Penn National Gaming subsidiary theScore Bet has announced a 10-year exclusive partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, making the operator the official gaming partner of the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise.
The ‘first of its kind’ partnership in Canada represents the Blue Jays’ first gaming partner and theScore Bet’s first professional team sponsorship. It comes just days after the launch of the Ontario sports betting and igaming market on April 4.
As part of the deal, theScore Bet will receive exclusive national marketing rights that extend across all gaming categories including sports betting, casino, online casino, and fantasy sports. A branded sports bar and restaurant at Rogers Centre is also in the works.
Mark Shapiro, President & CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, commented: “The fan experience is evolving and this monumental partnership with theScore Bet offers compelling new ways for sports enthusiasts to be a part of the game.
“We are excited to be partnering with a Canadian company that operates at the highest level of the industry and understands our role in Toronto and Canada, to bring baseball to more fans nationwide.”
The Blue Jays fans and theScore Bet will also deliver in-stadium and digital offerings to its users through various sponsorship elements, including premium seating sections on the baselines, extensive in-stadium branding, in-game features, and team-related experiences.
theScore Bet has also been designated as the presenting partner of the Jays Care 50/50 program.
“theScore Bet is proudly Canadian and we are thrilled to make Canada’s baseball team our long-term partner. This is a foundational partnership with a team and organization that is deeply embedded in our country’s sports culture,” added John Levy, CEO of theScore Bet.
“Teaming with the Blue Jays opens up exciting new exclusive marketing opportunities and brings theScore Bet even closer to a huge audience of passionate and engaged fans, both on-site at Rogers Centre and online across our platforms.
“With our combined loyal audiences and brand affinity in Ontario, we believe this deal will establish a new standard for team and gaming operator relationships as we pioneer innovative ways to experience and interact with the game.”
Levy continued: “We look forward to working with Mark, the partnerships team and the entire Blue Jays organization on what we know will be a mutually rewarding and successful partnership for many years to come.”
