PNG to strike deals with US sports leagues
Penn National Gaming is discussing potential deals with US major leagues as it expands its offering amid sports betting’s liberalisation.
US.- As sports betting has been cleared to be legalised nationwide in the US, companies in the gaming industry are planning to expand in the country. However, as major sports leagues are lobbying to get their share of the pie, Penn National Gaming (the largest U.S. regional gaming company by states) is pursuing a deal with the NBA, MLB, NLH and the PGA Tour.
Senior vice president for public affairs for PNG, Eric Schippers, revealed that the company has been holding discussions with the basketball, baseball, ice hockey and golf leagues. However, he explained that the NFL, which oversees American football, hasn’t been willing to discuss a deal with them.
PNG would follow MGM Resorts’ lead, which signed a deal with the NBA and became the first company in the industry to come to an agreement with one of the major leagues on sports wagering. The company will receive access to the NBA’s data feed and will be able to advertise on its platform, as will the NBA the other way around.
The MGM-NBA deal was applauded by Mr Schippers as he believes the relationship between companies and sports leagues shouldn’t be mandated by the state. Still, he advanced that PNG won’t sign a deal with any league until thoroughly assessing every aspect of it and considers it to be “good for (its) shareholders.”
