Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was an early and enthusiastic proponent of legal sports betting as a means to deeper engage fans. He still sees it as another facet of the type of high-speed digital entertainment an increasingly tech-savvy fan base demands. The legalization of sports betting in the District of Columbia allowed him to open the first-ever retail sportsbook in Capital One Arena, where his Wizards (NBA) and Mystics (WNBA) play.
Beginning in 2023, the Capitals will brandish Caesars Sportsbook logos on their jerseys, marking another first for North American pro sports franchises as the NHL opens up advertising space on players.
Initially, as all four of the major professional sports leagues began inking data, then gaming and sports betting sponsorships and agreements, owners remained mostly silent instead of following Leonsis’ lead and the undeniable current that was gathering.
But with influential Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Mavericks counterpart Mark Cuban openly advocating for it as Texas legislators mull legalization, owners are becoming more openly willing to leverage their influence for their financial good without worry over consequence, and in the process bring legal sports betting to locales that not long ago seemed unlikely propositions. Deals are coming in droves, and teammates without gambling deals are increasingly in the minority and missing out on revenue streams.
What do other owners think? PlayUSA is polling owners and perusing their track records for clues.
For these lists, green means they have actively sought sports betting deals or advocated for it; blue indicates a pattern of acceptance, black is unknown, grey means legal sports betting is supported but only in a certain format, and red shows a history of opposition.
What MLB owners support legal sports betting?
Arizona Diamondbacks
Kenneth Kendrick
The team lobbied on behalf of the bill that helped legalize sports betting in Arizona. Then in May of 2021 it signed a deal with Caesars – formerly William Hill – to open a full-time sportsbook in Chase Field and offer state-wide mobile sports betting there.
Atlanta Braves
Liberty Media (John C. Malone)
The team has banded with the Falcons, Hawks and United to push for legalized sports betting in Georgia.
Baltimore Orioles
Peter Angelos
No known stance.
Boston Red Sox
John Henry and Tom Werner
Team president Sam Kennedy said in 2018 that being able to bet on Liverpool soccer matches in England enhanced the in-person experience. Henry – whose Fenway Sports Group owns that club – and a group of investors pursued the purchase of Encore Boston Harbor casino in 2018 and 2019. The Boston Globe reported in November 2020 that Fenway Sports Group was pondering acquiring sports betting, eSports and data analytics properties.
Chicago Cubs
Tom Ricketts
The franchise announced a $100 million deal with DraftKings with intentions of putting a sportsbook in or around Wrigley Field by 2022, so … they’re on board.
Chicago White Sox
Jerry Reinsdorf
In May of 2022, Caesars Entertainment was announced as the team’s “Exclusive Casino Partner” and Caesars Sportsbook an “Official Sports Betting Partner.” Caesars gained access to logos and marks, rotational LED signage, digital and social media assets, according to a release.
Cincinnati Reds
Robert Castellini
Announced BetMGM as its retail sports betting partner and Underdog Fantasy for online in July of 2022. In June of 2021, the team allied with WynnBET to, according to a release, “collaborate on marketing efforts” and “introduce WynnBET” to Reds fans in Indiana “as the mobile sportsbook continues its expansion effort in the state.” The Reds were also a member of the Ohio Professional Sports Coalition, which lobbied state legislators for legal sports betting, and the right to offer bets.
Cleveland Indians
Larry Dolan
The Guardians have a mobile sports betting deal with bet365 and a retail pact with Fanatics. Also a member of the Ohio Professional Sports Coalition, which lobbied state legislators for legal sports betting, and the right to offer bets..
Colorado Rockies
Charles and Richard Monfort
They seem pretty comfortable with it after signing a deal to make DraftKings Sportsbook the Rockies’ official sports betting operator. In announcing a corporate sponsorship deal with BetFred USA Sports in March, Walker Monfort, Rockies’ Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, said “Sports betting has seen incredible growth across the country recently and we are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage with not only our fans but all sports fans throughout the Rocky Mountain Region.”
Detroit Tigers
Christopher Ilitch
The Tigers – whose ruling family owns Motor City Casino – were the first team in baseball to announce a sportsbook deal. The team announced BetMGM as its official gaming partner just before Opening Day in 2021 and added FanDuel later.
Houston Astros
Jim Crane
BetMGM was announced as the exclusive sports betting partner of the team on May 9, 2022.
