The LSU Tigers’ athletic department has made Caesars Sportsbook their official gaming and sportsbook partner, according to an official press release from the massive casino-entertainment company that dropped on Friday.
Caesars Digital co-president Chris Holdren explained why the company chose to partner with LSU for this unprecedented merging of collegiate sports and the betting industry:
“LSU Athletics programs have always exemplified excellence, and at Caesars, we couldn’t be happier to partner with such an iconic brand in college athletics…We have a proud legacy in Louisiana, and bringing LSU fans and alumni closer to the sports they love while also offering scholarship opportunities will help us build upon that.”
The exclusive partnership gives Caesars digital and broadcast sponsorship rights to all major LSU sports. Caesars is also creating a scholarship fund for in-state students who are “pursuing majors in sports administration, commerce and leadership.”
Legal Sports Report posted a story Thursday on how the state government of Louisiana is working tirelessly toward an imminent legal sports betting launch. This announcement from Caesars just furthers the notion that the Bayou State will board the betting bandwagon that’s spreading across the country in short order.
LSU has only grown in visibility in recent years on the biggest NCAA stages, notably winning a national football championship in 2019. That star-studded team featured the likes of future No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, star pro wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, and plenty of other big names.
Speaking of top draft picks, former Tigers hoops star Ben Simmons went first in the 2016 NBA Draft after a one-and-done year in Baton Rouge. For better or worse, Simmons is the talk of the current NBA offseason, as his future with the Philadelphia 76ers is very much up in the air.
Nevertheless, the men’s LSU basketball program — which also counts Bob Pettit, “Pistol” Pete Maravich and Shaquille O’Neal among its alumni — just went to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, and shooting guard Cameron Thomas got drafted 27th overall to the championship-favorite Brooklyn Nets.
All told, LSU has produced 49 national titles over the years. More than half of those (25) came from the indoor and outdoor women’s track and field teams, as the Tigers build a three-decade dynasty. The men’s team won the outdoor NCAA track title in 2021.