If Las Vegas Raiders fans didn’t know about Boyd Gaming and its 10 off-strip casinos before now, they’re about to find out. The NFL franchise recently announced an agreement to make Boyd the official and exclusive local casino company of the Raiders.
The partnership with the team and Allegiant Stadium will include a heavy dose of signage inside the playing facility so fans will get accustomed to seeing the Boyd brand. The west side of the upper deck will be rebranded with Boyd and its casinos — potentially opening the door for plenty of legal sports betting opportunities on site.
"Since arriving in Las Vegas, the Raiders have greatly enhanced and strengthened our city's reputation as the Entertainment and Sports Capital of the World, giving fans across the country another reason to visit southern Nevada,” Boyd president and CEO Keith Smith said.
“The Raiders have been equally committed to our community off the field, giving back generously to nonprofit organizations and charitable causes across the Las Vegas Valley. Boyd is proud to partner with an organization and team that share our long-standing commitment to the well-being of the southern Nevada community."
The deal includes designating Boyd as the presenting partner of one home game each season as well as being the presented sponsor for the weekly in-season radio show.
"We are proud to partner with Boyd Gaming, who share our values of integrity and commitment to community," Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan said. "We know that with this respected partner, we will be able to provide Raider Nation with even more exciting activations and experiences
Expanding the brand
This new deal will certainly help a company that operates away from many of the major, more well-known hotels, resorts, and casinos in Las Vegas with Raiders and NFL fans.
Boyd casinos are mainly known for being where the locals play more than the droves of tourists who flood Las Vegas, but Boyd does run Fremont Hotel and Casino, one of the most noticeable brands in downtown Las Vegas.
Boyd Gaming recently reported a revenue of over $3.5 billion in 2022 and saw its earnings rise 60% year-over-year in the fourth quarter.
Boyd also expanded its online casino reach last March with the purchase of gaming technology company Pala Interactive, and Boyd has a branding partnership with FanDuel for its online sports betting site.
Boyd operates eight retail sportsbooks in Las Vegas, including the ones at The Orleans, Fremont, Gold Coast, and Sam’s Town.
Partnerships in the NFL
Legal sportsbooks have been partnering with the NFL and its franchises since 2021, and the Raiders were already one of 26 teams in the league to have at least one deal.
FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, WynnBet, and BetMGM have the most deals linked with NFL teams. Unibet locked down both franchises in Pennsylvania: the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Cleveland Browns (BallyBet) and Cincinnati Bengals (Betfred) had partnerships in place before the state of Ohio went live with legal sports betting.
Between the visibility of the brand and the mobile app Boyd already has in place, it’s likely going to be a natural connection for sports bettors at games and around town.
