Cisco Joins Up With Real Madrid As New Technology Partner

Real Madrid and Cisco have announced a global, multi-year collaboration agreement to make the Santiago Bernabéu one of the most technologically advanced sporting arenas on the planet. The ceremony held to announce the partnership took place at Real Madrid City and amongst those in attendance were Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations, and Wendy Mars, president of Cisco EMEAR.

As the club’s official technology partner, Cisco will equip the Santiago Bernabéu with the full range of its industry-leading technology, including connectivity and security solutions, a data centre and digital signage. The whole system is designed on a single, smart and converged Cisco network.  

Connectivity

The stadium will boast the best wireless connection, based on Wi-Fi 6 technology, to be found in Europe. Over 1,200 access points throughout the Bernabéu will offer a faster and more reliable bandwith to allow fans to enjoy interacting with their devices and applications.

Improved experiences & processes

This link-up will see Real Madrid benefit not only from the full range of Cisco technology solutions, but also the company’s industry experience. Thanks to a single, converging network designed to offer the very best in security, speed and reliability, Real Madrid will be able to offer its fans, both in the stadium and around the world, innovative experiences, whilst also optimising various operational processes within the stadium, including communications and security.

In addition, over 1,000 screens that feature Cisco’s integral IPTV solution, which combines high-definition video distribution with cutting-edge digital signage, will enable the club to enhance fan participation throughout the stadium and generate new entertainment options.

Partnership

“Thanks to this collaboration agreement with Cisco, a leader in connectivity and content management, the Santiago Bernabéu will be able to share data, voices and videos to anywhere in the world and this will guarantee the widest range of services and an unrivalled spectacle within the world of football”, explained Butragueño.

For her part, Mars also stressed the value of the link-up: “Real Madrid is one of the jewels in the crown in the world of sport. We’re delighted to add a club with such a rich history to the global portfolio of sporting institutions that Cisco works with. We hope to bring the potential of our two global brands together to promote a more connected and inclusive future for the game”.

Meanwhile, Andreu Vilamitjana, director general of Cisco España, commented: “Cisco’s commitment to the digitialisation of the country, which in Spain is overseen through our Digitaliza programme, is now entering the sports industry. Santiago Bernabéu is already reinventing the future of entertainment in sports arenas by offering fans unforgettable experiences and ensuring that content and services are of the highest standards in terms of quality and safety. We’re excited to be teaming up with Real Madrid to take fan interaction to the next level”.

Mclaren Racing Sign Multi-Year Agreement With The Memento Group

The Memento Group (TMG), the UK-based sports licensing, retail and memorabilia business, has confirmed a new multi-year licence agreement with Formula 1®  team McLaren Racing allowing authentic, race-used memorabilia to be sold through www.f1authentics.com – F1®’s official memorabilia platform.

The multi-year licence agreement will extend the relationship between McLaren Racing and The Memento Group until the end of the 2024 F1® season and is the largest commitment the F1® team has made to date to the F1 Authentics ecommerce platform.

Under the terms of the agreement McLaren Racing will release official components and bodywork for the first time alongside heritage items and racewear pieces that have been available on F1 Authentics since 2019.

Barry Gough, CEO of The Memento Group (TMG), owners of F1 Authentics, commented:

“McLaren is a name steeped in F1 history. It is the second most successful Formula One team having won 12 Drivers’ Championships, eight Constructors’ Championships, and 183 races – one of which was claimed as part of a fantastic 1-2 at last season’s Italian Grand Prix.”

“As a team on the rise, and one with an extremely loyal fan base, this is a great time to enhance our partnership. It marks an important step in giving those fans exclusive access to authentic merchandise, the latest memorabilia and for the first time ever, race-used McLaren car parts and bodywork.”

Lindsey Eckhouse, Director of Licensing, eCommerce & esports at McLaren Racing said:

“We are delighted to be extending our relationship with the Memento Group and F1 Authentics. The addition of official components and bodywork, which will be available for fans to purchase for the first time, allows us to give components a new lease of life and supports our mission to provide positive solutions to sustainability, through our people, technology, processes, operations and partners.”

