Arsenal snaps up sports betting partner in Kenya

African sports betting firm SportPesa has entered into a partnership with English Premier League top-tier football club Arsenal.

The deal will begin immediately and run for three-and-a-half seasons, through to the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Under the agreement, SportPesa will serve as the club’s official betting partner in Kenya, one of various African countries in which it is operational.

Arsenal scouts will travel to Kenya to oversee football training camps, while fans in the country will also be offered the chance to win club-related benefits such as official merchandise and match tickets.

In addition, Kenyan football administrators will work with staff at Arsenal on a range of projects to help improve stadium management and security and games in the African nation.

“We have launched our latest commercial partnership with SportPesa, who have become our first betting partner in Kenya, where we have a large fan base,” Arsenal chief commercial officer Vinai Venkatesham said.

“We will send our own coaches to Kenya to coach children and teach them to play football in a style we call the Arsenal way.”

Ronald Karauri, chief executive of SportPesa, added: “With such a deal, Arsenal fans will be beneficiaries because we will have free tickets to reward them each season.

“However, this is not for Arsenal’s fans only because, at the end of the day, it’s about developing football in Kenya and the road to 2022.

“We will be looking to partner with other EPL clubs to sign deals.”

Related article: DraftKings nets Premier League partners to support UK launch