bwin.party digital entertainment has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Belgian basketball club BC Oostende to become the team’s official online betting and gaming partner.
As with the operator’s recent digital sponsorship deals with leading European football clubs including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the partnership will see the bwin brand integrated into Oostende’s online and social channels.
bwin will also be able to use the club’s branding to develop apps, games and widgets, as well as receive in-stadium branding, ticket and match day promotions including access to players to develop unique customer experiences.
The deal allows Oostende to raise its international profile and give fans greater access to the team, with chief executive Marijke Schaepelinck saying the club was “looking forward to working with them to build their brand in Belgium.”
Schaepelinck added that Oostende was “proud” to join the operator’s sporting partners including Euroleague Basketball, the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA) and high-profile European football teams.
BC Oostende was founded in 1970 and has a title sponsorship with Telenet. The club is one the most successful in Belgium, having won 14 Belgian League titles, including six in a row between 1981 and 1986, as well as 13 Belgian Cup titles.
“It gives us great pleasure to forge this partnership between BC Oostende, the most successful basketball team in Belgium,” bwin’s country manager for Belgium Marlon van der Goes commented. “This agreement reinforces bwin’s position as the premium sportsbook for Belgian customers enabling us to offer them an unparalleled range of online and real world offers, taking them to the heart of sport.”