Michigan State University (MSU) will end its sponsorship deal with Caesars Sportsbook. The learning institution joins a list of schools now ending their relationships with sportsbooks, with a view to cease promoting sports betting among students.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) marketing code for college and university partnerships was updated in March, banning any future partnerships of this nature. The University of Colorado terminated its partnership with PointsBet almost directly after the AGA announcement.
Caesars is not a member of the AGA. A deal between Caesars and Louisiana State University may also reportedly end soon.
Since the partnership began in January 2022, the university has made nearly $9m. However, leadership within MSU has since changed, and sports betting scandals at both the University of Alabama and the University of Cincinnati have since gotten coaches fired.
MSU Athletic Director Alan Haller said of the partnership, “Initially, it was a good thing, but I don’t think it’s in our best interest moving forward.”
Paul Schager, MSU’s Executive Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, also commented on the loss of revenue, but stayed positive about the University’s other partnership opportunities.
He said, “From a financial perspective, we feel that there will be growth in other sponsorship categories that will take over inventory that was allocated to this particular client.”
According to a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) survey released this week, 67% of students living on US college campuses are bettors, with 41% of those students betting on their school’s own team, and 35% using other students as bookies to place their bets.
