SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
bet365 has announced the significant expansion of its active sponsorship portfolio, securing partnerships with half of the teams in La Liga for the coming 2018/19 season.
The Stoke based operator revealed the host of deals on Wednesday, with it detailing it will sponsor: RCD Espanyol, Villarreal, Athletic Club, Real Betis, Getafe, SD Huesca, Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Real Valladolid and SD Éibar.
The partnerships have been reached until the 2020 season and follow on from bet365’s sponsorship of Spanish Football coverage on Sky Sports, which expired at the end of last season and wasn’t renewed after Sky Sports lost the rights to Spanish football to UK broadcasting newcomer, Eleven Sports.
The levels of investment by UK-licensed betting operators in Spanish football sponsorship has increased in recent years, with Betway also venturing into the Spanish market to secure the expansion of its sponsorship portfolio, agreeing on successive deals with Deportivo Alavés, C.D. Leganés and Levante U.D.
Furthermore, GVC Holdings European online betting subsidiary Bwin also elevated into the Spanish market recently agreeing partnerships with the three of the league’s top clubs in Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish football season commences this weekend, as the league looks to once again flex its overseas commercial value by hosting the Spanish Super Cup, between domestic cup runners-up Sevilla and League winners Barcelona in Morocco.
The tie marks not only the first time the Spanish Super Cup has been played over one leg but also the first time it’s taken place outside of Spain.
