PointsBet continued to raise its public profile in the Midwest sports betting market of the United States on Wednesday, reaching a multi-year agreement with the Indiana Pacers to be their official sports gaming partner.
PointsBet already has a retail and online presence in Indiana via Hollywood Lawrenceburg Casino. This agreement continues their alignment with professional sports teams, having entered a similar agreement in Michigan with the Detroit Tigers in July. PointsBet will be the first sportsbook to have branding on an NBA apron, the area of out-of-bounds space between the baseline and the team bench.
The Pacers are currently playing in the NBA bubble in Orlando, but the deal will begin next season with the branding visible at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“We are very excited to bolster our presence within the Hoosier State and surrounding areas, as well as to Indiana Pacers fans around the globe via this unique partnership, working collaboratively with a first-class organization to enhance the NBA fan experience and excitement created within venue or watching at home,” PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken said in a joint statement.
“This corporate partnership with PointsBet represents a real win for both companies,” added Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment president and COO. “We look forward to welcoming them in as a very visible brand at the Fieldhouse and through our various channels.”
To mark the agreement, PointsBet has a sign-up offer for new Indiana users, who can enter the code “PACERS” and receive $100 in free bets when they deposit and bet just $20.
Deal continues busy summer in Midwest for PointsBet
NEWS: @PointsBetIN has announced a multi-year partnership with the @Pacers to become an official sports gaming partner of the team.
Earlier this year, PointsBet announced a deal to become an Authorized Sports Betting Operator of the NBA.https://t.co/Mo3W4nvW9j
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) August 5, 2020
PointsBet, which will also have signage throughout the arena — most notably along the scorer’s table — and a presence on the team’s digital platform, has been active throughout the Midwest this summer in expanding its footprint. Since going live in the Hoosier State in March, the Australian-based sportsbook has generated a cumulative online handle of nearly $2.3 million through June, according to monthly figures from the Indiana Gaming Commission.
“PointsBet was thrilled to unveil the fastest sports betting app in Indiana earlier this year, powered by our best-in-market proprietary technology, premium brand mentality, and clear points of difference via our product features that bettors can’t get elsewhere,” Aitken said. “Indiana represents a massive opportunity for PointsBet, and we will take a heavily localized approach to ensure we are delivering the best overall customer experience Indiana sports fans and bettors are seeking.”
PointsBet is also close to launch in Illinois through its agreement with Hawthorne Race Course, which was approved for a sports betting license July 30 by the state’s gaming board.
In addition to having a retail presence at the horse racing track in Cicero, just outside of Chicago, PointsBet will have a physical location at off-track betting sites at Crestwood, Oakbrook Terrace, and Prospect Heights — all within a 35-mile radius of Hawthorne. Once sports betting goes live at Hawthorne, it can then make the request to commence online wagering, though people must register in person at those sites to gain access to mobile.