Coolbet Becomes National Partner of the PGA of Canada Despite Its Exit from the Country

A recent partnership between sports betting operator Coolbet and the PGA of Canada raised eyebrows among gaming industry stakeholders. While gaming sponsorships are nothing new, Coolbet exited Ontario a while ago and is no longer available in the country.

Coolbet to Sponsor PGA of Canada, RBC PGA Scramble

In a rather unexpected development, the PGA of Canada unveiled Coolbet as its official betting partner. Furthermore, Coolbet will serve as the official betting partner of the RBC PGA Scramble, the largest grassroots team golf event in Canada, which has some 12,000 participants every year.

In its official release, the PGA Tour described Coolbet as an award-winning online sportsbook, casino, and poker operator that has “ingrained itself into the fiber of Canadian sports.” The release lauded the operator for its incredible commitment to high product standards and responsible gaming.

As the partner of the golf league, the gaming company will offer exclusive promotions for members and program participants. Among other things, Coolbet will help the PGA Tour launch two major contests featuring bucket-list grand prizes, available exclusively to PGA of Canada members and RBC Scramble participants.

In addition to that, Coolbet will provide exclusive odds for a selection of PGA of Canada events for member contesting. This will notably include the upcoming 103^rd PGA of Canada Championship.

In the meantime, fans will be able to experience a variety of activations at various clubs across the country, as well as local and regional RBC PGA Scramble qualifiers across Canada.

Executives Hailed the Deal

Officials commented on the matter with Kevin Thistle, chief executive officer of the PGA of Canada, saying that he is excited about this deal. Thistle elaborated that the tie-up with Coolbet will ensure the continued growth of the RBC PGA Scramble, enhancing the experience for participants.

Coolbet’s commitment to transparency and responsible gaming was a big factor in our partnership in addition to their commitment to the game of golf through various partnerships they’ve supported.

Kevin Thistle, CEO, PGA of Canada

Andrew Aguanno, Coolbet’s partnerships manager, was likewise pleased with the agreement and vowed to provide odds for the PGA Championship safely and responsibly. He added that his team is incredibly excited to support grassroots golf.

We’re also excited to support PGA programming like the RBC Scramble, and we look forward to creating memorable opportunities together.

Andrew Aguanno, partnerships manager, Coolbet

Coolbet Is Not Regulated in Canada

As mentioned, however, Coolbet departed from Ontario’s gaming market almost two years ago, roughly a year after launching in the province. As a result, it is currently geoblocked in the province and has no regulated operation in Canada.

This fact raised some eyebrows, although the PGA of Canada seems to be content with the deal, even if Coolbet is not locally regulated.

For reference, Coolbet holds licenses in Malta, Estonia and Sweden. However, the company’s page it claims that it accepts users from Canada.