Building Partnerships: Exploring the Potential of iGaming Sponsorships for Everton FC by Gary McCarty 23 May, 2024 Football in the 21st century has become a predatory business, which started with a few of the richest European clubs-corporations, and very quickly spread to the rest of the world's teams, which strive to keep up with the pace of the others. The sums of money that are turned over in football are becoming more and more incredible, thanks to the exceptional interest of sponsors, who are the main source of resources for football clubs. The strongest companies from the world of technology, fashion, and nutrition are fighting to get a sponsoring role in the dominant teams in the strongest European leagues. In recent years, iGaming companies have gained a significant sponsorship role in sponsoring football teams, especially in the Premier League. One of the teams that attracted a lot of attention from iGaming companies is Everton FC, which is the second team with the longest presence on the strongest English football scene, with over 500,000 fans in the UK alone. Therefore, in this article, we explore the role of iGaming sponsorship in Everton's success and the mutual benefits of such partnerships. Source: pexels.com Understanding iGaming Sponsorships Sponsors support clubs through different contributions, mostly financial, while the same club advertises the company as a counter-service, allowing it to increase brand visibility and involve new clients. For the mutual agreement to be effective, a long-term-based sponsorship is needed. The same applies to sponsorships by iGaming companies, who believe that exposure on football fields will bring them the necessary visibility, so they promote themselves through branding on jerseys, digital content in stadiums, but also through creative promotional activities in fan zones before matches and during halftime. In essence, the goal of iGaming is to attract and engage as wide an audience as possible, who will be able to enjoy various entertainment activities from online gambling on Paypal friendly casinos to live sports betting on extremely exciting matches of their favorite team. Benefits for Everton FC Increased Revenue The iGaming industry is currently one of the richest industries in the world, so iGaming companies can play a very important role in Everton's business. The most desirable type of sponsorship by iGaming companies is the one that brings financial income to the club that Everton can direct for various purposes. And for Everton, good financial opportunities also enable the bringing of players like Abdoulaye Doucouré, whose transfer from Watford was a dizzying £20m deal, up to investments in infrastructure, club trips, and the like. So a bigger sponsorship contract means better financial conditions for the club, which in the end leaves the possibility for much better results, which a club like Everton with a long tradition owes to the fans. Enhanced Brand Exposure Although many would say that Everton does not need additional exposure, we forget that today everything is business and that in a world full of competition, every client is important. For this very reason, Everton benefits from the extensive digital reach of iGaming companies, which create interaction with the audience through social media, online advertising, and partnerships. By creating partnerships with such brands, Everton has much easier access to demographic data that most often relate to new generations, and which they can then use in creating their business strategies. Innovative Fan Engagement iGaming companies also offer another way for fans to connect with the club, apart from support from the stands and buying jerseys in the fan shop. iGaming companies on their platforms promote Everton matches with special bonuses or quotas, enabling them to participate in fantasy sports leagues and many other activities that significantly contribute to the experience of fans and the perception of Everton as a football organization. Strategic Partnership: Aligning Values Considering the huge competition among iGaming companies, it can be very difficult for Everton to decide on one that will sponsor the club in the coming years. For this very reason, a sponsor is chosen that shares similar values and visions, and in the case of Everton, it is the preservation of a rich heritage and dedication to the community. That is why Everton makes its decision by choosing the best among world-renowned companies, that have transparent operations and are advocates of responsible gaming. Fan Perception Everton's sponsorships with iGaming companies also bring many benefits for fans, which they achieve through exclusive promotions and offers. iGaming companies that cooperate with Everton can, for example, give their fans special promotional codes through which they get special coefficients on live betting, free bets, and similar benefits. These are all small things, which significantly affect the complete experience of an Everton fan and instill in it the desire to belong to the community. Ultimately, the role of a sponsor for a team like Everton is huge, especially if it is a big name from the world of iGaming. These partnerships often represent significant financial benefits for Everton as an organization, helping them to continue building a brand that has always been one of the biggest in English football. By carefully choosing a partner that promotes responsible playing and transparent business, Everton shows its concern for the preservation of a long tradition and the desire to maintain the loyalty of the fans.