Swansea City and 32Red have announced an exciting new partnership that will see the award-winning online gaming firm become the Championship club's official shirt and gaming sponsor.
The two-year sponsorship deal, the biggest in the club's history, will see the 32Red.com logo placed on the front of the Swans' home and away shirts, while the Gibraltar-based company will also become the club's official online gaming partner.
The deal also reverses the current trend where an increasing number of professional clubs are failing to secure shirt sponsorship in today's difficult financial climate.
Swansea City's vice-chairman, Leigh Dineen (pictured), was delighted to secure 32Red as club sponsor, especially as their previous shirt deal was with Premier League club Aston Villa.
"It shows how far Swansea City has come,'' explained Dineen. "32Red were talking to a number of other football clubs, including some in the Premiership, about shirt sponsorship; but we are delighted to become their chosen partners in football. We are now a Championship club with a Premiership sponsor - and that's something we are very proud of."
Dineen added: "It was also encouraging to see a number of other major companies express an interest in becoming our main sponsor. There were some very interesting discussions over the course of last season, but 32Red was without doubt the best deal for us.
"32Red is a modern company with global reach; has pro-active ideas and will help us spread the Swans message to the international stage. We are really excited about working with them and I'm sure we will make a great team.''
The deal also represents an exciting and potentially lucrative opportunity for the club to share revenue drawn from 32Red's online casino, poker and betting services. The club will be announcing some exciting initiatives for supporters on this link on its official website from July 1.
The club and its new partner remain committed to acting responsibly within the community and will be supporting Football League guidelines not to promote gambling on the children's shirts.
Instead, young Swans fans will have their very own sponsorship logo in recognition of the fantastic support which really is Second To None.
Ed Ware, CEO of 32Red, said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Swansea City, one of the most exciting clubs in the Championship. Swansea has become a highly progressive team over recent seasons and we are looking forward to an exciting time as the club's main sponsor."
"The deal means we will once again raise our profile throughout the UK by becoming part of the football scene. And, thanks to the increased media coverage of the Championship, we expect our tie up with the Swans to deliver significant interest in our award-winning online casino (www.32red.com)."
32Red Online Casino offers players over 350 unique casino games and a choice of welcome bonuses and monthly rewards. The poker site provides thousands of poker tables where players can enjoy games of Texas Hold'em, Omaha poker and more in addition to online bingo and a mobile phone casino.
The sponsorship deal was facilitated with the help of Jim White and his commercial consultancy company, The Changing Face, and David Little of Magrath LLP solicitors of London. Both are avid Swans fans.
* According to market-leading analysts, the recession will hit shirt sponsorship hard next season - and possibly beyond.
Many clubs have found themselves scratching around for a vital revenue stream which over recent years has been fairly straightforward and forthcoming from companies looking to cash in on the vast media coverage football is guaranteed.
But in times of financial hardship and cost cutting, it seems that shirt sponsorship is one of the first things to fall under the axe -an easy target for substantial savings.
And it's not just the so-called smaller clubs that have been suffering; even the Premiership big boys have been hit hard where it hurts - the pocket.
About 32Red Plc:
32Red is the six times winner of the 'Best Casino' title awarded by watchdog and player advocate, Casinomeister.
32Red is renowned for providing industry-leading levels of support to players and for its 350 casino games, including over 250 online slots, online roulette and more.
Over 80 per cent of 32Red's players are from the UK and 32Red is licensed and regulated by the Government of Gibraltar.
The Company operates 32Red Casino, 32Red Poker, 32Red Mobile, 32Red Affiliates and DashCasino.com.
32Red Casino is committed to responsible gambling and ensures the company adheres fully to UK law.
32Red Plc listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2005.
* The sponsorship deal was facilitated with the help of Swans fan Jim White and his commercial consultancy company, The Changing Face. The contract was completed by another Swans fan David Little who is a commercial partner at Magrath LLP solicitors of London. Please check www.thechangingface.co.uk and www.magrath.co.uk for further information.