F1 Authentics launched in 2019 and includes an online shop and auction featuring past and present F1 memorabilia including used race wear as well as bespoke show cars and restored ex-race cars. Each item of memorabilia features an authentic hologram that can be digitally registered. Working directly with F1® teams and drivers, F1 Authentics presents official licensed products. The Memento Group holds licence agreements with the following F1® teams: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, McLaren Racing, Alpine F1 Team, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team, Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN & Haas F1 Team.

Williams Racing Announces Multi-Year Partnership With Bang & Olufsen

Williams Racing today announces a multi-year agreement with renowned luxury audio company Bang & Olufsen as an official team partner.

In addition to the Bang & Olufsen logo adorning the FW44, Williams and Bang & Olufsen will work together to create impactful, immersive and multi-sensory customer and fan experiences. This will happen globally across Bang & Olufsen branded stores, at Williams Racing facilities trackside at various Grands Prix, and at the Williams headquarters in Grove, Oxfordshire.

Williams Racing CEO and Team Principal Jost Capito said: “I’m delighted to welcome such a globally iconic brand to the Williams Racing stable of partners. For nearly 100 years, Bang & Olufsen has been at the forefront of design and innovation and created some of the most memorable and iconic products in the world. And we have that same desire for perfection. The combination of Bang & Olufsen and Williams Racing is perfectly aligned with our ‘Williams Beyond Racing’ brand strategy and is further proof of Williams’ continued growth over the past 12 months, both on and off-track.”

Kristian Teär, CEO of Bang & Olufsen, is excited about the partnership and believes it will help the company attract the attention of more global consumers. “I’m proud of this new partnership. We share Williams’ passion for excellence, performance, and the desire to create only the best, and together we can provide some extraordinary experiences to fans and customers. It is a key strategic priority for us to increase our brand awareness, and with this partnership we will be able to reach even more global consumers from this weekend, and in the years to come. We cannot wait to show the world what we can do together – and Bahrain will undoubtedly be the beginning of something amazing.”

Since 1925, the Danish luxury brand Bang & Olufsen has created some the world’s most iconic audio and home entertainment products based on the unique combination of powerful sound, timeless design and unrivalled craftsmanship.

HSBC To Become The First Global Financial Services Provider To Enter The Sandbox

HSBC, one of the world’s largest international banking and financial services providers, and The Sandbox, today announced a new partnership that will open up a host of opportunities for virtual communities across the world to engage with global financial services providers and sports communities in The Sandbox metaverse.

The groundbreaking partnership between The Sandbox and HSBC will see the global financial services provider acquire a plot of LAND, virtual real estate in The Sandbox metaverse, which will be developed to engage and connect with sports, esports and gaming enthusiasts.

The agreement opens the door for other global institutions to continue innovating in Web3 as consumer adoption demands more robust experiences in the metaverse through decentralized and gamified offerings.

Metaverse virtual worlds deliver interactive and immersive experiences to users, with many of these platforms built on blockchain technology. The global metaverse market is estimated to grow from $45.4bn in 2019 to a staggering $1.5tn in 2030 (source: PwC | Seeing is Believing).

Suresh Balaji, Chief Marketing Officer, Asia-Pacific, HSBC, said:

“The metaverse is how people will experience Web3, the next generation of the Internet — using immersive technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality and extended reality. At HSBC, we see great potential to create new experiences through emerging platforms, opening up a world of opportunity for our current and future customers and for the communities we serve. Through our partnership with The Sandbox we are making our foray into the metaverse, allowing us to create innovative brand experiences for new and existing customers. We’re excited to be working with our sports partners, brand ambassadors, and Animoca Brands to co-create experiences that are educational, inclusive and accessible.”

Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-founder of The Sandbox, said:

“We’re pleased to see large, trusted institutions such as HSBC join The Sandbox open metaverse and embrace the culture of Web3, connecting with users through entertainment, gaming and user-generated content. We believe this is the beginning of a broader adoption of Web3 and the metaverse by institutions driving brand experiences and engagement within this new ecosystem.”

As the metaverse’s leading decentralized gaming virtual world, The Sandbox fully embraces the idea of the metaverse as a continuous shared digital space where worlds and brands collide to make magic and create real utility and economy. HSBC joins over 200 existing partnerships including Gucci, Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Richie Hawtin, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, ZEPETO, and CryptoKitties, all following The Sandbox’s vision of empowering players to create their own experiences using both original and well-known characters and worlds. Details of the HSBC and The Sandbox collaboration will be announced in due course.

Mark England Named Team GB Chef de Mission For Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has today (Thursday, 17 March) announced Mark England OBE as Chef de Mission for Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Mark has successfully led Team GB at each of the last two summer editions of the Olympic Games, where the nation has secured 67 medals at Rio 2016 and 64 medals at Tokyo 2020.

He becomes only the fifth person in the history of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Olympic Games to have led the team into competition on at least three separate occasions.

Awarded the OBE for his services to Olympic sport in 2016, Mark oversaw the 374-strong athlete delegation in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, following a year’s delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic, Team GB were one of the few major nations to keep their delegation entirely Covid free at the Games.

Mark has attended 10 Olympic and Olympic Winter Games in a leadership role.

He said: “There remains no greater honour than being asked to lead Team GB as Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games. I am proud and humbled to support our exceptional athletes and sports in competition at the world’s greatest sporting event.

“Paris 2024 will be an incredible Games for Team GB and the British public can look forward to another wonderful summer of sporting achievement from the country’s finest athletes.”

BOA Chair, Sir Hugh Robertson, said: “We are delighted to announce Mark England as our Chef de Mission for Paris 2024. His leadership through the Rio and Tokyo Games was outstanding and I know he carries the confidence of athletes and sports alike.”

BOA CEO, Andy Anson, added: “My congratulations go to Mark on a well-deserved appointment – Paris is undoubtedly going to be an exceptional Games, and it’s one we are very much looking forward to.

“We have just returned from our latest recce to Paris and we feel our plans for 2024 are well advanced. We are confident that we will be as well prepared as ever to take advantage of the closest thing we will get to a home Games in the near future.”

Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg And Malaga To Host Group Stage Of 2022 Davis Cup By Rakuten Finals

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Kosmos Tennis have today confirmed the four cities selected to host the group stage of the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals on 14-18 September as Bologna (Italy), Glasgow (Great Britain), Hamburg (Germany) and Malaga (Spain).

The ITF also confirmed that the Davis Cup Finals Steering Committee has chosen Canada as the replacement wild card to complete the 16 nations taking part in the Finals. Canada joins 2021 finalist Croatia, losing semi-finalist Serbia, wild card Great Britain, plus the 12 nations that recorded victories in the recent 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea Republic, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and USA.

The draw for the group stage of the Davis Cup Rakuten Finals will take place in London on Thursday 31 March at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) and will be streamed live on the Davis Cup YouTube channel.

The group stage of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals will be held in September for the first time. This latest innovation, following discussion with the player group, will further help reduce pressure on playing schedules, and will see each city host one group of four teams. The top two teams in each group will progress to the knock-out stage of the Davis Cup Finals to be held in the one, yet-to-be-announced location from 23-27 November.

David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “I would like to congratulate the four winning host nations on their successful bids. As a key priority of the ITF 2024 strategy, we are very proud of how far the Davis Cup has come through its rich history. We are committed to the future success of the event, while retaining the traditional elements of what is the Men’s World Cup of Tennis. This includes its unique atmosphere and showcasing the event throughout the year at different cities across the world, bringing Davis Cup to more audiences.”

