Bwin Named Manchester United’s Official Online Gaming & Betting Partner

Betting giant bwin has today announced a new agreement with English Premier League football club Manchester United to become the club’s official online gaming and betting partner.

The partnership was launched today at Old Trafford with the team’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson, along with players Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney. 

The initial three-year deal will increase the profile of bwin in the UK and many other countries, reinforcing its position in Europe as a leading sports betting brand in football. The sponsorship package positions bwin at the centre of promotional activities for the football club and includes the integration of bwin into Manchester United’s website, the creation of co-branded social gaming products, match day perimeter board signage, access to players for marketing campaigns, a range of in-stadia initiatives including bwin-branded betting kiosks and other marketing rights.

Norbert Teufelberger, Co-CEO of bwin’s parent company bwin.party, commented: “Manchester United is one of the biggest names in world sport with a global fan base running into hundreds of millions. We share a passion for football that has always been at the heart of our long-term brand development strategy.”

He continued: “Football is fundamental to our long-term success, making up approximately half of our total sports betting revenue of €261m ($321m) in 2011.

“As well as supporting our real-money gaming business, the agreement complements our recent move into social gaming. Man Utd has 569 million followers outside of Europe, providing us with a great opportunity to offer jointly designed and innovative products in countries that do not yet allow real money online sports betting.”

Manchester United chose to align with bwin because of the company’s knowledge of football, as well as the “enhanced betting experience” it offers with “engaging content, utilising the latest technologies and bringing something new to the UK market”. Manchester United’s commercial director Richard Arnold said: “bwin has an established an reputable reputation in online gaming in Europe and Manchester United is pleased to be bringing that model to not only the 75,000 football fans who visit Old Trafford each week, but also our huge global audience.”