FanDuel nets Canadian Football League sports betting partnership
US market leader to offer markets on CFL games with integrations across Ontario
FanDuel has agreed a partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL), becoming the league’s first authorized gaming operator and official sportsbook partner.
Under the terms of the partnership, FanDuel players in Ontario will be able to access in-game player prop markets, as well as betting on various future wagers, including the winner of the forthcoming Grey Cup competition, which takes place in November.
FanDuel Canada general manager Dale Hooper welcomed the new partnership, citing the value add to the operator’s sportsbook goals in Ontario.
“We are very proud to kick off our partnership with the CFL, a league with some of Canada’s most passionate fans,” Hooper said.
“The CFL is a Canadian institution, and we are excited to provide sports bettors with an industry-leading experience.
“We look forward to working with the CFL and TSN [The Sports Network TV channel] to continue to drive interest in this great league and the next generation of stars by contributing insights that add another element to the great storytelling that is taking place,” the FanDuel general manager added.
Similar in structure to MLS in the US, the CFL consists of nine teams, each located in a different city in Canada, which are divided into two divisions: four teams in the East Division and five teams in the West Division.
The CFL has confirmed it is “continuing to explore additional partnerships” with other sportsbook operators, with a focus on responsible gambling.
To prepare for its increased sports betting presence, the CFL recently implemented a ‘Match Manipulation Policy’ to counter any potential threats of corruption in the CFL.
To further this, the CFL has partnered with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) to launch an e-learning course to help educate CFL players and personnel on the policy and how they can be targeted by match-fixers.
In remarks concerning the partnership, CFL chief commercial officer Tyler Mazereeuw stressed the league’s focus on ensuring its long-term integrity as it embraces sports betting.
“Responsible sports wagering is another way for our league to further its connection with our fans,” Mazereeuw explained.
“In addition to taking in our fun, fast, and entertaining brand of football, some fans may wish to engage with the game on a more personal level.
“We’re excited to work with FanDuel to deliver an exciting and innovative betting experience. While opening this new avenue of fandom is important to our league, wagering should only be done responsibly by adult fans who are 19 years of age and over with the means to do so,” he concluded.