In the United States and prominent online sportsbook operator FanDuel Group has reportedly agreed a deal that is to see it serve as the official sponsor of the Pickswise sports wagering advice service throughout this year’s edition of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

According to a report from Gambling Insider, the new alliance was launched in advance of tomorrow’s start to the annual college basketball extravaganza, which is colloquially known as ‘March Madness,’ and less than a week after the sportsbetting firm inked a sponsorship agreement with Emmy Award-winning sports analyst Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith.

Exclusive entertainment:

Majority-owned by British and Irish gambling behemoth Flutter Entertainment, FanDuel Group reportedly detailed that the fresh partnership is to involve its sponsoring a host of new Pickswise content including the service’s coming Capper Contest in which competitors are to be given the chance to walk away with a cash prize of up to $10,000. The source explained that this spectacle will involve a team of ten experts including former professional basketball player Rashad Phillips and collegiate sports insider Jon Rothstein handicapping ‘March Madness’ games with help from a specially-selected sportsbetting aficionado.

Further fun:

FanDuel Group reportedly divulged that it is moreover sponsoring the service’s pre-tournament Masters of the Madness betting program, which is similarly featuring Phillips and Rothstein and Phillips, in addition to its daily Hoops Betting Hour live stream. The New York-headquartered operator purportedly stated that this latter attraction is being distributed as a podcast and across YouTube starring the man behind digital media publisher Barstool Sports Incorporated, Jeff Nadu, and will be complemented by the release of new ‘bets’ designed to entice sportsbetting fans throughout the 19-day collegiate basketball tournament.

Interest improvement:

Pickswise is an enterprise of London-headquartered Spotlight Sports Group and this firm’s Growth Director, Jake Apperley, reportedly proclaimed that the alliance with FanDuel Group is to allow the service to reach a wider audience during ‘March Madness’ and highlight its commitment to offering ‘the best coverage and free content guide’.

Reportedly read a statement from Apperley…

“We know how significant the coming weeks are for college basketball fans and sports bettors alike. We’ve seen tremendous audience growth during the football season and we look forward to further growth in the coming weeks.”

Celebrated competition:

The 2021 edition of ‘March Madness’ is scheduled to kick off tomorrow afternoon with a qualifying match-up between the ‘Mountaineers’ of Maryland’s Mount St Mary’s University and the ‘Tigers’ of Texas Southern University. This will be followed by 66 additional single-elimination games until an eventual nation champion is crowned live in front of the television cameras following an April 5 game to be held inside the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.