The NHL is making a welcomed shift from theatrics to raw talent and skill with changes to this year's All-Star Skill Competition. The NHL announced a multi-year extension with sports betting and online gaming operator BetMGM. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk5MDE3NTk1MDMzMTAyMDk3/usatsi_20310874.jpg] The NHL announced a multi-year extension with sports betting and online gaming operator BetMGM. The NHL and BetMGM have extended their North American partnership for multiple years. BetMGM – also the exclusive sports betting partner of The Hockey News – remains an official sports betting and gaming partner of the NHL, but they're expanding their collaboration. Headquartered in Jersey City, N.J., the sports and online betting company plans to design NHL- and team-branded casino games and create special VIP fan experiences while encouraging responsible gaming education. BetMGM is also expected to receive "significant branding" for U.S. nationally televised broadcasts throughout the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs. That includes seeing their branding on the NHL's digitally enhanced dasherboards and virtual on-ice ads. “The evolution of our partnership with BetMGM will focus on building unique and compelling fan experiences, as well as event activation and media programming all with an eye towards delivering exciting new ways for our fans to interact and engage with the sport they love,” said Jason Jazayeri, the NHL's vice president, business development, in a press release. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said the extension is expected to enhance the overall product and offer hockey fans experiences they'll love. “The NHL is more thrilling than ever – a symphony of athleticism, teamwork, and skill on skates,” Greenblatt said in the release. “We look forward to bringing our customers exceptional live experiences and delighting with new in-app content for BetMGM.” As BetMGM continues to collaborate with the NHL, it says responsible gaming remains a key focus. It and the league are official partners of the American Gaming Association's public service campaign [https://haveagameplan.org/] focused on educating sports bettors on responsible sports wagering, no matter how experienced they might be, called "Have a Game Plan. Bet Responsibly." BetMGM added it provides resources integrated into its mobile and desktop platforms to help customers play responsibly. That includes resources from the GameSense [https://www.gamesense.com/] program, administered by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. The Hockey News and BetMGM have been partners since June 2021. Print and video content provides insights into the NHL from a betting perspective, including on The Hockey News Action Show [https://thehockeynews.com/podcast/action-show] and The Hockey News Pre-Game Show [https://thehockeynews.com/tag/pre-game-show].
