Dallas Cowboys Partnership with Oklahoma Tribal WinStar Casino Opens Door to Whole New World of Marketing for NFL Teams

Posted on: September 6, 2018, 04:30h. 

Last updated on: September 6, 2018, 03:20h.

Lucas Thomas Read More

Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

Leave it up to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys to try to upstage the NFL’s opening night. Hours before the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles open the season Thursday, the Cowboys owner announced a first-of-its-kind-deal in NFL history.

WinStar World Casino Resort has become the official casino sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys, marking the first team to have such a partnership.  The proximity between the casino, which rests 85 miles from AT&T Stadium where the Cowboys play home games, is what made sense, Jones said.

“I get on my helicopter right here on the practice field and land in 20 minutes and be at WinStar resort,” Jones said at a press conference Thursday.  “Certainly Oklahoma is a great Cowboy fanbase and we literally almost can see them up the road. And so this was an ideal situation for us. “

Jones announced the sponsorship a week after he and fellow owners relaxed league rules to allow teams to accept sponsorships from casinos and daily fantasy sports sites that operate sportsbooks. He seemed excited to be at the front of the NFL’s expedition into the frontier of legal gaming.

“I think it’s a dynamic that is going to increase interest in our game. We’re ideal as a makeup of our game with the natural breaks in the game, with the way our game is presented, plus the mass audience we have, we’re ideal to have that kind of interest,” Jones said. “It’s been there, it’s been happening for a long time, but I think our Cowboys announcement today manifests where we’re going.”

What’s it Mean?

Both Jones and WinStar general manager Jack Parkinson mentioned the relationship between the resort and the community in North Texas

Parkinson stopped short of saying the  casino would have Dallas Cowboy slot machines, but Jones chimed in to say the Cowboys would be visible at the Oklahoma casino.

Sixty-percent of WinStar’s workforce, or 2,300 employees, are Texans, Parkinson said.

“This unprecedented designation gives our patrons and Dallas Cowboy fans the chance to blend their passion for both world class leaders into unique experiences at both AT&T stadium and WinStar world casino and resort,” Parkinson said.

Gaming and the National Football League

The relationship between the league and gaming industry has always been present, though it may have been relegated to the NFL’s dark corners.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is on record saying sports betting could put the league’s integrity at risk, but Jones has bucked that stance publicly.

“I don’t think in any way that gaming compromises the integrity of the game,” Jones said to 105.3 The Fan in December.

A recent study supports Jones theory that sports betting will increase the game’s popularity. Nielsen Sports commissioned a study by the American Gaming Association which concluded that the NFL will add $2.3 billion to its annual bottom line. The study says that the majority – a whopping $1.75 billion will come as a result of “increased consumption and engagement with the league.” Another estimated $573 million will come from sponsorships and advertising with gaming entities.

Jones and New England Patriots owner currently hold investments in DraftKings. Jones has invested in through an entity separate of the Cowboys and owns less than five percent of the company, ESPN reported.

The Miami Dolphins are currently in an 18-year agreement with Hard Rock International to play home games at Hard Rock Stadium. That partnership has led to speculation that Hard Rock’s new Atlantic City casino property will not take bets on pro football.