BetMGM just announced a new leaderboard contest tied to college basketball tournaments in Las Vegas. The operator is giving away 25 trips to the Players Era Championship for its top-performing users. Each prize package includes tickets to both men’s and women’s tournament games.
Raymond Doyle holds the SVP of Sports role at BetMGM. Lance Evans works as SVP of Sports at MGM Resorts International. Both executives backed the promotion in statements yesterday.
The contest centres on the Players Era Championship happening at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. This multi-gender college basketball event takes place in BetMGM’s home market.
Why BetMGM Built This Promotion Around College Hoops
The operator wants to connect users with live sports events they can actually attend. BetMGM’s Vegas location gives it direct access to major tournaments happening at MGM properties. Most sportsbook promotions offer cash or bonus bets.
This contest gives users something different – a complete Vegas experience tied to college basketball. Doyle said BetMGM focuses on “delivering legendary experiences for sports fans.” The promotion lets winning users watch games they’ve been betting on throughout the contest period.
College basketball draws strong betting handle during tournament season. Connecting wagers to actual event attendance creates a direct link between online betting and live sports.
What Users Need to Do to Enter
Players must place bets of at least $10 on any market between October 20 and November 9. They also need to opt in through BetMGM’s promotions tab. The leaderboard tracks qualifying wagers and awards points based on odds and bet outcomes.
All eligible wagers must carry minimum odds of +100. Bets need to settle during the promotional window to count toward leaderboard standings.
The 25 users atop the leaderboard when the contest ends on November 9 win the trip packages. Each winner gets tournament tickets for both championships, a four-night stay at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, and $1,500 in withdrawable travel funds.
That $1,500 comes as cash, not bonus funds. Winners can spend it however they want.
How This Fits MGM’s Live Events Strategy
Evans said MGM Resorts remains “focused on delivering new-to-market programming” for its venues. The company uses its Sports & Entertainment division to bring championship events to Vegas properties.
BetMGM gets to promote these events directly to its user base. The sportsbook can tie promotions to tournaments happening at sister properties. This creates cross-promotional opportunities other operators can’t match.
The contest gives BetMGM a way to reward active users with experiences beyond standard cash payouts. Doyle called the Players Era Championship “one of college basketball’s most exciting events” and positioned it as the “ideal stage” for a user promotion.
Other sportsbooks will likely watch this promotion’s performance. Tying betting contests to live event attendance could become more common if BetMGM sees strong engagement.
