Michigan State University (MSU) Athletics, MSU Sports Properties and Caesars Entertainment on Thursday said they have signed a multi-year partnership to make Caesars Sportsbook the official and exclusive sports betting and iGaming partner of MSU Athletics.
The parties said their agreement combines fan engagement opportunities, a new premium seating area at Spartan Stadium and an expansion of responsible sports gaming education.
Caesars Sportsbook said it will gain significant exposure through MSU’s sports properties and access to a wide range of hospitality assets and VIP experiences, which will be available to Caesars Sportsbook players as part of the benefits offered through its loyalty program, Caesars Rewards.
Assets include broadcast and digital content across MSU athletics, TV-visible signage across basketball, football and hockey, naming entitlement for a new premium seating area inside Spartan Stadium set to debut during the 2022 football season along with an outdoor tailgating area, and access to unique alumni and fan engagement opportunities surrounding varsity sports seasons currently underway.
Caesars said Spartan fans soon will be able to enjoy special promotional offers on mobile sports betting, iGaming and The World Series of Poker (WSOP) product offerings.
In addition to providing what it termed a “significant” financial commitment to MSU, Caesars Sportsbook said it will provide annual funds to support student-athlete responsible gaming education, student scholarships, as well as internship and professional development opportunities for MSU students pursuing a career in the sports industry.
The agreement also places an emphasis on the expansion of responsible sports gaming and education for the MSU community. Caesars Sportsbook said it is committed to working with the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling (MAPG), regulators and the community to provide responsible gaming resources to all eligible sports bettors in the state and driving awareness of the responsible gaming tools available on the Caesars Sportsbook app.
“Michigan State has a proud tradition of excellence and partnering with an internationally recognized brand in college athletics is a great opportunity for us,” Eric Hession, co-President of Caesars Digital, said in a statement. “The Spartan fan base and alumni network is passionate and well-established across the country. We look forward to building upon our connection with them while strengthening the legacy we hold in the state of Michigan and advancing scholarship opportunities through this partnership.”
Alan Haller, Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics, added: “The opportunity to partner with Caesars, a leading force in the sports and entertainment industry, will help enhance gameday experiences for Spartan fans and provide significant resources to support the growing needs of each of our varsity programs. We are excited to be on the cutting edge of this innovative opportunity, while recognizing the importance of Caesars’ commitment to responsible sports gaming education both for the student-athletes and the university community as a whole.”
The partnership was facilitated by MSU’s third-party multi-media rights holder, Playfly Sports.
“The rapidly expanding interest around gaming in the college space has pushed us to create strategic opportunities for our college properties that not only provide impactful gaming education resources but also significant opportunities to drive new sources of revenue,” said Christy Hedgpeth, President of Playfly Sports Properties. “Connecting Caesars’ iconic brand to MSU’s passionate community of students, fans and alumni is a perfect fit and another example of how partnerships like this are creating tremendous benefits for all parties involved.”
Caesars Sportsbook currently is live in 21 states and jurisdictions – 15 of which are mobile – and operates the largest number of retail sportsbooks across the country.
Caesars Entertainment says it is the largest casino-entertainment company in the US and one of the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Its resorts operate primarily under the Caesars, Harrah’s, Horseshoe and Eldorado brand names.
