Ohio – where sports betting launched on 1 January – is the third US state in which Bet365 is live, following New Jersey and Colorado.
The partnership lands as the Guardians bid to retain the American League (AL) Central title, which was the franchise’s first since 2018.
Ted Baugh, the Guardians’ vice president of corporate and premium partnerships, said: “We’re very excited to work with Bet365 as our exclusive mobile sports betting partner and welcome them to the State of Ohio”.
“There is a tremendous bond between our organization and Bet365. With nearly 90 million customers registered worldwide, Bet365 is one of the world’s leaders in online gambling and will provide our fans a trusted source to complement our organisation’s success on and off the field.”
The Guardians annual “Guards Fest”, which runs on January 21 for the first time after a two-year pause, will mark the beginning of the partnership. The Bet365 lounge will be available for Guardians fans of legal gambling age to access exclusive bet boosts and prize giveaways during the festival.
“We can’t wait to engage with Guards fans at Guards Fest,” a spokesperson for Bet365 said. “The Guardians are an elite franchise, with a passionate and loyal fanbase, and we’re excited to create fan-focused activations that give back to the faithful Cleveland baseball fans”.
Bet365 enters Pennsylvania in CDI deal
The news of this partnership closely follows Bet365’s expansion into the Pennsylvania market in a deal with Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) subsidiary Presque Isle Downs and Casino.
This agreement is in line with CDI’s strategy to exit the online sports and casino business in order to grow its TwinSpires online horse racing wagering business.
“Our relationship with Bet365 enables us to maximize the value of our company’s sports betting and igaming market access in Pennsylvania,” CDI chief executive Bill Carstanjen said.