Albert Costa, Davis Cup Finals Tournament Director, said: ‘We were delighted to see several countries show their interest in hosting one of the group stage venues of the Davis Cup Finals. This clearly demonstrates the value and success of the competition and what it means to the many countries involved. The multi-city format of the group stage in 2021 proved a huge success in terms of both improving the fan experience and bringing the competition to new audiences. As such, we are confident that this year’s instalment in the four different cities will once again delight and provide even more opportunities for players and fans alike to enjoy the action of the Men’s World Cup of Tennis.”

ITF and Kosmos opened the event bidding procedure in January 2022 to all nations playing in the Qualifiers and those nations who had already qualified for the Finals. The deadline to submit proposals was 18 February. The outcome followed several weeks of evaluation based on various factors to ensure the smooth and successful running of the event. The 2022 Finals embrace an all-new set of locations, in fitting with the Davis Cup tradition of bringing the nation-versus-nation event to countries across the world. The Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Martin Carpena in Malaga, the Unipol Arena in Bologna and the Hamburg-Rothenbaum have already been confirmed as group stage hosts.

Singapore Bids To Host World Athletics Championships In 2025

Singapore has announced Singapore25, its bid to host the World Athletics Championships in 2025. If successful, this would be the first time the global blue-ribbon event will be hosted in Southeast Asia. 2025 will be Singapore’s 60th year of independence and this premier event and festival of sport would be a fitting addition to the nation’s celebrations. 

The iconic city state, already renowned as an international hub and home of  prestigious international sporting events such as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, has set its sights on becoming the gateway for athletics for Southeast Asia, a region of untapped potential for the sport. 

World Athletics’ strategic plan focuses on four goals – more participation, more people,  more fans and more partnerships. “Coupling our commitment to inspire Singaporeans  to ‘Live Better Through Sport’ and World Athletics’ vision of ‘Creating a Healthier and  Fitter World’, Singapore25 has the potential to be a game-changer for sports and  athletics in the region that will benefit the sport, the athletes, fans and the industry,” said Mr Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Singapore.  

He added “The World Athletics Championships has never been to Southeast Asia. The region is home to 680 million people including 200 million under-35s, countless MNCs and over 30 tech unicorns. Southeast Asia’s potential for new fans, partnerships, athletes, and heroes to take athletics to the next level is self-evident – and Singapore25 can be that springboard”. 

Sharing his excitement of the bid submission Mr Lien Choong Luen, President of  Singapore Athletics, said “Singapore25 will give our athletes and those from the region the opportunity to rub shoulders with the giants of the track and field and fire up more interest for the sport. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to inspire the athletes  of tomorrow.” 

Singapore25 will showcase Singapore’s trademark of innovation, sustainability, out of-the-box thinking and meticulous execution – for athletes, fans, spectators, businesses, and the local community. It is also no stranger to organising international athletics, having hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010 and the Southeast Asian Games in 2015. 

“We hope to welcome the world’s best athletes and their fans to Singapore in 2025. We have a proven track record of hosting world-class sports events successfully, and Singapore25 would be a strong addition that boosts our vibrancy and attractiveness as a lifestyle destination” said Mr Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board. 

The Singapore team will partner with Mr Ong Beng Seng, the man behind the success of the Singapore Grand Prix and its transformation into Formula 1’s first ever night  race and one of the key highlights of the F1 calendar. Singapore will draw on the same innovation and expertise to reimagine the World Athletics Championships and deliver an event that aims to set a new bar for the future. 

The results of the award are expected to be announced in July, during the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. The World Athletics Championships 2023 are due to take place in Budapest, Hungary. 

LIV Golf Invitational Series Set To Launch In June 2022 With New Formats, Teams, and More Than $250MM in Prize Purses

LIV Golf Invitational Series has launched with the mission to modernize and supercharge the game of golf via expanded golf opportunities for fans and players alike. The eight-event series will showcase an innovative new golf format starting in June 2022 featuring teams playing for more than $250MM in prize purses.

