FanDuel, the preeminent casino, sports betting, daily fantasy company, and self-proclaimed “King of Online Sportsbooks,” BetMGM, have increased its agreements with the National Hockey League to include additional games. The operators are the league’s first sports betting partners in North America, having joined forces with the league in 2015.

NHL Deal with BetMGM, FanDuel

According to the companies, the agreement will provide the two betting businesses the ability to use the NHL’s branding to promote their sports betting products to customers in Canada and the United States. 

The league will continue to give the operators customized sports content, which will assist them in differentiating their products from those of their competition. In addition, the NHL will promote FanDuel and BetMGM’s branding during official live hockey events throughout the season.

In collaboration with the NHL, the two operators have committed to implementing a number of responsible gaming projects. Other activations and hospitality arrangements are also envisaged as part of the agreement.The agreements mark the beginning of legalized sports betting in the province of Ontario. On April 4, the Canadian province of Ontario legalized online sports betting, paving the way for a slew of internet operators to expand their operations in the country’s most populous province.

Opportunities abound in Canada’s burgeoning market

BetMGM and FanDuel partnered with the NHL as the league’s first sports betting partners in the United States, as Keith Wachtel, the NHL’s chief business officer and senior executive vice president, noted. The company is thrilled to be able to expand their connection with these two industry leaders in the sportsbook and mobile betting business to include Canada as well, she said.

 Wachtel’s understanding of the prospects that exist in the Canadian betting industry has led to the league’s partnership with BetMGM and FanDuel. According to her, she stated that Canada’s new sports betting landscape gives a fantastic chance to increase fan involvement while still maintaining a progressive approach toward the sports gaming business.

Corporate Notes 

BetMGM’s chief executive officer, Adam Greenblatt, commended the league’s cooperation with the company, saying it lets the company reach hockey fans and provide them with expanded hockey wagering options. According to him, BetMGM’s expansion of its association with the league is in line with the company’s recent expansion into the province of Ontario.

Amy Howe, the chief executive officer of FanDuel, is equally pleased with the opportunity to strengthen the operator’s connection with the National Hockey League. As a result of their collaboration, she claims, the NHL and FanDuel have been able to usher in true innovation in sports betting through initiatives such as the NHL Network Odds Ticker and custom NHL sports betting content for social media. FanDuel is another betting operator that has gotten approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and has begun offering its services in the province of Ontario. The NHL announced in early March that the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation had joined the league as an official betting partner in Canada.