German gaming giant Gauselmann Group has struck a new, exclusive sponsorship deal with 2.Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf. Gauselmann will use its Merkur sports betting brand for the partnership, which states that the club may not sign similar agreements with other gambling businesses.
The partnership builds on Gauselmann’s existing relationship with the Merkur Spiel-Arena, where Fortuna is the main tenant. Gauselmann secured naming rights to the stadium in 2018.
Fortuna Düsseldorf marketing director Christian Koke expressed his satisfaction with the new partnership, stating, “We are pleased to exclusively welcome a company based in Nordrhein-Westfalen as a partner in this sector.”
Fortuna will play in the 2.Bundesliga for the 2020-21 season, after being relegated from the top-tier Bundesliga in 2019-20.
Gauselmann Group marketing director Manfred Stoffers emphasized the company’s excitement about partnering with Fortuna, saying, “Fortuna is one of the leading lights of sport in Düsseldorf.”
The agreement comes at a time of change for the German gambling industry, with a new regulatory framework set to come into force from July next year.
