PokerStars Seals Partnership Deal With NBA Side Philadelphia 76ers

PokerStars have signed an agreement with the NBA franchise, the Philadelphia 76ers, in a one-year deal between the two parties. The Sixers have previously completed deals with sportsbooks, so to do so with an online casino brand is an interesting move and very much in line with the ongoing popularity of the industry in Pennsylvania.

PokerStars is not new to partnering with sports teams and currently has deals with NHL teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Detroit Red Wings, as well as being paired with Oracle Red Bull Racing.

You can expect to see plenty of PokerStars branding pasted around the Wells Fargo Center, but the deal goes way beyond just the superficial sponsorship branding one can expect. One might expect other signs of this partnership coming to the fore, perhaps in relation to PA poker tournaments that are hugely popular in the state or as part of any potential ‘in-game’ experiences; the sky is very much the limit.

The deal is a great one for PokerStars, and the company’s North America Senior Director, Rob Batista, highlighted the upsides to the partnership, stating;

"We are extremely proud and excited to continue to build relationships with iconic sports teams in North America,"

“The United States and North America continue to grow as a key market for PokerStars, and we look forward to rewarding our Pennsylvania based community, as well as those across the rest of the US, with even more epic experiences in conjunction with the Philadelphia 76ers."

This enthusiastic response was echoed by Owen Morin, the Senior Vice President for Corporate Partnerships at the Philadelphia 76ers;

"We are thrilled about our new partnership with PokerStars, aimed to elevate our fan’s experience during this season,"

"We believe in creating a unique and innovative approach to engage with our fans, and PokerStars will allow us to craft those special and memorable experiences."

The Philadelphia 76ers are no strangers to making partnerships with online casino brands, and just recently, they completed a deal with BetMGM, albeit primarily on their sports betting assets.

BetMGM is the team’s official sports betting partner and also offers casino players sixers-themed table games. The deal between the two was commented on by Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s Chief Revenue Officer;

“This extension allows us to further enhance the gameday experience for fans, in the arena and at home. We look forward to continuing our rewarding relationship with the 76ers this season and beyond.”

The Sixers responded to the deal with their CRO, Katie O’Reilly, stating;

“We’re joining forces again with BetMGM to promote another opportunity for fans to embrace competition, just in time for the new season. We are thrilled to build on our continued success here in the Philadelphia market and offer our unique experiences for BetMGM customers and 76ers fans alike.”

The 76ers have started the 2023/24 NBA season brightly, and as of November 21st, they were well placed in second place in the Eastern Conference, with Nick Nurse’s side securing a strong 10-3 record thus far.