The NFL’s Chicago Bears signed the team’s first sports betting partnership after agreeing an exclusive deal with BetRivers.com and Rivers Casino.
The multi-year agreement was signed between the National Football League (NFL) team and Rush Street Interactive, the Chicago-based gaming group that operates BetRivers.com, and Rush Street Gaming-owned Rivers Casino, based in the Illinois city.
Under the terms of the deal, BetRivers becomes the Bears’ official sportsbook partner and Rivers Casino the official casino partner.
BetRivers and Rivers Casino will receive a mix of prominent in-stadium signage, and digital, social and print assets. Additionally, BetRivers will be the title partner of the team’s customized Free to Play Game on the Chicago Bears official app. BetRivers.com players will see collaborative promotions for exclusive Chicago Bears prizes and experiences.
“We are incredibly excited to announce BetRivers and Rivers Casino as our first multi-year exclusive partner in the Sportsbook and Casino categories,” said Ted Phillips, Bears president and chief executive.
“We look forward to connecting with our fans in fun and unique ways through these avenues and couldn’t be prouder to be building this relationship with a hometown company.”
“As a lifelong Bears fan, I am thrilled to have BetRivers and Rivers Casino partner with our hometown NFL team, the Chicago Bears, as the organization’s only Official Sportsbook and Casino Partner,” said Neil Bluhm, executive chairman and co-founder of Rush Street Interactive and Rush Street Gaming.
“We look forward to expanding our relationship with the Bears and their dedicated fan base, and offering innovative products and promotions as we remain committed to delivering a first-rate customer experience. This partnership also reinforces our commitment to hometown teams in states where we have our online and land-based sportsbooks.”
The Illinois sports betting market opened in March 2020 and the online market launched in June 2020. Sports betting revenue in the state of Illinois dipped 1.2% month-on-month to $43.6m in April 2021, as handle declined by 14.4%. The $43.6m in revenue came on handle of $537.2m, down 14.4% from March’s record, when betting on the NCAA basketball tournament boosted revenue.