MLS' Columbus Crew signs Tipico as exclusive sports betting partner

Major League Soccer (MLS)'s franchise Columbus Crew announced on Thursday a long-term partnership agreement with sportsbook operator Tipico. The deal names Tipico the official and exclusive Sports Betting Partner of the team. Pending appropriate licensing and regulatory approvals, Tipico plans to launch its mobile sports betting app when legalized sports betting goes live in Ohio, which is expected by February 2023.

As a founding level partner and the Club’s official Sports Betting Partner, Tipico will receive entitlement rights to marquee Crew assets (Tipico Beer Garden and Tipico Club [formerly Rail Club]) and prominent brand integration throughout Lower.com Field. The Crew is set to open the Lower.com Field doors for its first full season when the 'Black & Gold' begin their 27th Major League Soccer campaign on February 26. Tipico and the Crew will also develop a wide variety of digital content and engagements as well as joint community programming as part of the partnership.

Proud to announce a long-term partnership agreement with global sportsbook operator @tipico 🤝

Tipico will be the official & exclusive Sports Betting Partner of #Crew96.

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) January 13, 2022

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with a highly respected global brand and passionate soccer enthusiast in Tipico,” said Haslam Sports Group Chief Operating Officer David Jenkins. “As they make their foray into Ohio, our long-term agreement with Tipico represents an exciting development for Crew supporters and sports fans in Central Ohio and throughout the state. Providing a world-class experience for supporters is at the core of what we do and so we look forward to increasing fan engagement opportunities in Columbus and throughout Ohio through this partnership.”

Subject to licensing and forthcoming regulations, Tipico will also announce opportunities for registered users to take advantage of promotions, giveaways, and customer sweepstakes through collaborative programs and co-created club activations.

“We are incredibly excited to team up with The Columbus Crew, a premium brand with championship DNA, to introduce our Tipico sports betting experience to players in the Buckeye state,” said Adrian Vella, CEO, Tipico U.S. “The mid-west will play an important role as we continue our multi-state expansion in 2022, and we could not have asked for a better partner to help us introduce the Tipico brand and our proprietary technology to sports bettors in Ohio and beyond.”

The partnership with the Crew comes on the heels of several developments for Tipico in recent months. In September, Tipico announced online market access in Iowa and Indiana through an agreement with Caesars Entertainment. In August, Tipico partnered with Colorado Governor Jared Polis to announce the opening of a Tipico technology hub in Denver. In July, the company kicked off a partnership marking Tipico as the exclusive sports betting and iGaming provider for Gannett, with deep local and national integration and exposure across the entire USA Today and USA Today Sports Media Network.