Arsenal have announced a new partnership with Sportsbet.io who, apparently, hail from the ‘tech hotbed of Yallinn, Estonia.’
Arsenal have agreed a three-year deal with Sportsbet.io that will see the “cryptocurrency-based sports betting platform” by “creating exclusive experiences to reward Arsenal’s large global fanbase and Sportsbet.io customers.
“Sportsbet.io will leverage access to our men’s and women’s teams to create compelling digital content that will engage our 80m+ digital following. This includes the 6m+ who follow Arsenal Women – the most followed women’s sports team on the planet.”
Arsenal also note that Arsenal coaches will also deliver coaching clinics in Estonia for their u19 Women’s team.
Lukas Baek, explained more about the deal. “Arsenal have agreed a 3-year sponsorship deal with Estonian cryptocurrency-based sports betting platform Sportsbet.io to be the club’s Official Betting Partner,” he said. “The contract is valued at £1.5m per season.
“Sportsbet.io as the “Official Partner of the club” is on the second level of sponsorship after the Lead Partner category (Adidas, Emirates, Visit Rwanda). The partnership further increases Sportsbet.io’s presence in the Premier League, after the operator last month announced it will sponsor Southampton FC (the deal worth £4m) for the 20-21 season.
“It also sponsors Watford, though that team plays in the second tier Championship, following its relegation from the top division in 2019-20.
“Interestingly, this is not the first Arsenal contract with a partner basing its operations on cryptocurrencies. In 2018, the deal was in tandem with US cryptocurrency company CashBet that saw the club promote the virtual firm’s initial coin offering (ICO) at their 60,000-seater home stadium.
“This was the first time that any global sporting team had officially entered a partnership with a cryptocurrency firm.
“Founded in 2016 as part of the Coingaming Group, Sportsbet.io is the leading Bitcoin sportsbook. Sportsbet.io has redefined the online betting space by combining cutting-edge technology, with cryptocurrency expertise a partnership with a cryptocurrency firm.
“Founded in 2016 as part of the Coingaming Group, Sportsbet.io is the leading Bitcoin sportsbook. Sportsbet.io has redefined the online betting space by combining cutting-edge technology, with cryptocurrency expertise.”
Does this replace VBET who were previously sponsoring?
— John (@salibating) September 17, 2020
Can confirm VBET and Arsenal have ended their partnership.
— TheAFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) September 17, 2020
He added, “During the 2018-2019 season, Arsenal had a record number of 5 gambling/sports betting partners: 12Bet, Betfair, SportPesa, Tempobet and BetConstruct. Most in the league along with Leicester City.
“But we know that this season the number of gambling partners will be the lowest in several seasons. Importantly, the number of main sponsors on the front of the shirts decreased from 10 to 8 ‘bookmakers’.”
Arsenal’s commercial director Peter Silverstone said: “It’s been fantastic getting to know Sportsbet.io and learning about our shared spirit of innovation and the groundbreaking work they are doing in the fintech space. We are proud to partner with a market-leading company that are at the forefront of the innovation journey of the gaming industry.
“We are very excited about our future together. We will work together and explore the different ways we can leverage our combined expertise and Arsenal’s huge global reach to set a new standard in delivering experiences and content to our fanbase and Sportsbet.io customers worldwide.”
Tim Heath, founder of the Coingaming Group, who own Sportsbet.io, said: “Signing a three-year deal with Arsenal, one of the most celebrated teams in the world, is a huge venture and something we are all very excited about.
“We’re confident that with Arsenal’s drive to innovate the sports industry, together with our own drive to innovate the gambling and crypto space, this is the perfect team for us. Watch this space, as we seize the opportunity to promote crypto gaming awareness, and hope to push forward crypto gaming adoption on a scale never seen before in football.”
Sportsbet.io also sponsor Watford’s shirts and are Southampton’s main club sponsor.