The clash of strong, muscled participants, each with a unique approach and skill sets; abrupt lunges and absolutely breathtaking takedowns. Professional wrestling is a performance with the power to hold its viewers captive because it features unpredictable twists and turns and emphasizes the raw strength of the human body and its endurance.
Unpredictability and popularity make wrestling an excellent choice for sponsors looking to support high-level events and appeal to their potential target audience. Casinos are among the leading wrestling sponsors out there: they have related fanbases, so the mix between the two is profitable to both sides.
How do casino sponsorships work in the sphere of wrestling? Stick around, and we’ll deliver your answers at a moment’s notice.
Reasons Casinos Sponsor Wrestling Events
Visibility is the main reason explaining why casinos actively sponsor wrestling events. When people seek out gambling platforms deliberately, they check the recs according to pokies pros before choosing a casino with the best system of bonuses and conditions. A lot of sports fans would love a chance to play different games and win money, too — the problem is, many of them fail to consider this form of entertainment until they come across it directly.
This is what the wrestling matches are good at. They expose the potential target audience to trustworthy casino brands that pay for the right to be seen by sponsoring these events. Overlapping audiences, the same charged atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, and sports betting synergy, where wrestling fans are invited to bet on their favorite wrestlers or outcomes, are the reasons that make such sponsorships profitable.
Major Wrestling-Casino Partnerships
By 2030, the size of the sports sponsorship market is predicted to be worth over 116 billion dollars, with casinos contributing quite a lot to it. We can easily see these lucrative deals in action: let’s take a look at the largest known wrestling-casino partnerships.
- AEW & Caesars Entertainment. The partnership between All Elite Wrestling and Caesars Entertainment has resulted in the airing of the first pay-per-view event called Double or Nothing. AEW wrestlers made an appearance at Caesars’ casinos and organized fan signings as a part of a promotional strategy beforehand.
- ROH & Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall. Ring of Honor and Sam’s Town is another example of a major partnership: it included the hosting of the live stream event Death Before Dishonor and the inclusion of ROH in all its promotions.
- Impact Wrestling & Hard Rock Casino. This sponsor-based partnership stretched across different countries, such as the US and Canada, with Hard Rock Casino’s attributes being added to the ring aprons and promotional materials from Impact Wrestling.
- WWE & MGM Resorts International. MGM became a sponsor of the large World Wrestling Entertainment event known as Money in the Bank. It was held right at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, introducing numerous fans to MGM properties and letting online viewers see the brand itself everywhere, from in-arena screens to promotional banners.
Fans who miss the event itself can see the Money in the Bank post-show on specialized websites. There were some hardships, like not enough tickets being sold fast enough, but WWE and MGM found a way to solve this issue, which cemented their partnership further.
There are numerous collaborations between smaller local wrestling teams and casinos, too. If you’re interested in regional events that might take place near you, be sure to research it — who knows, you might be just a mile away from having wrestling-related fun!
Revenue and Branding Benefits
To this day, many people consider gambling an activity that is best kept private because they fear judgment and disapproval. Those who want to stay discreet opt for a cashtocode evoucher casino where they can top up their balance through special codes rather than traditional payment methods. However, when a large wrestling event is officially sponsored by a casino, people find themselves in the crowd of like-minded individuals who accept and share their interest in gambling.
This fact helps casinos earn significant revenue by sponsoring various events or specific wrestlers. They get exposure and branding benefits, as their logo and attributes are displayed on banners, the walls, and the arenas themselves.
Popular sponsored wrestlers tend to visit physical casinos in person, playing in poker rooms, talking to fans, and creating a fuss. All these actions increase the potential casino revenue and make wrestling sponsorships more than worth it. In return, wrestling organizers get sponsor money that goes into better fees for wrestlers and other staff, arena improvements, and overall production costs.
Controversies and Legal Issues
Is the partnership between casinos and wrestling organizations profitable? Yes, without doubt. Is it free of concerns and controversies? Not at all. Many problems pop up here and there — for example:
- Regulatory issues. International and multi-regional wrestling events must comply with local laws and regulations; if gambling is prohibited in some areas, it endangers the longevity of a sponsorship.
- Ethical concerns. Wrestling has many young fans, which creates debates over whether it is acceptable to subject such viewers to casino marketing.
- Betting integrity. People have rightful concerns over how fair the matches are when casinos sponsor specific events; if they get any inside knowledge, this can hurt the audience.
- Cultural problems. Some regions and communities see gambling as a restricted activity, so if they realize casinos sponsor wrestling, they might choose against buying tickets for these events.
Most of these issues are solved, but some of them persist. It might take a while before people’s and the authorities’ perceptions of gambling reach a state of balance.
The Future of Casino-Wrestling Partnerships
Despite the occasional issues, the partnerships between casinos and wrestling organizations are strong and bound to get stronger. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement that satisfies every side: casinos get enhanced visibility, wrestlers receive higher fees and better arenas, and fans get to enjoy both gambling and quality matches.
In the future, the magnitude of such sponsorships will likely grow as gambling and betting become legalized in an increasing number of countries. If you love wrestling and the thought of gambling intrigues you, stay tuned! Some matches will definitely take place in your vicinity sooner or later.
