Joe Musgrove, a starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres, announced a one-year endorsement agreement with Sycuan Casino Resort on Thursday. This comes just a few weeks after outfielder Charlie Blackmon entered a partnership with sports betting brand MaximBet.
What Are in the Detail of the Deal
Musgrove is a San Diego native who graduated from Grossmont High School in El Cajon, where the casino is also located. He has stints with the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates before being dealt to the Pirates in the 2021 offseason.
With both parties agreeing, Musgrove will have the opportunity to be featured in upcoming marketing campaigns, promotions, social media content, and make exclusive casino appearances.
Rob Cinelli, general manager at Sycuan Casino Resort, stated in a press release, “We are thrilled to have the support of starting pitcher Joe Musgrove as our first MLB ambassador…” We knew he was the perfect fit for our brand because, much like Sycuan, Joe has very strong ties to the local San Diego community.
Sycuan thought Musgrove was a good fit to be a brand ambassador for the company since he has strong ties to San Diego. After being traded to the Padres, he has set career-highs in multiple categories and has been a valuable addition to the starting rotation as the team strives to win its first World Series.
Breaking Down Both Musgrove and Sycuan
Musgrove has shown that the Padres made the right choice by trading for him in his first season with the organization. His career highs include 181.1 innings pitched, 203 strikeouts, and posting a 3.18 ERA in
his first season.
He also tossed a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, which was the first in team franchise history. Musgrove stated, “Being from San Diego myself, it’s really cool to be able to represent such a well-known local brand that is all about entertainment, fun, and giving back to our community.”
Sycuan Resorts started as Bingo Palace in 1983 and has become a prominent casino and resort destination in the San Diego area. The newly expanded Sycuan property includes a 12-story tower with 300 guest rooms and 57 luxury suites.
This agreement is with a brick-and-mortar casino as California will vote on mobile sports betting in the November election.
Taking a Look at California’s Push for Sports Betting
Legal sports betting has been an uphill battle in California as bookmakers and tribal casinos are battling each other for control of the market. On one side, sportsbook operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel want online sports betting. On the other side, the tribes want sports betting to only take place at their resorts and horse tracks.
California could potentially be the biggest sports betting market in the United States as the Golden State is home to 39 million people. In terms of revenue, the state could bring in upwards of $50 billion annually with a legalized market.
Voters in California will decide on November 8th on whether or not they want sports betting at all in the state.