Kansas City Royals
John Sherman
The club, along with St. Louis counterparts the Cardinals, Blues, and CITY FC expansion MLS team in October of 2021 filed nine ballot initiatives that would legalize sports betting in Missouri.
Los Angeles Angels
Arte Moreno
No known stance.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Guggenheim Baseball Management
In March of 2021, minority partner Todd Boehly led a SPAC in a $10 billion deal to acquire Sportradar and take it public. Sportradar is a leading provider of sports betting services for multiple operators. Could be a precursor or rich people diversifying the revenue stream.
Miami Marlins
Bruce Sherman
No known stance.
Milwaukee Brewers
Mark Attanasio
No known stance.
Minnesota Twins
Jim Pohlad
Carl Pohlad almost bought Canterbury Downs once. But that doesn’t really mean anything.
New York Mets
Steve Cohen
The team made Caesars an official sportsbook partner just before Opening Day in 2022 and announced plans to erect a sportsbook “lounge” at CitiField. The owner has designs on opening a casino next to the ballpark.
New York Yankees
Hal Steinbrenner
The team inked deals with Bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel before the 2022 season. The Yankees announced a multi-year renewal with FanDuel in April of 2022, which included the use of team marks, the opening of “premium VIP accommodations,” and increased signage in Yankee Stadium. Team president Randy Levine editorialized in December of 2020 that mobile sports betting should be legalized in New York among a raft of ideas to stem economic shortfalls. He likely didn’t do that without at least tacit approval from the big office.
Oakland Athletics
John Fisher
No public stance, but Las Vegas is rumored as a relocation destination before the latest still-fruitless attempt to build a new ballpark in Oakland. MLB now seems into a move or at least the machinations of one. Lists Cache Creek Casino Resort among its promotional partners.
Philadelphia Phillies
John Middleton
No public stance, but the Phillies, oddly, are the only big-four team in town without a gambling affiliation.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Bob Nutting
Signed a content-sharing and advertisement deal with BetMGM in July of 2021 to plaster the sportsbook’s signage all over Bucco land. So, that’s telling. The unpopular executive in 2018 unpopularly asked the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a cut of future tax from legal sports betting to help maintain PNC Park.
San Diego Padres
Peter Seidler
No public stance.
San Francisco Giants
Charles Johnson
Cache Creek Casino Resort became an official gambling associate in March of 2022 after being a promotional partner.
Seattle Mariners
John W. Stanton
The team has a corporate sponsorship deal with Emerald Queen Casino.
St. Louis Cardinals
William DeWitt Jr.
The club, along with the Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis counterparts the Blues, and CITY FC expansion MLS team in October of 2021 filed nine ballot initiatives that would legalize sports betting in Missouri.
Tampa Bay Rays
Stuart Sternberg
Team spokesperson told PlayUSA that the organization did not have a comment on the subject when asked in February, 2021.
Texas Rangers
Ray Davis
Part of the Sports Betting Alliance with the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks and multiple betting platforms, the Rangers vigorously support legalizing sports betting in a state where any form of gambling is tough to introduce. Team president Neil Leibman spoke in favor of a bill before a House committee in April, 2021.
Toronto Blue Jays
Rogers Communications
The team added Ontario sports betting outfit theScore as its exclusive official gaming partner on Opening Day in 2022.
Washington Nationals
Lerner Enterprises
Owner Mark Lerner has been vocally supportive of leveraging his real estate and franchise holdings through gaming and has signed a deal to open an MGM sportsbook in Nationals Park.
We're excited to announce @BetMGM as our Official Sports Betting Partner!#NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/r3V8vHp1xp
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 11, 2021
What NBA owners support legal sports betting?
Atlanta Hawks
Tony Ressler
Called the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018 a “very clear positive for the NBA.” The team has joined with Atlanta neighbors the Falcons, Braves and United to pressure lawmakers on passing sports betting legislation.
Boston Celtics
Wyc Grousbeck
He told CNBC that legal sports betting would increase the interactivity and amusement of NBA games.
“It ought to be done right and done correctly and done safely for everyone who participates and that we would take our piece of that,” he said. “Gambling happens anyway, let’s get it out in the open.”
