New York-listed Penn National Gaming has been named as an official authorized gaming partner of NASCAR.
The multi-year deal marks Penn National’s first partnership with a professional US sports league and includes the right to develop a new free-to-play mobile game, NASCAR Finish Line.
“We’re thrilled to have Penn National on board as our first authorized gaming operator to strengthen our effort to increase fan engagement with a platform perfect for in-play experience,” said NASCAR executive vice president of innovation Craig Neeb.
“Coupled with our landmark deal with Genius Sports in 2019, this partnership also positions NASCAR to take advantage of the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting across the country.”
The NASCAR Finish Line mobile game will launch ahead of next Sunday’s Daytona 500 race in Florida, with players able to win a $50,000 jackpot by accurately predicting the race winner and the highest finishers across six different groupings of six drivers.
“We are very excited to enter this long-term, strategic partnership with NASCAR,” said Penn National chief marketing officer Jennifer Weissman. “We look forward to the opportunity to provide NASCAR fans multiple outlets for their fandom, including online on a new free-to-play mobile game and at our destination casinos and sportsbooks.”
As part of the agreement, NASCAR and Penn National have also extended their long-standing title sponsorship for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway through to 2026.
Penn National has been an official casino partner of the Kansas Speedway since opening its Hollywood Casino at the track in 2012. This year’s Kansas Speedway race takes place on 18 October.
“I’m excited that we have extended our title race sponsorship agreement with Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway and as a company, that we are expanding our relationship with Penn National,” said Kansas Speedway president Patrick Warren.
“Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway has been able to entertain thousands of their customers, not only from the Kansas City area, but also from around the country during the Hollywood Casino 400 the last several years. I look forward to continuing to help them entertain and reward their patrons for the next few years.”
As an authorized gaming operator of NASCAR, Penn National will take an active role in promoting NASCAR across its properties and on its soon-to-launch sports betting app.
Shares in Penn National Gaming Inc (NSQ:PENN) closed down 1.66 per cent at $34.32 per share in New York Friday.