The University of Maryland is the first Big Ten school to partner with a sportsbook.
PointsBet and Maryland announced a multi-year partnership Wednesday for Maryland sports betting. Once unheard of, sports betting partnerships between NCAA schools and gaming companies are starting to gain steam. Colorado (also PointsBet), LSU (Caesars) and Denver (SportsBook) have announced deals.
The deal negotiated with Maryland Sports Properties through Playfly Sports, includes in-game and campus advertising in and around Maryland’s XFINITY Center and Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium, according to a news release. There is also responsible gambling and problem gambling education for Maryland staff, students and fans. A philanthropic component will be announced at a later date, the release said.
"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,” PointsBet USA Chief Executive Officer Johnny Aitken said in a news release. “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 gambling education was a big part of the deal for the Big Ten school with PointsBet Sportsbook Maryland.
“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 Executive Associate Athletic Director and Chief Strategy Officer Brian Ullmann said in the release. “Maryland Athletics continues to lead boldly with the first deal of its kind in the Big Ten Conference and in the region.”
Playfly said it is looking for other opportunities for Maryland athletics.
“Maryland’s relationship with PointsBet will elevate both brands, while strategically enhancing the rooting experience for fans, alumni and local communities,” Craig Sloan, chief operating officer at at Playfly Sports Properties, said in the release.
Sports Betting Begins This Week in MD
The first legal sports bets are expected to be taken in Maryland this week as three retail sportsbooks in casinos are set to open — MGM National Harbor (BetMGM) on Thursday and Live! Casino (FanDuel) and Horseshoe Baltimore (Caesars).
Online sports betting won’t begin in the state until 2022, possibly in time for some Maryland NFL betting. The process to get retail sportsbooks approved has taken longer than expected and licensing online operators will take even more time.
PointsBet Partners With Riverboat
Australian-based PointsBet and the minority-owned Riverboat on the Potomac announced a 10-year partnership deal for retail and online sports betting in June. The riverboat is moored at Colonial Beach, Virginia, in the Potomac River, but the sportsbook is in Charles County, just over the Maryland state line.
PointsBet, live in seven states after launching in West Virginia in August, was recently approved by the Virginia Lottery for a temporary supplier license. PointsBet has a partnership agreement in Virginia with Colonial Downs Group.