Brooklyn Nets
Joseph Tsai
CEO David Levy had taken the lead on making the Barclays Center a New York sports betting hub, but Tsai continues to push with his partner’s departure. The organization has even trademarked “Brooklyn Gaming” and “Bet on Brooklyn”. In 2022, it made gambling deals with Betway, FanDuel, and the New York Lottery.
Charlotte Hornets
Michael Jordan
Atlantic City in the playoffs. Bets on the golf course. Oh, and the former No. 23 has an equity stake and a seat at the board room table with DraftKings as a special advisor. The team even enlisted former players Muggsy Bogues and Dell Curry to lobby lawmakers in Raleigh for a state-wide mobile expansion in 2021.
Chicago Bulls
Jerry Reinsdorf
Supported the implementation of sports betting in Illinois.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dan Gilbert
The team signed Caesars as its official sports betting and casino partners in February of 2022. The team was a member of the Ohio Professional Sports Coalition, which lobbied state legislators for legal sports betting, and the right to offer bets. It also has a mobile deal with Fubo. … In March of 2021, the team announced a deal with Betway to create “an integrated marketing campaign to promote Betway through broadcast-visible signage and commercial reads, as well as a presence on team digital and social channels and other marketing assets.” They will also launch a free-to-play game. … Gilbert, a Detroit businessman and Quicken Loans billionaire, has a colorful history with gambling. According to the Lansing State Journal, Gilbert and three other Michigan State students were arrested in 1981 on illegal bookmaking charges. Felony charges were dropped after he completed 100 hours of community services and paid fines. None of this stopped him from eventually owning a string of casinos – which he has sold – being approved to own an NBA team, or leading the movement to legalize casino gambling in Ohio.
Dallas Mavericks
Mark Cuban
Supports a Texas bill that would allow professional sports franchises and pari-mutuel facilities to become license-holders. He invests in Unikrn, a gaming and eSports platform.
Denver Nuggets
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
In 2020, the sports and holding company signed a deal for PointsBet to become the official gaming partner for the Avalanche, Nuggets (NBA), Mammoth (National Lacrosse League) and Pepsi Center, where they play.
Detroit Pistons
Tom Gores
The team signed a multi-year sports betting deal with BetRivers in January 2021 and WynnBET two months later.
Golden State Warriors
Joseph S. Lacob
Lists Cache Creek Casino Resort among its promotional partners.
Houston Rockets
Tilman Fertitta
Supported a Texas bill that would allow professional sports franchises and pari-mutuel facilities to become license-holders. He owns the Golden Nugget retail casino empire. Fertitta will join the DraftKings board once his sale of the Golden Nugget online casino business to DraftKings closes.
Indiana Pacers
Herbert Simon
In August 2020, the team signed PointsBet as an official sports gaming partner in a multi-year deal. DraftKings is also al sports betting partner.
Los Angeles Clippers
Steve Ballmer
The former Microsoft executive leans into the Leonsis mold, envisioning his innovative CourtVision technology as a potential betting platform.
Los Angeles Lakers
Jeanie Buss and family
Said Buss in 2015: “It already exists now, so as a league we’re behind our commissioner in the process of supporting legalization on a federal level. We want to see him accomplish that goal, because we feel that any engagement with the fans is a positive. If our fans are already doing it, then it should be something that’s brought out into the mainstream and it should be regulated.”
Said Buss at the CAA World Congress of Sports in 2018: “Sports wagering and sports gambling will have a big effect on fan participation and interaction. What’s important is to protect the integrity of the game, and to protect the players since the fans will be more invested in the game and protect the officials.”
Memphis Grizzlies
Robert J. Pena
Inked FanDuel as official sports betting partner in November 2020. Also has a partnership with WynnBet and is opening a themed sports lounge in FedEx Forum.
Miami Heat
Micky Arison
He’s the chairman of Carnival Cruise lines, which owns Princess, which plans to become the first fleet to offer legal, mobile sports betting once in international waters or where legal through local jurisdiction.
Milwaukee Bucks
Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens
Betway became the official gaming partner of the Bucks in February of 2022. Lasry said in 2017 of the prospect of betting on professional basketball games, “my view is you should have it. It happens. So we can stop making believe it doesn’t happen and I think Adam [Silver]’s right.”
Minnesota Timberwolves
Glen Taylor
He’s exploring a sale, but it’s a bad time to dump expensive things. In a state with no legal sports betting, a new revenue stream could help, but he’s made no public proclamations.
