SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Hosting a press conference in Bratislava, Richard Lintner, Director General of Hockey Slovakia, has personally thanked bookmaker Tipsport for its support of the ‘pro-league’ during a crucial transitional period for the sport in Slovakia.
Leading Slovak pro-hockey, Lintner announced that Hockey Slovakia had secured its most important commercial partnerships to date. Tipsport would remain as title sponsor of its ‘Slovenská Extraliga’, supported by national broadcaster RTVS as lead media partner.
Tipsport, the largest betting operator within Czech Rep and Slovakian markets, maintains its position as ‘Tipsport Extraliga’ title sponsor for a further three seasons.
The Czech bookmaker has held the title partnership since 2015, taking over from petrochemicals firm Slovnaft Group.
Richard Lintner, former defenceman for NHL teams the New York Rangers and Nashville Predators, praised Tipsport’s support, stating that the bookmaker had been a vital partner during a period in which the ‘league was standing on the on the brink of a divide’.
Hockey Slovakia’s director detailed that without Tipsport funding and support, the Extraliga would have been unable to undertake crucial reforms revitalising Ice Hockey in Slovakia.
With the support of Tipsport, a revamped Extraliga has been able to secure its largest media broadcast deal, with RTVS paying a minimum of €300,000 per season combined with a 10% increase in TV rights per season.
“In four years, we have gone a tremendous journey, resulting in two lucrative contracts today,” said Lintner. “In 2015, as a league standing on the brink of a divide, we began to build trust first inside the clubs and in the hockey movement, and then, of course, towards our partners and our fans.
“Today is a declaration that the journey that we have managed to complete together has been successful. The most important link is that today will be the road to continue so that we can move Tipsport League forward. Both contracts earmark us for a minimum of three seasons.”
