- PointsBet named an official sports betting partner of MLSE’s professional teams
- Ontario approved new gambling legislation earlier this month
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) has signed a multi-year deal with PointsBet, which will see the gambling brand become an official sports betting partner of the company’s professional teams.
The agreement covers the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Toronto Maple Leafs, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Toronto Raptors, Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Toronto FC, the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Toronto Argonauts, and the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Toronto Marlies.
The deal arrives less than a week after Australian-headquartered PointsBet officially entered the Canadian market. Since 4th April, regulated private operators in the province of Ontario have been able to offer betting beyond parlays and horse racing.
Following the new gambling legislation, the NHL quickly expanded its partnerships with BetMGM and FanDuel. Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Toronto Blue Jays also announced a ten-year pact with TheScore Bet.
The NHL already has an equity stake in PointsBet as part of a broader deal with the operator. The betting firm also has partnerships with the likes of the National Football League (NFL), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the University of Colorado (CU).
“We happily welcome PointsBet Canada as a partner of the Maple Leafs, Raptors, TFC and Argos as they enter the Ontario market with a well-established reputation in the sports betting industry,” said Jordan Vader, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, MLSE.
“We look forward to utilising our partnership to provide 19+ fans of our teams with new and different ways of interacting and engaging with the sports they love with a trusted operator in PointsBet that prioritises responsible gaming.”
Scott Vanderwel, chief executive of PointsBet Canada, added: “This is a historic deal for PointsBet Canada. You rarely get the opportunity to partner with an organisation that spans across all four professional leagues through the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, and offers year-round entertainment within the sports market in Canada.”
Read More: Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors covered in MLSE’s PointsBet deal