A ten-year deal

Caesars Entertainment is now an official partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball (MLB) team. This new relationship will help the gambling giant to launch an online sportsbook in the state.

The casino and gambling operator announced the news of the ten-year deal via Twitter on Thursday:

Caesars will also play an integral role in the creation of a retail sportsbook and sports bar in the plaza adjacent to the Diamondbacks home arena, Chase Field. A broadcast studio will be present in the same facility as the sportsbook. The operator will be a part of the team’s various marketing efforts, including signage at Chase Field and exposure across the team’s digital assets. The exclusive partnership also covers daily fantasy sports.

In tandem, Caesars has also signed a multi-year deal to become an MLB authorized gaming operator.

Finding a good fit

Speaking about why the team chose to partner with Caesars, Arizona Diamondbacks CEO and president Derrick Hall said: “We went through a thorough process to identify the ideal partner that would bring experience and the strongest of reputations in legalized gaming.” He also highlighted the quality of the Caesars-owned William Hill’s online and retail sports betting products.

long track record of providing gaming operations in the state

Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg welcomed the new deal and referred to the operator’s long track record of providing gaming operations in the state. The casino company operates the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, which the Ak-Chin Indian Community owns.

When the operator eventually launches its sportsbook, bettors will have access to the Caesars Rewards network. Customers will be able to redeem their loyalty points for various offers, including a VIP experience at Chase Field with the Diamondbacks.

Sports betting on the way

Sports betting and daily fantasy sports only became legal in Arizona last month. Governor Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2772 into law, allowing the rollout of retail and online sportsbooks across the state.

The Arizona Department of Gaming is in the process of developing the framework for both daily fantasy sports and sports betting. Lawmakers, tribes, and sports teams all appear to be trying to get sportsbooks live in time for the start of the new NFL season in September.

trying to get sportsbooks live in time for the start of the new NFL season

Only professional sports teams and tribal casinos will be able to offer retail sports betting. These parties will evenly divide the 20 available licenses. Sports teams can only have a retail sportsbook within a quarter-mile of their venues, as well as being able to launch an online sportsbook.

Other betting operators have also been signing deals with sports organizations in the state. DraftKings is now an official partner of TPC Scottsdale, the host of the PGA Tour’s annual Waste Management Open. FanDuel is an official partner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team.

Major sports organizations in the state that have yet to strike a partnership with a sports betting operator include the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, and the Phoenix International Raceway.

Caesars focusing on expansion

As well as its new deals with the Diamondbacks and the MLB, Caesars also has partnerships with numerous other sporting organizations. It was one of three operators to recently become the first official sports betting partners of the NFL. Caesars was also the first operator to launch a retail sportsbook in a professional sports arena in the United States. The William Hill sportsbook officially opened at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. last August.

Following a close relationship maintained over many years, Caesars successfully acquired British gambling operator William Hill for ￡2.9bn ($4bn). The deal officially closed in April. This week, it revealed that it will be rebranding William Hill sportsbooks to Caesars for retail offerings and Caesars Sports for online platforms.