The Stars Group, the Toronto-based online gaming operator, has redefined its December agreement with the National Basketball Association, under which it became the first official gaming operator of the league.
A new agreement with the league will replace the previous deal, signed under the BetStars brand. The new agreement names the Stars Group’s majority -owned Australian BetEasy entity as the official wagering partner of the NBA. Under the terms of the deal, BetEasy is to have the right to use NBA assets across its marketing materials, in addition to having its products promoted directly to NBA fans in Australia.
The company also will become the presenting partner of “NBA Pick‘Em: Weekly 6,” a free-to-play game where fans can win prizes for predicting NBA games, which is set to launch in Australia later this year.
The partnership will be promoted throughout Australia on BetEasy assets and the NBA’s online platforms, including the league’s official local destination, the NBA App and the NBA’s localized Facebook and Twitter accounts.
BetEasy will use official NBA betting data, as well as working closely with the NBA to protect the game’s integrity and promote responsible wagering.
“As we continue to explore international opportunities in the sports betting space, we are thrilled to extend our partnership with The Stars Group to include BetEasy in Australia,” said Scott Levy, executive vice president and managing director of NBA Asia.
“Australia has set the standard for cooperation between leagues and sports betting operators, and we are excited to leverage the local and global expertise of BetEasy, to create the best possible gaming experience for our passionate NBA fans in Australia.”
Launched in August of last year, BetEasy’s founding followed Australia-based CrownBet’s acquisition of, and integration with, William Hill Australia.
“Basketball is the most-popular and fastest-growing sport for Australian wagering customers, and our partnership with the NBA will allow us to offer the best NBA betting experience for our customers,” said Matt Tripp, BetEasy CEO.
