Philadelphia 76ers and NJ Devils Strike Pioneering Deal with PartyPoker

Last week it has become known that both the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and the New Jersey Devils of the NHL have signed multi-year contracts with the leading online poker room, PartyPoker.  

While all details of the deals themselves are unclear, it is known that the official websites of both the 76ers and the Devils will see the integration of PartyPoker, including mobile applications, tickets and hospitality, rights to broadcast television and radio adverts and so on. Devils' fans located in NJ can already enjoy offers from this new partnership including tickets to a Jay-Z concert at the Prudential Center, where the Devils play. The sponsorship also includes Wells Fargo Center, the 76ers home venue in Philadelphia.

Landmark Deal

The deal is the first online gaming partnership struck between major US sports teams and online gaming brands. As remembered, partypoker has already operated in the US until it ceased operation seven years ago when gambling laws were changed. During these seven years, the brand has struck partnerships with some top European sports clubs including Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The CEO of bwin.party which owns PartyPoker, Norbert Teufelberger, signaled that the company is not planning to stop with this deal. In the press conference announcing the deal he said that New Jersey is a starting point and if it succeeds, other states will follow with the admittance of online gaming regulation and laws. According to Teufelberger's estimation, there are 60 million poker players in the United States.

This deal is groundbreaking in the sense that it is unprecedented; in more than one sense it can be seen as headway for gaming in general in the US.