LIV Golf Investments is providing more than $400MM in seed money to launch the series which will be the building blocks of a next generation golf experience. Each event will consist of three rounds with 54 holes and no cut, as well as shotgun starts to ensure a faster and more exciting pace. As a result, players will consistently play head-to-head against their rivals throughout the year, providing fans with an unmatched experience.

Fan research indicates a significant number of new fans would be enticed by a faster paced and shorter variation and non-traditional format of play. With smaller fields, fewer rounds, fewer events, shorter playing windows and modified shotgun starts, these events have been designed with fans as the top priority.

“I want golf to grow, players to have additional opportunities, and fans to have more fun. My mission is to help the game reach its full potential and we know the role of golf as an entertainment product is critical to overall participation in the sport,” said Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments. “In many ways, we are a start-up. We have a long-term vision and aim to grow. I believe we have a very bright and exciting future.”

In this first year, the series will develop this new golf experience over seven regular season events culminating in a Team Championship match play grand finale. Four events are slated to take place in the United States and three events are to be staged internationally with the Team Championship venue to be announced at a later date. The schedule will not compete with the Majors, international team events or heritage events so players, who are independent contractors, will always be able to make their own choices about where to play.

Team golf has proven it has the ability to produce many of the game’s most exciting moments, and it is at the heart of the new structure. In year one, there will be a max of 48 players on 12 four-man teams and a truly global field with golfers invited from all tours around the world to beta test the new format. Each event will have teams comprised of different players determined by a draft the week of the event.

“Our events are truly additive to the world of golf. We have done our best to create a schedule that allows players to play elsewhere, while still participating in our events.  I believe players will increasingly make progress in achieving their right to play where they want. We will help in any way possible and will provide golfers with opportunities to achieve their full potential,” said Norman.

Total prize purse for the eight events will reach an unprecedented $255MM. The first seven regular season events will carry a total purse of $25MM comprised of $20MM in individual prizes (all players in the field earn a share) and $5MM for the top three teams. Following the first seven events, an Individual Champion will be crowned offering a total purse of $30MM for the top three individuals of the season. The season-ending eighth event will be a Team Championship that will provide $50MM in total prize funds.

The LIV Golf Invitational 2022 schedule will visit the following dates and locations:

  • June 9 – 11: Centurion Golf Club – London
  • July 1 – 3: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – Portland
  • July 29 – 31: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – New Jersey
  • Sept 2 – 4: The International – Boston
  • Sept 16 – 18: Rich Harvest Farms – Chicago
  • Oct 7 – 9: Stonehill Golf Club – Bangkok
  • Oct 14 – 16: Royal Greens Golf Club – Jeddah
  • Oct 28 – 30: Team Championship

As part of LIV’s commitment to the game, plans include a major charitable contribution as part of the organization’s corporate social responsibility program.

LIV Golf Invitational Series is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission is centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.

McLaren Racing Announces Major Multi-Year Partnership With Google For Formula 1 And Extreme E Teams

McLaren Racing today announced a major multi-year partnership with Google, as a new Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team and the McLaren MX Extreme E Team from 2022.

The partnership will bring the best of Google products to McLaren to provide a more seamless technology experience across devices. Throughout the season, McLaren will use 5G-enabled Android devices and Chrome browser across its operations during practice sessions, qualifying and races to support the drivers and team, with the goal of improving on-track performance. 

Android and Chrome branding will be carried on the engine cover and wheel covers of the MCL36 Formula 1 race cars, and on the helmets and race suits of McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo from the 2022 Formula 1 season.

Meanwhile, Google branding will also be visible on the Number 58 McLaren MX Extreme E race car, and on the race suits of McLaren MX Extreme E drivers Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust from the 2022 Island X Prix.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: 

“We are absolutely delighted and proud to welcome Google to the McLaren Racing family. Google is a global leader in technology and has been a ground-breaking innovator in connecting people around the world. By integrating platforms like Android and Chrome across our operations, our team will be better supported to focus on driving performance. We’re looking forward to an exciting partnership that spans across Formula 1 and Extreme E.”

