Betting firms’ sponsorship of top European football rises 180% in one year

Australian online bookmaker Sportsbet has inked a new betting partnership with Australian Football League side Brisbane Lions.

The Lions claim the two-year, “six-figure” deal will offer prominent placement for Sportsbet’s brand across all of the club’s digital properties, including desktop, mobile, app and email. The deal apparently doesn’t include any offline branding opportunities.

Sportsbet will provide integrated content that gives Lions fans all the necessary info they need ahead of each weekend’s games, while the bookmaker is also temporarily offering a free Lions jersey for new account signups.

The partnership marks a reversal of a recent trend that has seen seven AFL clubs reject sports betting partnerships after striking a deal with the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. The Richmond Tigers, which were formerly sponsored by Sportsbet, announced last month that they wouldn’t be re-upping with the bookie.