Caesars and Michigan State have ended their partnership, four years before it was set to expire, according to a report in the Lansing State Journal.
The deal between the sportsbook and the school, which was signed in January 2022, was expected to bring nearly $9 million to Michigan State.
“Initially, it was a good thing, but I don’t think it’s in our best interest moving forward,” MSU Athletic Director Alan Haller told the paper.
This decision comes two months after the American Gaming Association updated its “Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering,” which prohibits AGA members from signing marketing deals with colleges and universities. Caesars is not a member of the AGA and isn’t beholden to its rules and recommendations.
Petition drive
In April, professors at Michigan State banded together and created a petition asking school management to end the relationship with Caesars, stating, in part, “If we create even one problem gambler, that will be too many, but probably we are creating hundreds of them. MSU has declined to comment for any of the news stories about university partnerships with sports betting companies. Declining to comment is a good idea, because our position is indefensible. … With our partnership with Caesars … MSU is selling out for profit at the expense of our students’ well-being.”
The deal included ads for Caesars during Michigan State games, email access to the university’s students, and free tickets to games and seats on the teams’ private planes for Caesars employees, The State News reported.
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