Harrah’s Cherokee Betting Big With Panthers Sponsorship

• The Carolina Panthers will allow Harrah’s Cherokee logos and advertisements to run in pre-game, in-game, and post-game rotations.
• Harrah’s Cherokee casinos are the only places authorized to conduct sports betting in North Carolina.
• The terms of the deal state that the sponsorship will last for five years, but that could be extended.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, North Carolina’s only tribal casinos, have become an official sponsor of the Carolina Panthers.

Announced earlier this week by Cherokee One Feather, the deal will allow Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos to be advertised through TV broadcast and radio channels. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino’s brands and logos will be mentioned each game either before the game, during the game, or post-game in rotation.

On top of being featured in these different marketing channels, Champions Village inside of Bank of America Stadium will also be renamed the Harrah’s Cherokee Champions Village.

Regional Vice President of Marketing for Harrah’s Cherokee, Brian Saunooke, explained how this deal came to be.

“We were introduced to the Panthers through our Caesar’s cooperate support, and we began talking about a potential partnership and how [it] could benefit both sides. Where we could gain some more exposure to customers in the Charlotte market,” said Saunooke to Cherokee One Feather.

Caesars Entertainment was named the official casino sponsor of the NFL earlier this year.

Panthers Official Sports Betting Partner? Not Just Yet

While the partnership between Cherokee Casinos and the Carolina Panthers doesn’t mention sports betting, it is potentially a pull that could attract Panthers fans in the future.

NC SB 154, which was signed into law in July, allows tribal casinos to offer sports betting in North Carolina. Since Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos are the only tribal casinos in the state, they are the only locations that can open NC sportsbooks.

A timeline for when those casinos will begin to operate sports betting in NC is still unclear. Caesars Entertainment is well versed in offering the activity inside of its casino properties, having sportsbooks located in five different states.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos sponsorship deal with the Carolina Panthers is only for five years, however, the terms could be extended.

Legal sports betting in North Carolina should be launched before the end of the contract, which would give Panthers fans in Charlotte an incentive to make the three-hour drive and bet on their favorite team.

News tags: Brian Saunooke | Caesars Entertainment | Carolina Panthers | Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos | North Carolina