Online casino PointsBet has partnered with sports entertainment firm Topgolf to bring sports betting experiences to Topgolf locations in New Jersey. Topgolf currently has two locations in the Garden State.
Bars at both of Topgolf’s NJ-based locations will be rebranded with PointsBet logos. More TVs and screens with sports gambling odds will also be added to the entertainment space. Special gambling offers will be available to Topgolf customers, though guests won’t actually be able to place physical bets at Topgolf locations. Wagers can only be placed through smartphones using the PointsBet mobile app, which launched in New Jersey this past January.
“Our partnership with Topgolf is a perfect alignment of the sports and entertainment community,” said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet U.S. CEO, in a press release. “The PointsBet-branded bar areas, with live game odds and the opportunity to unlock special offers and rewards for downloading the PointsBet mobile app, will be the essential hub for fans to experience new, one-of-a-kind VIP betting experiences.”
As part of the deal, Topgolf’s New Jersey locations will host events targeted around major sports events, with participating guests able to win prizes. The next planned event, a March Madness Hole in One competition, will take place in Edison and Mount Laurel on Mar. 23. A grand prize of $25,000 will be rewarded to the winner.
“PointsBet is known for its guest-first and premium approach to sports betting, and we’re thrilled that Topgolf guests will be able to participate in this new venture that captures the spirit of competition and fun,” said YuChiang Cheng, Topgolf Media President, in the press release.
SportTechie Takeaway
Over recent years, Topgolf has expanded from a high-tech driving range for serious golfers to becoming a premier sports bar destination with food, drinks, arcades, pool halls, music venues, and even gaming lounges for esports competitions. As states continue to pass sports betting legislation, PointsBet will be expected to expand its mobile sportsbook and its partnership with Topgolf could roll out to venues outside of New Jersey. Perhaps more food and entertainment chains will also follow Topgolf’s lead in embracing regulated sports betting.
Seth Young, PointsBet’s chief innovation officer, will be at SportTechie’s State of the Industry next week in New York City. Young will join an expert panel that includes Scott Butera, MGM’s president of interactive gaming, and Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA’s head of fantasy and gaming, to discuss sports betting technology.