed on as sponsor of the first all-weather fixture at Newcastle Racecourse on May 17.
The ABP designation is a new prerequisite for UK racing sponsorship deals and can only be earned by operators agreeing to kick back a certain portion of their UK race betting revenue to the sport. Having committed to forking over the cash, 188Bet saw no sense in delaying its deal to sponsor six of the seven races on the 188Bet First All-Weather Race Day at the Arena Racing Company-owned Newcastle track.
