The Phoenix Mercury are in the sports betting game.
Womenâs sports on the rise! đ
â Just Womenâs Sports (@justwsports) July 1, 2021
History was made yesterday when the @phoenixmercury announced a new sponsorship agreement with Bally Corporation, worth a reported $66 million.
This is the largest and first ever sports betting deal in professional women's sports history. pic.twitter.com/TrjbzGF8E3
The team announced Wednesday a new sponsorship agreement with Bally Corporation. According to Deadspin, the deal is worth a reported $66 million over 15 years. Not only is it the largest team sponsorship agreement in the history of womenâs sports, but itâs also the first-ever sports betting deal with a pro womenâs sports team.
âIt makes a lot of sense for us to try to get sports betting access in Arizona, but thereâs also an opportunity to sort of bring parity to womenâs sports,â Soo Kim, chairman of Bally Corporationâs Board of Directors, told Deadspin. âWe make business decisions to make good business decisions, but this is a good business decision that also happens to be trailblazing and more inclusive and has a good societal impact.â
The additional online sports betting market will bring Ballyâs total to 15 states. They currently manage 14 casinos in 10 states.Â
Upon receipt of a sports betting license from the Arizona Department of Gaming, Ballyâs will be able to operate online betting and a retail sportsbook âin the vicinity of the Phoenix Suns Arena.â Currently, the Suns have an agreement with FanDuel to place a sportsbook inside of the teamsâ shared stadium in downtown Phoenix.
The PGA Tour and Arizona Diamondbacks also have partnerships that will bring sportsbook locations to their respective homes.