New Orleans Pelicans
Gayle Benson
The team added BetRivers as an official sports betting partner in 2022. Harrah’s, the Caesars Entertainment brand with a casino downtown, became an official partner of the team in December 2018.
New York Knicks
James Dolan
Madison Square Garden Company lobbied hard but unsuccessfully for mobile and online sports betting in 2019. In 2022 it added BetMGM and Caesars as sports betting partners.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Clay Bennett
Riverwind Casino is a long-time corporate sponsor.
Orlando Magic
Dan DeVos
Did not respond to an inquiry from PlayUSA. Powerful neighbor Walt Disney Corp. teamed with the Seminole Tribe of Florida in 2018 to successfully oppose a gambling expansion in Florida.
Philadelphia 76ers
Josh Harris
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment was the first in the league to partner with a mobile sportsbook, FOXBet in November 2019. Invests in gaming-content media platforms. The group owns Crystal Palace Football Club, which brandishes W88 online gaming brand as title sponsor.
Phoenix Suns
Robert Sarver
The team lobbied on behalf of the bill that helped legalize sports betting in Arizona. Las Vegas was his first choice for a franchise location when he bought the team in 2004.
Portland Trail Blazers
Jody Allen
Quiet owner of her late brother Paul’s two Pacific Northwest teams – including the Seattle Seahawks – she makes few public proclamations on any topic.
Sacramento Kings
Vivek Ranadive
Like the Clippers, the Kings have appeared to be grooming Californians for that likely far-off day when they can bet on live sports. In 2019, the team refreshed their three-year-old “Call The Shot” game to very much resemble a gambling app. Sponsor: MGM. Fans can wager pretend cash on hypothetical outcomes.
Honored to talk the future of sports betting at NBA All-Star Tech Summit pic.twitter.com/0bY0IGrwVE
— Vivek Ranadivé (@Vivek) February 15, 2019
San Antonio Spurs
Peter Holt
No public stance, but notably not among the other Texas pro team owners lobbying for sports betting.
Toronto Raptors
Larry Tanenbaum
In 2005, he bought a majority stake in Casino and Gaming Television, a lifestyle channel featuring gambling programming, but not gambling, which would have been illegal under Canadian law.
Utah Jazz
Ryan Smith
Advocating sports betting would be a truly bold decision in Utah, where all forms of gambling are illegal, and the beer is even watered-down.
Washington Wizards
Ted Leonsis
The principal of Monumental Sports & Entertainment was the quintessential early mover, with the former AOL senior executive professing sports betting as the next level of engagement.
What NFL owners support legal sports betting?
Arizona Cardinals
Estate of late Bill Bidwell
The team publicly supported the legalization of sports betting in Arizona, then inked a market-access agreement with BetMGM in August of 2021. BetMGM plans to open a sportsbook in State Farm Stadium in 2022.
Atlanta Falcons
Arthur Blank
A spokesperson told PlayUSA, “our organization is supportive” of the legalization of sports betting in Georgia.
Baltimore Ravens
Steve Bisciotti
The Ravens signed BetMGM as its official gaming partner in May of 2021 and in August of the same year inked DraftKings as “official daily fantasy sports partner” and an “official sports betting and free-to-play partner.” In 2018, the Ravens became just the second NFL team to sign a casino sponsor, Horseshoe Casino. In September of 2021, the team expanded on that partnership, naming Caesars Sportsbook a “premier sports betting partner” as part of a five-year agreement.
Buffalo Bills
Terry and Kim Pegula
In 2019, Pegula Sports and Entertainment joined Madison Square Garden in funding a lobbying campaign to bring mobile sports betting to New York state. Pegula also owns the Sabres NHL team. Two days before mobile sports betting came to New York, the Bills announced FanDuel as its official partner. On Jan. 15, the Bills added Caesars as the same.
Carolina Panthers
David Tepper
Supportive, but measured given the nuances of advocacy in the Bible Belt.
Chicago Bears
Virginia Halas McCaskey
In June of 2021, the team made BetRivers their official sportsbook partner and Rivers Casino their official casino partner. BetRivers and Rivers Casino will acquire in-stadium signage, and digital, social and print assets. The team lobbied Illinois legislators in favor of legalization and could eventually a sportsbook in Soldier Field.
Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Brown
The Bengals announced Betfred as their official sports betting partner in July of 2022.
