Square in the Air and CTP team up to launch new comms agency focused on US sports betting, iGaming

Sports, betting and gaming communications agency Square in the Air has entered into a joint venture with integrated marketing agency CTP to launch a new agency aimed primarily at the sports betting and iGaming sector in North America, which has seen fast developments and expansion over the past few years, both in the U.S. and Canada.

Chalk + Dog Communications, which officially launched on Tuesday, offers a range of services to B2B and B2C companies, including PR, sponsorship activation, social media, paid media, brand strategy, creative production, design, digital marketing, branding and analytics. The agency already has two active clients in Tally Technology and Huddle Tech. 

🇺🇸 ANNOUNCEMENT 🇺🇸

We're delighted to launch our new joint venture with integrated marketing provider @ctpboston. 🤝

Our new agency, Chalk + Dog will offer a range of services to B2B & B2C companies across North America.

Click below for more info. ⤵️

— squareintheair (@squareintheair) July 12, 2022

Chalk + Dog Communications is headed up by Square in the Air Director Ben Cleminson and CTP SVP Public Relations Todd Graff, with support from both agencies’ full service creative and communications teams. In addition, Jeremy Balan, formerly a reporter at Sports Handle, Bloodhorse and other publications, is joining CTP as a public relations account supervisor later this month as part of the Chalk + Dog team.  

Square in the Air was founded in 2006 as a boutique sports, betting and gaming PR and marketing agency and has grown to a 40-plus team with clients all over the world. CTP, a 50-person agency based in Boston, was founded in 1996 and manages marketing, advertising and communications programs for a range of sports and betting clients including the Boston Red Sox, TVG, Breeders’ Cup, and many others. 

Commenting on the new venture, Square in the Air Managing Director, Bill Esdaile, said: “We’ve been considering the best way for Square in the Air to fully enter the U.S. market for some time. We have a number of clients in North America, but we’ve never had people on the ground. When we first met CTP, it quickly became clear that they were the perfect partner for us to launch this joint venture with. Like us, they are passionate about sports, betting and gaming, they have a fantastic book of clients and some really talented people."

“The combined expertise, knowledge, passion and commitment of both agencies is a powerful proposition and Chalk + Dog is here to help companies big and small achieve their communications and marketing goals in what is a hugely exciting market,” Esdaile added.

Chip Tuttle, CTP Partner, commented: “We’ve increasingly been working in the sports wagering space over the last few years, developing a deep understanding of the opportunities and obstacles that brands face, so we’re very excited to launch Chalk + Dog."

“Square in the Air is an ideal partner for this venture given the firm’s trusted leadership, expertise and track record of helping clients in the wagering and gaming sectors. We’re excited about the opportunities as sports betting, online wagering, and related businesses continue to grow in North America,” he concluded.