Nicholas Drake, VP of Marketing, Google, said: 

“McLaren Racing represents the very best of what’s possible on a racetrack across performance, inclusion and sustainability, and those are values we share at Google. We’re bringing more innovation to platforms, like Android and Chrome, and seamlessly connecting them to other Google services to optimize McLaren’s race day performance.”

BetPARX Partners With The Memorial Tournament Presented By Workday And Becomes A PGA TOUR Official Betting Operator

Following the State of Ohio’s passage of sports wagering legislation, betPARX has partnered with the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday for mobile sports betting access in Ohio. Additionally, betPARX will become an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR.

As part of the agreement, betPARX will become the exclusive mobile sports betting sponsor of the Memorial Tournament, which is held annually in the spring at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. betPARX plans to offer branded fan experiences during Memorial Tournament week to elevate even further one of the leading events on the PGA TOUR.

“First and foremost, we would like to express our appreciation to the State Legislators in the House and Senate that worked for many years to develop the well thought out legislation,” said Dan Sullivan, executive director of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. “The Memorial Tournament joins Ohio’s other professional sports franchises in recognizing the time and energy put into legalizing sports gaming. Further, we are excited to partner with betPARX to help bring its platform to Ohio and offer an enhanced fan experience at the Memorial Tournament beginning in 2022 and for years to come.”

The 2022 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday will be held the week of May 30 – June 5 and will be broadcast on CBS, Golf Channel and PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+.

“betPARX Sportsbook is thrilled to partner with both the Memorial Tournament and the PGA TOUR,” said Matthew Cullen, senior vice president of sports at betPARX. “This is a significant moment as we expand the betPARX business into new states such as Ohio with a new brand and a faster, easier betting experience with the all-new betPARX app. betPARX will have the most comprehensive live golf betting capabilities in the market through our partnership with the PGA TOUR. We see golf as critical to our business at a time in which there is a resurgence in participation and viewership. The Midwest is a focal point for our business as we expand and Ohio’s central position to these adjacent states makes this a highly important market to us.”

Under the Ohio sports wagering bill, the Memorial Tournament and betPARX will apply for a Type A license, which would allow betPARX to offer its mobile sports wagering platform throughout Ohio. The State will grant licenses and launch sports wagering by January 1, 2023.

“The PGA TOUR supports the State of Ohio’s progressive thinking and approach to sports betting,” said Norb Gambuzza, senior vice president of media and gaming at the PGA TOUR. “We are excited to partner with betPARX and The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday to help grow the betPARX platform and be a part of delivering regulated sports betting to Ohio.”

In addition, betPARX will become an Official Betting Operator of the PGA TOUR as it expands its mobile sports wagering presence in key markets throughout the United States. As an Official Betting Operator, betPARX will have rights to use PGA TOUR marks, video highlights and other intellectual property on its sports wagering platform, among other benefits.

“The Memorial Tournament is proud to welcome betPARX as our mobile sports betting sponsor,” said Jack Nicklaus II, General Chairman, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. “We are fortunate to align with such a strong organization that shares in our interest to provide this new opportunity to golf and sports fans throughout the State while maintaining the integrity of the game and the tournament. My father created the Memorial Tournament in 1976 as a method of giving back to the state and the community he and my mom have loved. For the past 47 years, the Memorial has drawn countless number of fans and generated millions for Nationwide Children’s Hospital and so many other deserving charities. With the introduction of sports betting and through the betPARX relationship, the Memorial Tournament will continue to generate interest and support through a broader fan base for years to come.”

Following the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the PGA TOUR instituted a robust integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports and later that year announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators around the world. The PGA TOUR is a platinum member of the National Council on Problem Gambling and is aligned with the American Gaming Association (AGA) as a Have A Game Plan®. Bet Responsibly public service campaign partner to educate golf fans on responsible sports betting.