Caesars Virginia has become the new sponsor for the 2025 season of the Danville Otterbots.
This summer, the Virginia summer collegiate baseball team has joined forces with the Virginia casino to bring exciting promotions and entertainment. Notable upcoming events include the team’s inaugural fireworks show on June 6 and a fan appreciation party on July 29. The party will be extra special as the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead giveaway.
In a press statement, Austin Scher, the General Manager of Otterbots, expressed immense excitement about the addition of Caesars Virginia and their exceptional team as the presenting sponsor for the 2025 season. Scher emphasized that the city and region have already witnessed the positive influence of Caesars Virginia in Danville, and eagerly anticipates the profound impact this incredible partnership will have on the community and Otterbots fans worldwide.
Otterbots deal comes as AGA updates market code for sports gambling and colleges
As scrutiny on sports betting advertising targeting college students increases, the Otterbots’ agreement with Caesars Virginia comes into focus.
The American Gaming Association unveiled an upgraded edition of its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering in the latter part of March.
The revised code specifies that college partnerships are not allowed to engage in activities related to promoting, marketing, or advertising sports wagering, except when targeting alumni networks or content that emphasizes responsible gaming initiatives or problem gambling awareness.
Amateur and college athletes are also prohibited from engaging in sportsbook deals that involve their name, image, and likeness.
However, the partnership between Otterbots and Caesars is lawful as it does not involve any educational institution. Similar to other summer college baseball leagues, Danville assembles a team of college athletes but does not have any affiliation with a specific school.
What are collegiate summer baseball leagues?
Collegiate summer baseball leagues are precisely what the name implies – baseball leagues held during the summer, exclusively for college athletes. These leagues comprise college players who are currently active and usually have at least one year of college eligibility remaining.
Danville is a member of the Appalachian League, a baseball league consisting of ten teams hailing from Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. This league serves as an integral component of the MLB and USA Baseball Prospect Direct Pipeline.
Players from various colleges make up the summer league rosters, where they trade their NCAA aluminum bats for wooden ones. These leagues offer players a valuable opportunity to gain exposure to professional scouts.
Sportsbooks have not shied away from school partnerships
LSU, Michigan State, and Maryland are among the colleges that have formed partnerships with sportsbooks. However, the specifics of these collaborations are not readily accessible to the public.
The Associated Press reports that the three transactions were conducted through intermediary firms. These companies are specifically established to facilitate the sale of sponsorships on behalf of educational institutions, thereby keeping the details of these deals undisclosed to the public. Consequently, the open record laws do not extend to these third-party entities, as stated by the AP.
Gambling sponsorship left one school in hot water
Last month, the partnership between the University of Colorado and PointsBet was terminated. It was reported that both parties mutually decided to end the partnership due to concerns regarding sportsbook partnerships with higher education institutions.
A statement expressed gratitude from both parties for their collaborative efforts throughout the relationship and extended well wishes to each organization for their future endeavors.
The school initially signed a five-year contract in 2020, valued at $1.6 million. However, Colorado began experiencing pressure earlier this year. During that period, the school benefitted from a referral code that provided $30 for each new PointsBet signup. Unfortunately, this arrangement concluded in January.
“During that time, it was clear that we had concerns about how the partnership would be perceived on campus,” stated Seth Hornstein, Chair of the CU Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, in an interview with the CU Independent. “It’s important to note that CU was the trailblazer in this endeavor.”
Are there any other similar gambling sponsorships?
While not yet prevalent, it is not uncommon to come across gambling sponsorships in college baseball leagues.
The Cape Cod Baseball League, a prominent summer league, is supported by the Massachusetts Lottery, which is a regulated gambling organization by the state. Although it differs from a casino like Caesars Virginia, it still operates as a gambling entity.
Could we see restrictions with college-level leagues that are off-campus?
More than likely, no.
This is because although these leagues consist of college athletes, they are not directly associated with a particular institution.
The frequency of sportsbook sponsorship deals with individual universities remains uncertain and only time will reveal the outcome. Professional sports leagues already have their own sportsbook partners, but the situation is more complicated for college sports. Each state has its own perspective on collegiate sports betting and gambling in general, making it a challenging issue. However, the responsible gambling sector is increasingly focusing on this matter.
Teams in states that have implemented bans on sports betting or college-specific sports betting are prohibited from forming sponsorships with gambling companies. However, it is likely that more teams in states where sports betting is legal will also start to adopt the approach taken by Danville.
Caesars Virginia temporary casino on the way
The temporary casino at Caesars Virginia is set to welcome visitors this summer, while the permanent casino is still scheduled to open in 2025.
Located at the former Dan River Mills site, the temporary Caesars location will feature an impressive array of 700 slot machines and 25 table games.
The Caesars casino is anticipated to have a significant positive impact on the economy of Danville. According to experts, the casino is projected to generate a staggering $39 million for the city by 2025. In the upcoming fiscal year, officials estimate that the temporary casino alone could bring in approximately $12.1 million in revenue for Danville.
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