Phoenix Mercury Become First WNBA Team With Sports Betting Partnership

The Phoenix Mercury are the first WNBA team to have a sports betting partnership after reaching an agreement with Bally’s Corporation for a gaming access deal that gives Bally’s access to its 15th state for gaming in the United States.

Bally’s will be recognized as the exclusive sports betting partner of the Mercury over 15 years. Upon the Mercury’s receipt of a mobile sports betting license from the Arizona Department of Gaming, Bally’s will host and manage an online and mobile sports betting service in Arizona, operate a retail sportsbook in the vicinity of the arena and promote its business in connection with Phoenix Mercury games.

“We are very excited to partner with Bally’s on this enormous step forward in the advancement of women’s sports,” said Jason Rowley, president and chief executive officer for the Mercury. “This agreement represents so much more than a team sponsorship. It is a reflection of our shared values and commitment to investing in diversity, equity and inclusion. … Bally’s and the Phoenix Mercury strongly believe that a groundbreaking partnership of this magnitude accelerates the momentum surrounding women’s sports, creates a bigger platform for the Mercury, while delivering fan engagement on an unprecedented scale in women’s sports.”

Bally’s will also become a member of the “Phoenix Mercury Changemaker Partners,” a group of companies that value diversity, equity and inclusion, and back their commitment with an investment in women’s sports at the highest level.

“We are honored to be a part of such an important milestone in the history of women’s sports,” said Soo Kim, chairman of Bally’s Corporation’s Board of Directors. “Maintaining and implementing a strong diversity, equity and inclusion program is a cornerstone of Bally’s operational values, and we look forward to promoting those values as part of our sponsorship with the Phoenix Mercury and hope that other major corporations follow in our footsteps. We are also excited about the prospect of providing sports fans in Arizona with access to our first-in-class online sports betting platform and enhancing the way that they engage with their favorite sports pastimes.”