PointsBet agrees to sports betting partnership with University of Maryland Athletics

PointsBet USA has signed a multi-year deal with Maryland Sports Properties, creating the first sports betting partnership within the Big Ten Conference.
Image source: Jamie Lamor Thompson/Shutterstock

PointsBet USA has signed a multi-year partnership with Maryland Sports Properties, a Playfly Sports property, creating the first sports betting partnership within the Big Ten Conference.

As part of the agreement, PointsBet will have fan-facing in-game and campus activations in and around Maryland’s XFINITY Center and Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Moreover, it will deliver strategic responsible and problem gambling education to staff, students, and fans, and a philanthropic component which will be announced at a later date.

PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken commented: “Investing in the University of Maryland athletics program expands our ability to impact local communities and the greater DMV region while also connecting PointsBet with alumni that remain actively involved in reverence to their alma mater.

“Sports betting education and safe gambling is key to our long-term strategy, as is making a tangible impact on the communities we invest in. We are proud to work with such a high-profile, storied university to further these objectives.”

Maryland Executive Associate Athletic Director and Chief Strategy Officer Brian Ullmann added: “With the announcement of our partnership with PointsBet through Maryland Sports Properties and Playfly Sports, we are looking forward to raising awareness and educating our student-athlete and University community about responsible gambling.

“Maryland Athletics continues to lead boldly with the first deal of its kind in the Big Ten Conference and in the region.”

Alongside in-arena activations and commercial assets, PointsBet will also be featured across Maryland’s digital channels and sports radio network broadcasts.

Craig Sloan, COO at Playfly Sports Properties, stated: “Playfly Sports is a proud partner of Maryland Athletics and we are constantly seeking innovative opportunities to engage new sponsors. Maryland’s relationship with PointsBet will elevate both brands, while strategically enhancing the rooting experience for fans, alumni, and local communities.”

PointsBet gained Maryland market access through a deal with the Riverboat on the Potomac, a licensed satellite simulcast facility for horseracing and minority-owned small business located in Charles County, Maryland.

In 2020, PointsBet partnered with the University of Colorado Buffaloes, becoming the first sports betting operator to partner alongside an NCAA Power 5 athletic department.