Mobile sports betting won’t be live in Ohio for many months, but that hasn’t stopped gaming companies from snapping up Ohio sports betting sponsorships.
Fubo Gaming secured a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to make Fubo Sportsbook an Official Mobile Sports Betting Partner of the NBA franchise. This announcement expands on a previous marketing partnership between Fubo and the Cavs in October 2021, before Fubo Gaming had even launched.
The new arrangement will be highlighted by the opening of a 3,000-square-foot sports lounge inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse that will provide gameday fans with special offers provided by Fubo Sportsbook, according to a news release.
Fubo Gaming now has market access in seven states — Ohio, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas — but is live only in Arizona and Iowa. When fully operational, Fubo Gaming hopes to differentiate itself from the pack by combining its owned-and-operated sports wagering platform with fuboTV’s live TV streaming experience.
Ohio recently put out an updated timeline as it works to launch by Jan. 1, 2023, as required by the law. It is currently posting rules for public comment.
What Fubo & Cavaliers are Saying
“The Fubo Sportsbook mobile wagering platform provides leading technology, connectivity and entertainment that aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and engagement across every aspect of the fan experience,” Len Komoroski, CEO of the Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, said in the release.
Scott Butera, president of Fubo Gaming, said in the release that “this partnership provides Fubo instant access to a highly attractive customer base.”
“Ohio has a passionate fan base who will enjoy Fubo’s uniquely integrated streaming and wagering sports betting experience,” Butera said. “The Cavs are at the forefront of sports innovation and consistently create highly engaging fan experiences.”
Ohio Sports Betting Partnerships
There have been other partnerships announced in Ohio:
- In March, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Betway, a United Kingdom sports betting and online gaming company, announced a new multi-year partnership. It includes a marketing campaign to promote Betway through signs and commercials, as well as a presence on team digital and social channels, according to a news release from the NBA team.
- In June, WynnBET and the Cincinnati Reds announced a corporate deal that targets bettors in Indiana, where online sports betting is already available. WynnBET will have access to official Reds logos for use across its online products, as well as marketing tools to create co-branded promotional offers, according to a news release.
- In January, Global sportsbook operator Tipico Ohio announced a long-term partnership agreement with the Columbus Crew, making Tipico the official and exclusive sports betting partner of the MLS franchise.
- A year before sports betting was close to being legalized, Unibet and parent company Kindred Group announced it had gained market access to Ohio. Unibet and Kindred entered into the agreement with Penn National Gaming In December 2020 to operate online sports betting and online casino gaming through Penn National's Hollywood Casinos in Ohio.
