In the United States and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has announced the signing of a multi-year deal that is to see Penn National Gaming Incorporated serve as its authorized gaming operator.

The automobile racing enterprise used an official Friday press release to detail that the agreement has seen Penn National Gaming Incorporated extend its title sponsorship of the Kansas Speedway’s annual Hollywood Casino 400 race through to the end of 2026. It explained that the next edition of this NASCAR Cup Series competition is scheduled to take place from the 1.5-mile Kansas track on October 18 and involve the casino operator using the meet to further promote its adjacent Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway venue.

Mobile tie-up:

NASCAR revealed that the new alliance is to also involve the casino operator’s Penn Interactive Ventures digital subsidiary launching a new mobile-friendly app that will offer automobile racing aficionados the chance to win jackpots worth up to $50,000 for correctly predicting race winners. It proclaimed that this free-play game will be christened NASCAR Finish Line and is to be premiered ‘across iOS and Android phones and tablets’ in advance of Sunday’s running of its iconic Daytona 500 extravaganza.

Sportsbetting capitalization:

Craig Neeb, Innovation Executive Vice-President for NASCAR, used the press release to declare that the arrangement with Penn National follows the signing of an earlier contract with sports data technology firm Genius Sports Group Limited and is to see the casino giant ‘take an active role in promoting’ his organization’s events.

Read a statement from Neeb…

“We’re thrilled to have Penn National Gaming Incorporated on board as our first authorized gaming operator to strengthen our effort to increase fan engagement with a platform perfect for in-play experience. Coupled with our landmark deal with Genius Sports Group Limited in 2019, this partnership also positions NASCAR to take advantage of the rapid expansion of legalized sportsbetting across the country.”

Inaugural interest:

Penn National Gaming Incorporated is the largest regional casino operator in the United States courtesy of 41 facilities in 19 states while its Chief Marketing Officer, Jennifer Weissman, pronounced that the NASCAR deal represents her firm’s ‘first with a professional sports league’.

Weissman’s statement read…

“We are very excited to enter this long-term strategic partnership with NASCAR. We look forward to the opportunity to provide NASCAR fans multiple outlets for their fandom including online on a new free-to-play mobile game and at our destination casinos and sportsbooks.”