“The opportunity to partner with Caesars, a leading force in the sports and entertainment industry, will help enhance gameday experiences for Spartan fans and provide significant resources to support the growing needs of each of our varsity programs,” Michigan State Athletic Director Alan Haller said in a press release. “We are excited to be on the cutting edge of this innovative opportunity, while recognizing the importance of Caesars’ commitment to responsible sports gaming education both for the student-athletes and the University community as a whole.”

In addition, according to the press release, Caesars Sportsbook will provide "annual funds to support student-athlete responsible gaming education, student scholarships, as well as internship and professional development opportunities for MSU students pursuing a career in the sports industry."

“Michigan State has a proud tradition of excellence and partnering with an internationally recognized brand in college athletics is a great opportunity for us,” Eric Hession, Co-President of Caesars Digital, said in a statement. “The Spartan fan base and alumni network is passionate and well-established across the country. We look forward to building upon our connection with them while strengthening the legacy we hold in the state of Michigan and advancing scholarship opportunities through this partnership.”

The deal also includes iGaming and The World Series of Poker product offerings and promotions. Playfly, MSU's third-party multimedia rights holder, facilitated the partnership.

“The rapidly expanding interest around gaming in the college space has pushed us to create strategic opportunities for our college properties that not only provide impactful gaming education resources but also significant opportunities to drive new sources of revenue,” Christy Hedgpeth, President of Playfly Sports Properties said in a release. “Connecting Caesars’ iconic brand to MSU’s passionate community of students, fans and alumni is a perfect fit and another example of how partnerships like this are creating tremendous benefits for all parties involved.”

Sports betting was legalized in the state of Michigan in December 2019 and officially went live in March 2020, just before having to shut down due to the pandemic. Online sports betting followed with its launch in January 2021. 

Caesars Sportsbook is live in 21 states and jurisdictions, including Michigan. Fifteen of the 21 currently offer mobile wagering.