Cleveland Browns
Jimmy and Dee Haslam
The Browns announced Bally’s as their official sports betting partner in April 2022. Plans for the multi-faceted deal include a lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium. …. The Browns had also been a member of the Ohio Professional Sports Coalition, which lobbied state legislators for legal sports betting, and the right to offer bets..
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones
Supported a Texas bill that would allow professional sports franchises and pari-mutuel facilities to become license-holders. He owns an equity stake in DraftKings.
Denver Broncos
Joe Ellis
Signed FanDuel as its official sports betting operator in 2020.
Detroit Lions
Sheila Ford Hamp
Signed BetMGM as the team’s first official sports betting partner in 2020. In July of 2021, the Lions added WynnBet as an official sportsbook and gaming partner and announced plans to build “WynnBET Sports Bar at Ford Field.” The deal was the first partnership with a pro team for WynnBet.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers, Inc.
The team inked a deal with Oneida Nation in 2019, but has made no sports betting pacts since the limited advent on tribal land in 2021. The only sportsbook in Wisconsin is currently in Green Bay.
Houston Texans
Cal McNair
The team added Caesars Entertainment as its first casino sponsor in August, 2021.
Indianapolis Colts
Jim Irsay
Signed Caesars Entertainment and William Hill as official sports betting partner in 2020. In 2021, the Colts upped Caesars’ title to “premier sports betting partner” and named it their official casino partner, too. Also in 2021, the team kicked in $100 in FanDuel credit for new ticket-buyers.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Shahid Khan
Declined comment to PlayUSA through team spokesperson, but the English Premier League team he owns, Fulham, had sports betting and online casino company BetVictor as its primary jersey sponsor in 2020 and 2021.
Kansas City Chiefs
Clark Hunt
Stance unknown, but late H.L. Hunt set the cornerstone of the family fortune with $100,000 in poker winnings.
Las Vegas Raiders
Carol and Mark Davis
Seriously?
Los Angeles Chargers
Dean Spanos
No public stance in a state where legalization seems far off. Spanos could have been awash in legal sports betting had he moved the team to London. (He actually had to issue a press release to deny this before encamping the Chargers in SoFi Stadium.) Pechanga Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, is the official California casino partner of the Rams, Chargers, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park.
Los Angeles Rams
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
In 2020, the sports and holding company signed a deal for PointsBet to become the official gaming partner for the Avalanche, Nuggets (NBA), Mammoth (National Lacrosse League) and Pepsi Center, where they play. No such opportunity in Los Angeles, but it stands to reason he’d love to tap into that revenue stream. Pechanga Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, is the official California casino partner of the Rams, Chargers, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park.
Miami Dolphins
Stephen Ross
His RSE Ventures invested $17.5 million into a gaming media content platform in 2019. He also owns the Dolphins’ stadium, and leased naming rights to Hard Rock International, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Seminoles maintain a virtual monopoly on gaming in Florida and are a gatekeeper to sports betting ever being legalized there.
Minnesota Vikings
Zygi Wilf
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, which boasts a Vikings-themed gaming area on its casino floor, was a founding partner of U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota was one of the first to sign a casino partnership.
New England Patriots
Robert Kraft
Kraft Group was an early investor in DraftKings and the team has been a vocal advocate for the legalization of mobile and online sports betting.
New York Giants
John Mara and Steve Tisch
Mara was opposed to legalized sports betting in New Jersey as recently as 2014, but evolved with his fellow owners to where the Giants have an official sports betting partner in DraftKings. Tisch asserted in 2019 that wagering was having a positive impact on NFL television ratings.
New Orleans Saints
Gayle Benson
The Saints’ home will be the Caesars Superdome for the next 20 years after the state legislature approved the naming rights deal in July of 2021, just months before legal sports betting in Louisiana is set to launch. Don’t count on retired Saints legend Drew Brees using the proper name. Brees is a PointsBet man now. The storied stadium is the second in the NFL to be branded by a company with gambling interests, joining Hard Rock Stadium (Dolphins). Harrah’s, the Caesars Entertainment brand with a casino downtown, became an official partner of the team in December 2018.
