The crypto sportsbook will allow football fans to watch exclusive football content at home as part of their partnership with Southampton FC
Leading Bitcoin sportsbook, Sportsbet.io, yesterday announced the launch of a new VIP experience that will allow fans to watch exclusive football content at home in 360°. As part of their club partnership with Southampton FC, the innovation will leverage virtual reality (VR) technology and can be viewed on mobile devices.
Sportsbet.io was founded in 2016 as part of the Coingaming Group and offers betting on over 350,000 pre-match events each year, as well as comprehensive in-play content, across all major sports and eSports.
The crypto sportsbook have matchday rights with Southampton FC and will try to educate football fans about cryptocurrencies in an engaging way. Influencers who participate in the initiative are given an amount of Bitcoin to create a unique experience, such as a front row seat or a stadium tour.
In December 2020, Sportsbet.io delivered the first VR experience before Southampton played Manchester City at home. It included former Southampton players Matthew Le Tissier and Francis Benali providing a tour of the St Mary’s stadium, and Le Tissier giving a penalty masterclass.
Southampton’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Thomas, commented, “As a club our digital approach has always looked to redefine the content status-quo and we were excited at the shared values between ourselves and the Sportsbet.io team… We cannot wait for the full return of our fans but in the meantime, Sportsbet.io have found an innovative way to ensure our club and fans can stay connected.”
Developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative provides a digital viewing solution for football matches played behind closed doors, with VR and AR agency East City Films delivering the production. There is no VR headset or extra technology required to view the video content, which is available on Sportsbet’s official YouTube channel.
Founder of the Coingaming Group, Tim Heath, added, “We think cryptocurrency has a big future in football and we’re right behind it. Alongside fan experiences like this, we’ve just seen the first Bitcoin transfer take place where a footballer was purchased using cryptocurrency and signed for DUX Internacional de Madrid, and earlier this year NFL pro footballer Russell Okung said he’s getting his salary in Bitcoin. We’re likely to see more of the same – from clubs finding new ways to engage with fans on a match day to the way business is done at the top of the game.”