PointsBet has terminated its marketing partnership with the University of Maryland.
The deal, facilitated through a college sports marketing and multimedia rights arm, was ended in late April, according to a PointsBet spokesperson. It involved on-campus advertisements, arena promotions, and marketing across the school’s digital channels and sports radio network broadcasts.
“PointsBet and Playfly Sports have reached a mutual agreement to end their sponsorship at the University of Maryland,” the company said in a statement.
PointsBet deal ends before restrictions take effect
Inspired by a New York Times article detailing gambling apps’ presence on college campuses, Maryland lawmakers passed a bill this session to restrict such partnerships.
The bill is awaiting Gov. Wes Moore‘s signature, and it would prevent Maryland schools from receiving compensation for signing up new users. The incentive was a controversial component of PointsBet’s Colorado deal, though not part of its Maryland agreement.
The bill also requires all Maryland colleges to make agreements with sports betting operators public.
College sports betting scrutiny intensifies
The move follows PointsBet’s recent decision to end its partnership with the University of Colorado, leaving the online sportsbook without any college partners during a tumultuous legal and regulatory environment. It also comes as the Australia-based bookmaker is exploring selling its US business.
Multiple college sports programs in Iowa and Alabama are facing potential sports betting issues, while restrictions on college sports betting partnerships are pending in Maryland and New York.
In a series of letters to gaming executives and school officials earlier this year, Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for the termination of all college sports betting partnerships, citing concerns over the potential harms of gambling among young people. The letters prompted the American Gaming Association to revise its sports betting marketing code to restrict college partnerships.
Other college partnerships linger
Meanwhile, a faculty-backed petition at Michigan State has prompted the university to begin phasing out its partnership with Caesars, The Athletic reports.
That partnership was also brokered through Playfly Sports, which facilitates a separate Caesars deal with LSU. The status of that partnership is unclear.
Playfly Sports did not immediately return LSR‘s request for comment.
