PGA Tour regulation revision welcomes casino sponsorships

Large casino organisations have been cleared to enter sponsorship agreements with all six tours overseen by the PGA Tour, as well as its tournaments and players, thanks to a revision of regulations.

Looking at its policies towards sponsorships with gambling entities, the move, which is effective immediately, is designed to reflect “the changing landscape of public acceptance between sports leagues and legalised gambling.”

Relevant organisations can now be considered for ‘Official Marketing Partners’ status, after players were informed of the change prior to this week’s Honda Classic.

The revision applies to larger casino entity’s, but excludes those whose primary purpose is sports betting, however this latter group can be considered for potential sponsorships outside the US market.

As a result, those such as daily fantasy sports firms DraftKings and FanDuel could be permitted stressed NBC Sports, due to having a primary focus away from sports wagering, while bookmakers such as William Hill and Bet365 would not be permitted within the US.

Andy Levinson, senior vice president of the PGA Tour, said of the development: “As the situation with legalised sports betting in the US has evolved since the Supreme Court’s ruling last May, we’ve seen broader acceptance in sports betting and gaming involvement with pro sports.

“We felt it was time to look at our policies, given the public perception around gaming, and to update those policies to be consistent with public sentiment.”

David Miller, vice president and assistant general counsel for the PGA Tour, explained: “Sponsorship relationships with casinos and daily fantasy sports companies will generally be permitted. Any relationship must promote responsible gaming and be consistent with the Tour’s integrity efforts.

“We want to develop partnerships in the gaming and fantasy industry that drive fan engagement, that provide our fans a deeper way to enjoy golf. We expect these partnerships will help create new golf gaming products, that will enhance the in-venue and at-home fan experience.”

The Tour has also stressed a continuation of its integrity program, with a primary mission to “maintain integrity and prevent and mitigate betting-related corruption in PGA Tour competitions – ensuring competitions always reflect, and appear to reflect, the best efforts of the players, while protecting the welfare of the players and others involved with the PGA Tour – through clear policies and regulations, ongoing education and training, and effective and consistent monitoring and enforcement functions.”

“This is something we are focused on first and foremost — that the integrity of our competition is upheld,” Levinson added.