Following Ontario’s official opening as a regulated gambling market on 4th April NHL has announced that sportsbooks BetMGM and Fan Duel are now it’s official partners in Canada.
This is an extension of an existing agreement in the States and means that both BetMGM and FanDuel will be allowed to use the NHL branding to promote their products in this country. The partnerships give the two operators the opportunity to reach out directly to hockey fans.
Fan Duel and NHL have already harnessed the relationship by working together in the States to produce unique content like the odds ticker and customer social media content and they will continue to do so in Canada.
Commenting on the new deal, Keith Wachtel, Chief Business Office at NHL said: “Canada’s new sports betting landscape presents a tremendous opportunity to further fan engagement and continue our progressive approach with the sports gaming industry.
“BetMGM and FanDuel were our first sports betting partners in the US, and we’re thrilled to expand our partnerships with both of these leaders in the sportsbook and mobile betting marketplace as we begin our transformative entry into this space in Canada and engage our avid Canadian fanbase.”
Chief Executive of BetMGM, Adam Greenblatt, said: “Our existing partnership with the NHL accelerated our ability to reach hockey fans and has allowed us to deliver an enhanced hockey wagering product. Expanding our partnership with the NHL throughout North America, aligned with our recent launch in Ontario, puts us in a great position for long-term success in Canada. We’re excited to further our relationship with the NHL including incorporating some of its all-time greats from Wayne Gretzky to Connor McDavid into our brand marketing.”
The close relationships being built between sporting organisations in Canada and the States and betting operators may alarm anti-gambling campaigners but under Ontario’s regulatory framework sportsbooks and casinos are required to follow safe gambling rules closely and must be accredited by the Responsible Gambling Council before they are granted a license.
MORE ABOUT NHL
Ice Hockey is Canada’s first sport and is played at the highest level in the National Hockey League. The league is made up of a mix of Canadian and US teams, numbering 32 in total. This includes the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. The competition winner is awarded the Stanley Cup each year.
You can find out more about betting on ice hockey in this NHL betting guide. Or check out our Canada online gambling guide for more on sports betting, and our new online casinos page for the latest casinos to launch in Canada.
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