The San Antonio Spurs Team Up with bet365

Dave Schwab Sports Betting Expert

15 minute read

While sports betting is not legal in Texas at this time, bet365 is making its presence known in the state. The popular UK-based sportsbook operator has teamed up with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs to launch a free-to-play basketball game.

CONTENTS

• bet365 Partners with San Antonio Spurs
• bet365 San Antonio Spurs Mobile App Review
• Is the bet365/San Antonio Spurs App Considered “Sports Betting”?
• Sports Betting in Texas
• “Call Your Shot” Features
• bet365 “Call Your Shot” FAQ
• Final Thoughts on bet365 San Antonio Spurs

BET365 PARTNERS WITH SAN ANTONIO SPURS

This partnership is designed to promote both bet365 as a US sports betting operator and the NBA as a very popular betting league. This could also set the stage for a strategic gaming partnership should legal sports betting come to Texas.

Going live on Oct. 20, a free-to-play game entitled “Call Your Shot” was launched through the official San Antonio Spurs’ mobile app. Users of the app will have an opportunity to win team-related prizes and exclusive experiences related to San Antonio games.

As part of the deal, the bet365 brand will be integrated into the Spurs’ advertising and TV-visible signage at the AT&T Center as the team’s home court.

The primary goal of this partnership was summed up as follows by Frank Miceli, the team’s chief revenue officer:

“Finding groundbreaking and exciting ways to engage with our fans has long been a priority for our organization. Our partnership with bet365 is part of our vision to provide innovative and memorable experiences for Spurs fans everywhere.”

THE “CALL YOUR SHOT” GAME

This free game can be played via the team app. Call Your Shot is seen as a way to engage the entire Spurs’ fan base. The game was designed to provide an immersive and multi-dimensional gaming experience.

Because sports betting is currently illegal in Texas, the Call Your Shot feature offers credits as opposed to real money payouts. Credits can be earned for winning game predictions. The more credits earned, the greater the chance to win any of the prizes offered.

Some of the prizes up for grabs through the Call Your Shot game include courtside seats, tickets with hospitality accommodations, Spurs’ autographed jerseys and other collectable team-related items.

BET365 SAN ANTONIO SPURS MOBILE APP REVIEW

The new Call Your Shot game has been incorporated into the current San Antonio Spurs mobile app. This could lead the way to a further collaboration with bet365 beyond the free game.

This partnership covers the 2021/2022 NBA season. As part of the deal, bet365 will also create a presence for the brand on Spurs.com as well as on the team’s various social media outlets.

The bet365 San Antonio Spurs mobile app will act as the primary tool for marketing the Call Your Shot promotion. This is an excellent source of information for Spurs fans.

The app has been designed to let fans experience the team in a whole new way through the use of a “digital arena.”

Features include a public and private chat with fellow fans, a full complement of interactive games and ways to enhance the entire game experience.

IS THE BET365/SAN ANTONIO SPURS APP CONSIDERED “SPORTS BETTING”?

Since the game is free to play, it does not classify as sports betting under current Texas law. The Call Your Shot feature is also considered to be a game of skill and not a game of chance.

By definition, games of skill are not viewed as gambling as opposed to winning a contest on sheer luck.

Both bet365 and the San Antonio Spurs took the proper measures to ensure that Call Your Shot complied with state gaming laws as they relate to contests and free giveaways.

SPORTS BETTING IN TEXAS

At the present time, sports betting in the state of Texas is considered to be illegal. Past efforts to move the proper legislation through the state’s House and Senate have stalled. However, lawmakers do plan to address the issue of legalization in 2022.

Since support for legalization of sports betting in Texas is gaining widespread support, bet365 views this partnership as a starting point.

This gives the sportsbook operator a chance to build brand awareness in what would be a major sports betting market in the US.

As one of the smaller legal sportsbook operators in the US, the partnership with the Spurs could end up paying huge dividends down the road. Many industry insiders believe it is a matter of when Texas legalizes sports betting, not if.

“CALL YOUR SHOT” FEATURES

The Call Your Shot game has been designed to add even more excitement to all the action on the court.

The basic premise of the feature gives fans the chance to submit predictions covering each Spurs regular season game. They can earn credits for each correct prediction made.

The available predictions are presented in the form of game props. For example, a fan can submit their prediction for the over or under on total combined points scored.

A point value can be assigned to each prediction to increase the number of credits won. The base number of points available to use is set at 500.

While the credits themselves have no intrinsic value, they are tied to ongoing raffles for valuable prizes. The more credits earned, the better the chances to win.

For each Spurs’ game this season, bet365 will raffle off these prizes through the Call Your Shot game.

Fans can download the Spurs app through the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices.

At the present time, there is no use of a bet365 promo code San Antonio Spurs associated with the app. However, as a common industry practice, this could be incorporated into the app at some point in time.

MARKETS

Simulating an actual sports betting app, the Call Your Shot contest focuses on prop bet options as the primary market. This is the best way to engage fans while creating an immersive aspect to the whole game-play experience.

BET365 “CALL YOUR SHOT” FAQ

HOW LONG HAS BET365 HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS?

The partnership was recently formed to cover the 2021/2022 NBA regular season. The Call Your Shot game made its debut ahead of San Antonio’s season opener against Orlando on Oct. 20.

WHAT CAN I WIN THROUGH THE CALL YOUR SHOT GAME?

Available raffle prizes tied to the Call Your Shot contest include courtside seats, super box hospitality tickets, suite packages, other game tickets, autographed team items (including jerseys) and special Spurs prize packs.

Prizes will be awarded for all 82 San Antonio regular season games this season.

CAN ANYONE DOWNLOAD THE BET365 CALL YOUR SHOT GAME VIA THE SPURS APP?

This contest is free to enter so it can be accessed by anyone wishing to play. The bet365 real money sports betting app is available in the state of New Jersey.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON BET365 SAN ANTONIO SPURS

This partnership is an example of marketing innovation at its highest level. Creating a brand presence through a professional sports franchise is nothing new in the legal US sports betting industry.

However, creating an early presence in a major market ahead of legal sports betting is genius. As mentioned, bet365 is not a major player in the legal US market just yet. Targeting Texas lays the groundwork for bigger and better things down the road.

Dave Schwab

Dave Schwab has been covering the sports betting industry for the past 12 years as the main focus of his specialty marketing company for online content. This endeavor followed a previous career in the field of sales and marketing in the wholesaling sector.Most of his weekly pieces focus on the rapidly expanding legal US sports betting industry. However, he still does extensive work covering betting angles that can provide a competitive edge to avid players. Dave believes that it is always a challenge to take past results and current form to try and correctly determine a future result. Sports brings out the unpredictability in what should be a fairly predictable outcome based on the stats, facts and recent trends in a particular matchup. More from Dave Schwab