Gauselmann Group becomes gaming partner of Fortuna Düsseldorf

German gaming giant Gauselmann Group has struck a new, exclusive sponsorship deal with 2.Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Gauselmann, which like Fortuna is based in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, will use its Merkur sports betting brand for the partnership, which states that the club may no sign similar agreements with other gambling businesses.

It builds on a partnership with the Merkur Spiel-Arena, for which Fortuna is the principal tenant. Gauselmann secured naming rights to the stadium, which has also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, in 2018.

Christian Koke, marketing director at Fortuna Düsseldorf, said: “We are the main tenant of the Merkur Spiel-Arena, but now we have a comprehensive partnership with Merkur. We can exclusively welcome a company based nearby in North Rhine-Westphalia as a partner because the gambling market including sports betting, is economically exciting in football.”

Gauselmann’s marketing director, Manfred Stoffers, said: “Fortuna is an important beacon of Düsseldorf sport. This completes the partnership. If it says Merkur on it, then Merkur has to be inside the stadium. We hope that our sponsorship will make a contribution to ensuring that Fortuna is back on the road to success as quickly as possible."