Australian Sports Entertainment

Friday, February 04, 2011

Crown Casino Confirmed As Major Melbourne Storm Sponsor, by Greg Tingle - 4th February 2011

G'day punters, journos, sports nuts, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, law enforcement agencies and agencies, legal eagles ... one and all. You know who you are. Today we have another look at the relationship with sport, gaming and gambling. Front and centre Crown Casino and the NRL's Melbourne Storm, who have come to terms. No, it's not a stadium being named after casino, but its close, with insiders tipping the team's jersey will be plastered with Crown Casino, plus another add on components in the sponsorship deal... Media Man and Gambling911 kick a goal with the Melbourne Storm - Crown Casino special...

James Packer's Crown Casino will be unveiled to the world as the new and dynamic naming rights sponsor of the Melbourne Storm later on today.

Fairfax Media broke the story in May of last year, with Gambling911 and Media Man helping push the story around the globe via website portals and social media. It was one of 2010's biggest Australian sports stories.

Read up on the background here...

'Crown Casino In Sponsorship Talks With Melbourne Storm'...

http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/crown-casino-sponsorship-talks-melbourne-storm-051710.html

Melbourne Storm commenced talks which led to serious negotiations with Packer's #1 casino after major sponsors left the club in response to what is widely accepted as salary cap rorting.

Who left back the? ME Bank and financial services - superannuation outfit HostPlus. This cost the team close to a million dollars AUD a season.

A domino effect started to kick into action, with then sportswear goods firm Skins,walking in April last year soon after the NRL stripped the Storm of 2 premierships and 3 minor premierships for salary cap breaches. The bad news quickly made the rounds on a global scale, will The Storm becoming the whipping boy poster child about what was wrong with NRL.

Some 8 plus months late with a bush tucker bag of discussions and negotiations (and a few beers we understand) with Crown Limited powers that be, the famous er infamous club is expected to hold a press conference about the time we go to press today, and is strongly tipped to announce the new major sponsorship deal, that we understand will tun to 2013.

As it stands right now, the ME Bank had the rights to the front of the Storm's jersey until the end of this season, while HostPlus had the rights to the back of the jersey until November next year. ME Bank, changing allegiances, has become a major sponsor of AFL club Richmond.

With the clock ticking, its 6 six weeks and counting from the NRL season. Word is that the only major partner of The Storm is Jayco Caravans. Look, we must tell you, they are the company of dismissed club director Gerry Ryan. That particular business relationship between Jayco and Storm has lasted 12 years, but who knows what the future holds.

Packer's Crown has had strong personal and business tie ins with the Storm for many years. The club has held numerous fund-raisers at the casino, including a hell of a lot of good Aussie piss ups and parties.

This deal really needs to happen. It could save the clubs skin.

Packer's Crown Limited is pushing the entertainment, tourism and lifestyle themes of his casinos, and the NRL teams are looking to bounce back and move forward, having endured too many scandals over the past few years for anyones liking.

Probed if Crown Casino was the club's new major sponsor, Melbourne Storm top brass didn't respond, but our spies and insiders will get to the bottom of it. Don't change your dial as we will getting back with another update in short order.

Ok, half time folks. Take a breather, and will will join you again soon for the second half of epic action from the land down under.

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

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Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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