By Paul Nicholson
August 6 – Yet another betting company club sponsorship deal has been announced in the English Premier League. This time it is the turn of Manchester United who have unveiled a multi-year deal with Marathonbet who will become the Club’s Official Global Betting Partner, excluding China and the US.
Marathonbet takes over from bwin who paid £2.4 million for a three-season deal starting with the 2012-13 season. In march bwin launched a bwin Manchester United Casino.
The bookmaker already has regional partnerships with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
Marathonbet is targeting the global betting market and a boost in subscribers through a series of planned unique odds. Man Utd estimates a fan base of 659 million worldwide which it can access through its multiple digital platforms.
Manchester United Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold said: ” Marathonbet already operates in over 20 languages and understands the importance we put on operating on a global scale. Through our partnership, we hope to bring to fans exclusive content, access to bespoke player and legend interviews as well as competitive betting odds.”
Marathonbet CEO, Stan Reoutt, similarly focused on the ambitious global expansion plans of the bookmaker, saying: ”Recently, Marathonbet has made great strides towards being at the forefront of football betting and this partnership cements our aims as a brand. Manchester United is one of the most recognisable names in the world, let alone in world football and this announcement is a clear marker of our global plans for Marathonbet. We can’t wait to get to work with the club and their great fans!”
Manchester United’s white labelled on-line casino, in partnership bwin, will continue unchanged. The 3D casino is set against the backdrop of Old Trafford and can be played on-line or via an app.
At launch, this was the first football club-based online casino in the world. Punters entering the online casino are welcomed in the lobby by likenesses of the club’s players as well as with voiceovers that guide them through the game-play.
Manchester United also launched a social casino games app with KamaGames in February – there is no money required to enter a game and there are no cash prizes or pots. The bwin Manchester United Casino requires real money to play.
Betting sponsors have taken premium positions at clubs throughout the Premier League. Earlier this week Norwich City announced a deal with Coral while West Brom signed up NetBet.
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