Stoiximan signs landmark Olympiacos sponsorship deal
Greek firm secures two-year deal with national champions as online firms begin to compete on a more equal footing with monopoly operator
Greek operator Stoiximan has become the main sponsor of national champions Olympiacos in a move the firm says shows growing confidence in the country’s online betting industry.
The two-year deal, which was signed on Friday, marks Stoiximan’s first football sponsorship deal in Greece with this season being the first time an operator other than Greek monopoly OPAP has sponsored a major side.
Since 2011 online operators have been operating on interim licences as they await a full licensing process to start and only two years ago did the Hellanic Gaming Commission set out marketing directives for the online industry.
This delay left OPAP unopposed to seal deals with the country’s biggest clubs, however, with some of those deals now coming to an end, Stoiximan and rival operator Sportingbet have been able to win new contracts and eat away at OPAP’s commanding marketing position.
The Olympiacos deal sees the Stoiximan name emblazoned across the front of the club’s shirts and the branding was visible for the first time on Sunday when the team played PAOK, a side now sponsored by Sportingbet.
Last year the operator became the headline sponsor of Greek basketball giants Panathinaikos, the most successful club side in what is the country’s second most popular sport.