- Caesars Sportsbook has been named the Official Sports Betting Partner Of Indy 500 And Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- The deal includes a Caesars Sportsbook lounge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on practice and race days in May.
- The Indianapolis 500 will be run on Sunday, May 29.
Caesars Sportsbook has announced another promotional partnership deal, this one in a state where they can actually turn a profit. Unlike the trash fire in New York, Indiana has done a reasonably good job with sports betting including a reasonable 9.5% tax rate. Caesars has locked up the biggest sporting event in the state–they’ve been named the ‘Official Sports Betting Partner’ of the Indy 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The press release announcing the deal indicates that Caesars will be opening a betting lounge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and that they’ll be a ‘sponsor for the remaining IMS races on the 2022 calendar’. If this includes the NASCAR races at the venue it makes the deal even sweeter. The Indy 500 will return to full seating capacity this year for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Caesars should get plenty of exposure out of this.
Here’s how the press release announcing the deal describes it:
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars”) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (“IMS”) today announced a partnership to make Caesars Sportsbook an Official Sports Betting Partner of the Indy 500 and IMS. The collaboration also makes Caesars Sportsbook a sponsor for the remaining IMS races on the 2022 calendar, starting with the GMR Grand Prix on May 14, and includes the opening of the very first exclusive betting lounge at the Racing Capital of the World.
The Caesars Sportsbook Lounge at Pagoda Plaza will greet spectators on practice and race days during the month of May providing Caesars Sportsbook app users with an elevated viewing experience, complimentary food and drink, live entertainment, and racing games to go along with branded giveaways throughout the course of every race. Additionally, Caesars Sportsbook receives access to IMS logos and marks, digital and social media assets, as well as a variety of exclusive VIP speedway experiences for its users at IMS available through the industry-leading loyalty program, Caesars Rewards.
The IMS partnership includes race day support with video board placements, PA announcements, and program ads to promote Caesars Sportsbook. In celebration of the 106th running of the Indy 500, Caesars Sportsbook will offer new customers an exciting promotion: download the Caesars Sportsbook app and make a first-time deposit of $20 to receive $106 in free bets along with entry into the Caesars Sportsbook Lounge at Pagoda Plaza.
Of course, Caesars had to play up their ‘local roots’:
Caesars has a legacy in Indiana through its best-in-class resorts including the newly branded Horseshoe Indianapolis, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, and Horseshoe Hammond. Most recently, Caesars shared plans for a $39 million investment to expand the casino gaming floor of Harrah’s Hoosier Park shortly following the completion of its significant $33.7 million enhancement and expansion to Horseshoe Indianapolis resulting in 25,000 square feet of new gaming space, including a live World Series of Poker Room with 20 tables.
Eric Hession, Co-President of Caesars Digital, is excited to have his brand linked with the Indy 500 and IMS:
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 are iconic American sports traditions. Partnering with one of racing’s most iconic venues and ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ provides our customers with unique experiences through Caesars Rewards. This will be an impactful partnership for us that builds upon our commitment to the state of Indiana alongside the investments into our resorts and the communities they serve.”
Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles, played the ‘fan engagement’ card:
“We’re extremely excited about this partnership with Caesars and believe their on-site presence – which is a first for our storied facility – will give fans a new opportunity to engage with the on-track action at the Racing Capital of the World. This is another reason to look forward to an epic and historic Month of May at IMS.”
Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 takes place on Saturday, May 21. ‘Carb Day’–the final practice before the race and a big party type event for fans–is scheduled for Friday, May 27. The race itself will be run on Sunday, May 29.
