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PointsBet is partnering with Penn National Gaming Inc. for joint licensure in Pennsylvania. The company has received two separate licenses. However, one allows sports wagering, and the second allows interactive gaming within the state.
Pennsylvania Grants Two Operator Licenses to PointsBet
PointsBet Holdings Limited has just announced that the state of Pennsylvania has awarded the company operator licenses. PointsBet has entered into an exclusive partnership with Penn National Gaming Inc. Additionally, the two brands have applied for joint licensure through this agreement. The result of this venture is that the PointsBet subsidiary, PointsBet Pennsylvania, LLC, has been granted multiple operator licenses.
PointsBet Pennsylvania has recently been granted operator licenses to run online sports betting as well as interactive gaming throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
The first license the company received permits PointsBet Pennsylvania to operate online sports betting sites. However, the second allows the brand to run interactive online gambling games for Pennsylvania residents. This is an exciting next step for the brand as the U.S. market continues to open up over time.
Additionally, PointsBet is hoping to leverage its position as the official sports betting partner of major news network NBC Sports. This added level of exposure will help the company solidify its role in the Pennsylvania gambling market.
The media giant has agreed to give PointsBet full use of its premium television network. In addition, the brand will be able to leverage NBC Sports’ digital assets as a platform to gain even more name recognition.
PointsBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken commented that the company is “excited to be inching closer to officially offering PointsBet’s market-leading products to sports fans and bettors in Pennsylvania in partnership with Penn National Gaming.”
PointsBet and Penn Gaming Position Themselves to Become Household Names
The United States online gambling market is slowly but surely opening up once again. Because of this, companies are clamoring for any foothold they can get in the states that have opened their borders. Pennsylvania is already a major sports betting state, so this is an obvious choice for PointsBet and Penn National Gaming.
PointsBet’s Johnny Aitken continued his remarks on this latest development by saying:
“With Pennsylvania ranking among the top five sports betting states in the nation, PointsBet is thrilled to be able to soon establish its presence in this lucrative market, and we are appreciative of the support we’ve received from the state of Pennsylvania and the great people at the Gaming Control Board. We ultimately seek to provide customers in Pennsylvania with the best-in-class sports betting and online casino experience.”
The company is also poised to take full advantage of its position as the exclusive sports betting partner of NBC Sports. The broadcast network has an extensive reach as well as a huge pool of resources for PointsBet to draw upon. This strategy works on several levels.
First, PointsBet gets year-round, cross-platform advertising capabilities. Second, they will have exclusive gameday integration into the NBC Sports network for live events. Finally, PointsBet will also be given a leg up by getting to reach Hispanic audiences. NBC Sports has two Spanish sports networks, Telemundo Deportes and Telemundo. Both will receive PointsBet marketing.
PointsBet Plans to Continue Forging Ahead in American Markets
While the PointsBet campaign is currently limited to Pennsylvania, this is a wise first step for the brand. Pennsylvania is the regional broadcast home of three sports teams: the Phillies, the Flyers and the 76ers. Residents are already excited for new opportunities to wager on their favorite home teams.
Additionally, having such a great relationship with NBC Pennsylvania is a smart long-term strategy. NBC is a major national network. This means the partnership will easily carry over to other states as the online gambling market continues to develop in America.
Statements from Kyle Christensen, PointsBet USA’s chief marketing officer, reinforced this idea:
“With NBC Philadelphia being a key asset in the NBC Sports portfolio, it will play a vital role in our ability to reach new customers and build brand recognition in this new market. We are excited to continue telling the PointsBet story and demonstrate to sports fans and bettors in Pennsylvania exactly what sets the brand apart among the rest.”
Gaining such a strong ally in one of the United States’ biggest gambling states is a huge asset to the PointsBet brand. The sooner that the company is able to establish its name in the Pennsylvania market, the better nationwide brand recognition will be. As more states begin to open their borders, it creates easy opportunities for PointsBet to grow and expand.