One of the phrases used by the Haslam Sports Group is "fan obsession."

"It's all about the fans and giving them the best possible experiences," said Ted Tywang, vice president, general counsel at Haslam Sports Group. "We're always looking to deepen our engagement and our connection with the fans."

That philosophy, Tywang said, drove the Cleveland Browns to choose Bally's Interactive as their official sports betting partner. The announcement comes roughly seven months before legal sports gambling arrives in Ohio.

The long-term partnership will include a branded lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium, a mobile Bally Bet Sportsbook app in Ohio and free-to-play gaming opportunities, pending appropriate licensing and regulatory approvals.

The Browns still are working on plans for the stadium lounge, and the details will be finalized in the coming months. The lounge will allow fans age 21 and up to watch and bet on games from across the league.

"We'll keep you in suspense because the details are still being developed," said Tywang, noting the organization is working with Bally's on the sportsbook. "We do know that we'll have a first-class lounge on game day and it will have a really interactive environment.

"We've done some initial work to identify the possibilities and we feel really great about what we're looking at."

Bally's Interactive, which is a division of Bally's corporation (NYSE: BALY), provides several sports betting products, including iGaming, free-to-play and daily fantasy sports options. Its brands include the online sportsbook Bally Bet, the online Bally Casino, the daily fantasy sports app Monkey Knight Fight, the free-to-play game provider SportsCaller and the fan engagement provider Telescope.

Ohio will be the 18th state where Bally's does business, Tywang said.

The Browns-Bally's partnership will include "fan engagement activations," as well as digital content and a free-to-play predictor game that will give registered users the chance to earn Browns-themed non-cash prizes.

"We are excited to partner with such a historic pro football franchise to secure sports betting market access in Ohio, and bring to its fan base more ways to engage through our online gaming platforms," said Adi Dhandhania, chief operating officer of North America for Bally's Interactive. "The Browns' stadium and game day atmosphere provide a great opportunity for us to showcase our Bally Bet Sportsbook app and Bally Play products in Ohio."

In February, the Cavs announced they reached a multiyear partnership with Caesars Entertainment Inc., making Caesars an official sports betting partner and the official casino partner of the team.

That partnership includes plans to open a 10,355-square-foot retail sportsbook on the street level inside the northwest atrium area of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Also, the Cavaliers signed a long-term partnership with Fubo Gaming in October and made Fubo Sportsbook an official sports betting partner of the team in February.

The Cleveland Guardians have not yet announced any plans for sports gambling.

The Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians are among the five Cuyahoga County entities eligible for a Type A license, joining the downtown JACK casino and the Jack Thistledown racino. Type A licenses include online and mobile sports betting. The Ohio Casino Control Commission can issue up to 25 Type A licenses statewide.

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Cleveland Browns partner with Bally's Interactive on sports gambling - Crain's Cleveland Business