MGM announced that it is now an official sports betting partner of the Cincinnati Reds. The new relationship strengthens MGM’s presence in Ohio ahead of the state’s scheduled launch of legalized sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023.
Terms of the marketing deal were not disclosed.
“Today’s announcement marks the beginning of our plans to create the most entertaining and dynamic sports betting experiences in Ohio,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “Through our relationships with the Reds and MGM Northfield Park, we look forward to bringing unique BetMGM content to Ohio’s passionate sports fans.”
The multi-year agreement includes plans to open a retail BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ball Park. The sportsbook will be in the space currently serving as the Machine Room restaurant on the northeast side of Great American Ball Park. It will only be accessible from outside the ticketed areas of the ballpark via the arena plaza level entrance. The new venue will allow fans to watch and wager on games all year long.
This marks MGM’s second sportsbook at a Major League Baseball stadium, joining the MGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. which opened in January 2022.
MGM signage will be prominently featured at Great American Ball Park, including a permanent outfield wall sign, messaging behind home plate, and a branded foul line during some games. MGM also plans to curate VIP experiences for its fans including on-field access during batting practice.
Doug Healy, Cincinnati Reds Chief Financial Officer, said in a statement: “With sports gaming coming to Ohio, the Reds sought to bring the highest quality operator to our ballpark for those fans who choose to participate in sports gaming. BetMGM is renowned for their expertise in entertainment and sports gaming, and we believe their brand best fits our high customer standards and will also help draw visitors to our city.”
MGM will also offer online sports gambling in the Buckeye State.
MGM became MLB’s first-ever official gambling partner in 2018.
The deal between MGM and the Reds isn’t the first for a Cincinnati sports team. This past summer, the Cincinnati Bengals announced a partnership with the sports betting brand Betfred ahead of Ohio’s expected online sports betting.
“The Bengals continue to look for exciting new ways to enhance the fan experience and this partnership will provide additional opportunities to engage with our fans,” said Brian Sells, Bengals Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We look forward to working with Betfred to create fun, fan-focused activations that add to the excitement on gameday.”