Gambling With Sponsorships

The NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils have inked a pair of unique new sponsorship deals with online gambling company partypoker.

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment is the parent company of partypoker.

The multi-year agreements are the first of their kind for pro sports teams, which are both owned by leveraged buyout specialist Josh Harris, and will reportedly generate new digital content and game-day experiences for 76ers and Devils fans.

“They are two of the most iconic names in American hockey and basketball with huge and loyal fan bases throughout New Jersey and the surrounding metropolitan areas,” Norbert Teufelberger, CEO of the company that runs partypoker, said in a statement. “There is an affinity between playing in online poker tournaments and sports – winning is about having intense focus, stamina and a great competitive spirit.”

That competitive spirit will not translate to sports bets, however.

It’s apparently against league rules to gamble or bet on games. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.