New York Jets
Robert Wood Johnson IV
In September of 2021, the team signed Fubo as its first official sports betting partner and announced plans to open Fubo Sportsbook Lounge at MetLife Stadium by the 2021 season. It would be a mobile-only lounge. A few weeks later, WynnBet came aboard and snapped up a naming entitlement to the WynnBET Green Room at MetLife Stadium for Jets games. In October of 2018, the Jets became the first NFL team to gain an online gambling operator as a sponsor, with 888casino, and inked MGM as an official gaming partner. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation financially supports problem gambling programs.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffrey Lurie
Brought on DraftKings as an official sports betting partner in October 2020. The team later added FOX Bet and Unibet to a crowded portfolio.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Art Rooney II
The family was steeped in dog and horse racing long before PASPA was a glimmer in New Jersey horsemen’s eyes, and the team followed script in a state that has embraced the enterprise by adding BetMGM as an official sports betting partner in November, 2020. The team added Unibet as a marketing partner in August, 2021.
San Francisco 49ers
Denise DeBartolo York
Lists Cache Creek Casino Resort among its promotional partners.
Seattle Seahawks
Jody Allen
Quiet owner of her late brother, Paul’s, two Pacific Northwest teams – including the Portland Trail Blazers – she makes few public proclamations on any topic.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryan Glazer
The team joined the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Walt Disney Corp., various pari-mutuel interests and MGM Resorts International in 2018 in financially supporting an eventually-successful campaign to stem the expansion of gaming in Florida. Requests for comment by PlayUSA have not been answered.
Tennessee Titans
Amy Adams Strunk
The team became the first in Tennessee to sign a sports betting partnership when it locked up BetMGM in September, 2020.
Washington Commanders
Dan Snyder
The unpopular owner has been angling for the ability to open an in-stadium sportsbook or benefit from sports betting revenues as he plays Maryland and Virginia off each other for a new stadium deal.
What NHL owners support legal sports betting?
Anaheim Ducks
Henry Samueli
Unknown.
Arizona Coyotes
Alex Meruelo
In January, 2022, Meruelo Gaming LLC announced that SaharaBets would be the official sports betting platform of the Coyotes. Meruelo owns Sahara Las Vegas and Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The team had lobbied on behalf of the bill that helped legalize sports betting in Arizona.
Boston Bruins
Jeremy Jacobs
He has lobbied for sports betting – especially mobile – vigorously, which has made Massachusetts legislators wary of conflicts of interest as they debate legalization. Jacobs is the chairman of the NHL Board of Governors and the majority shareholder and chairman of privately-held Delaware North, which owns nine casinos in seven states and TD Garden, where the Bruins play. The team inked Boston’s DraftKings as its official sports betting partner in November, 2021, anticipating future legalization.
Buffalo Sabres
Terry and Kim Pegula
FanDuel became the team’s official sports betting partner in 2022. In 2019, Pegula Sports and Entertainment joined Madison Square Garden in funding a lobbying campaign to bring mobile sports betting to New York state. Pegula also owns the Bills NFL team.
Calgary Flames
N. Murray Edwards
Bet big on Canadian oil sands. Otherwise, a mystery.
Carolina Hurricanes
Tom Dundon
Perception inside the AAF is that Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon bought a majority stake in the league simply for the gambling app being developed.
Source: "Dundon got the technology he wanted and he's now minus one rather large headache."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 2, 2019
Team owner Tom Dundon told The Athletic in September of 2021 that he wanted in-arena sports betting and hoped North Carolina legislators would quicken their pace in allowing it to happen. Team president Don Waddell lobbied North Carolina lawmakers for an expansion of mobile betting in North Carolina in 2021. … There was speculation that Dundon, the former majority owner of the Alliance of American Football, had cleverly pumped $70 million into the league during its death throes to secure the rights to a proprietary sports betting app that had yet to be deployed. But MGM ultimate retained the technology through a bankruptcy filing.
Chicago Blackhawks
Rocky Wirtz
Joined ownership of the Cubs, White Sox and Bulls in pushing for the legalization of sports betting in Illinois and the collection of integrity fees by professional organizations.
Colorado Avalanche
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
In 2020, the sports and holding company signed a deal for PointsBet to become the official gaming partner for the Avalanche, Nuggets (NBA), Mammoth (National Lacrosse League) and Pepsi Center, where they play.
Columbus Blue Jackets
John P. McConnell
The team has a mobile sports betting deal with Fanatics. A member of the Ohio Professional Sports Coalition, which lobbied state legislators for legal sports betting, and the right to offer bets.
