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When the Detroit Lions open their 2021-22 NFL regular-season schedule Sept. 12 against San Francisco, fans of legal gambling age should have access to several new branded promotions. Among those is a new WynnBet Lions sports bar at Ford Field.
It’s the first partnership with an NFL franchise for the emerging WynnBet Sportsbook. Although WynnBet has struggled to gain traction for Michigan sports betting as one of the newest operators, this partnership should at least increase bettors’ awareness.
Details about the WynnBet Lions sports bar, and other factors
Although this is groundbreaking territory for WynnBet, it isn’t so much for the Lions. Detroit already has an BetMGM Sportsbook. Through that agreement, BetMGM gets ad placement on Lions’ digital properties, signage at Ford Field and a branded prediction game in the Lions’ mobile app.
WynnBet gets all of the same in its deal. In addition, a sports bar near Section 222 at Ford Field will bear the sportsbook’s logo and name. A live odds ticker will be available inside the bar, in addition to events with WynnBet’s spokespeople. Other elements of the deal include:
- Mentions during radio and TV game broadcasts
- Hosting activities outside Ford Field before games
- Hospitality opportunities and access to the bar during other events besides Lions games
Prizes available for playing a WynnBet-branded game in the Lions app will include bonus bets for WynnBet customers.
The sportsbook is likely hoping that all the elements of this partnership will help drive its business in MI.
WynnBet’s struggle to gain traction in MI sports betting
Any evaluation of WynnBet’s performance in MI comes with the caveat that the sportsbook just went live in January. In that time, it’s handled more than $7.15 million in wagers. For context, the MotorCity Casino in Detroit and its online component took in more than $419.04 million in bets from January through May of this year.
It’s important to note that WynnBet doesn’t yet have a full retail sportsbook in MI, though the brand is noted on retail sports betting kiosks at five Upper Peninsula casinos.
Thus, the sports bar and all the other elements at Ford Field will somewhat act in lieu of that. Bettors should note that there won’t be any betting kiosks or windows at the bar. All wagering will happen on players’ phones.
On that first Sunday of the 2021-22 season, such wagers might be popular. Right now, the Lions are the biggest spread underdog for Week 1 in the NFL at MI sportsbooks. Currently, the visiting San Francisco 49ers are a 7.5-point favorite.
Thus, odds are likely to be attractive to Lions faithful on Sept. 12. With the new bar in place, WynnBet stands to possibly take a good chunk of those wagers.