Dallas Stars
Tom Gaglardi
Unknown.
Detroit Red Wings
Christopher Illitch
The Red Wings – whose ruling Illitch family also owns Motor City Casino – inked a gaming partnership with FanDuel in March, 2021.
Edmonton Oilers
Daryl Katz
Unknown. But he once paid $85 million for a house. In this market?
Florida Panthers
Vincent Viola
Did not respond to an inquiry from PlayUSA.
Los Angeles Kings
Philip Anschutz
Reclusive, he’s made sizeable contributions to conservative political and social groups and overseen production of multiple religious-themed movies through his film studio.
Minnesota Wild
Craig Leipold
Unknown.
Montreal Canadiens
Geoff Molson
The Habs added Playtika as an official gaming partner in 2019.
Nashville Predators
Herb Fritch
Signed DraftKings as the team’s official sports betting provider in December, 2020. The team added a Bally’s partnership in 2021.
New Jersey Devils
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
The organization was an early adopter of gaming tie-ins and opened a sportsbook-themed bar in Prudential Center. Invests in gaming-related media platforms.
New York Islanders
Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky
In 2022, the team added Betway, Jackpocket, and the New York Lottery as sports betting partners.
New York Rangers
James Dolan
Madison Square Garden Company lobbied hard but unsuccessfully for mobile and online sports betting in 2019. In 2022, the team added BetMGM and Caesars as sports betting partners.
Ottawa Senators
The @ottawasenators are proud to introduce the Rideau Carleton Casino, future home of Hard Rock Casino Ottawa, as the Official Casino of the Ottawa Senatorshttps://t.co/ZUvwaPWhcL
*19 + |#playsmart pic.twitter.com/idOPL8p3gh
— Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino (@rideaucasino) October 9, 2018
Eugene Melynk
In 2018 signed a deal to build a 1,500-square-foot bar in Canadian Tire Centre that would eventually be branded with Hard Rock signage.
Philadelphia Flyers
Brian Roberts
Early and aggressive marketer of sports betting with two SugarHouse lounges in Well Fargo Center.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Ronald Burkle and Mario Lemieux
Made BetRivers its official sports betting partner, with plans to opening a sportsbook lounge in PPG Paints Arena.
San Jose Sharks
Hasso Plattner
Lists Cache Creek Resort among its promotional partners.
Seattle Kraken
Seattle Hockey Partners
Majority owner David Bonderman already has a gaming partner in Muckleshoot Casino.
St. Louis Blues
Tom Stillman
The team, along with St. Louis counterparts the Cardinals, and CITY FC expansion MLS team, and Kansas City Royals in October of 2021 filed nine ballot initiatives that would legalize sports betting in Missouri.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jeff Vinik
A team spokesperson told PlayUSA that Vinik is “in favor of legalizing sports betting in Florida as long as it can be done in a responsible manner.”
Toronto Maple Leafs
Larry Tanenbaum
In 2005, he bought a majority stake in Casino and Gaming Television, a lifestyle channel featuring gambling programming, but not gambling, which would have been illegal under Canadian law.
Vancouver Canucks
Francesco Aquilini
He’s a major esports believer, but publicly agnostic on gaming.
The remarkable growth of eSports. Can't wait to see @VancouverTitans next year @RogersArena. https://t.co/zE4NF4YYnJ
— Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini) October 15, 2019
Vegas Golden Knights
Bill Foley
In a deal certain to make the locals feel proud, VGK announced a jersey entitlement partnership with locally based Derek Stevens-owned Circa Sports in April, 2022. The team had already been all-in as would be expected of the first big-four team in the world gambling mecca, having signed the NHL’s first sports betting partnership – with William Hill – in 2018. An abortive deal with Upick Trade tout service helped reveal the limits of what the industry can accept.
Washington Capitals
Ted Leonsis
The principal of Monumental Sports & Entertainment was the quintessential early mover, with the former AOL senior executive professing sports betting as the next level of engagement. In 2022, the Capitals will brandish Caesars Sportsbook logos on their jerseys. The Caps were the first North American pro sports team to agree to such a jersey deal with a gaming entity.
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Chipman
No public stance, but parent company True North Sports & Entertainment owns an interactive fan app that looks very much like a mobile sports betting platform.