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BET99 Partners With NHL to Introduce New Free-to-Play Game

James Bisson

Last Updated: December 20, 2022 4:57 AM EST • 1 min 3 sec read.

VANCOUVER, CANADA - DECEMBER 19: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a goal on Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues during the second period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on December 19, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. St. Louis won 5-1. Derek Cain/Getty Images/AFP

BET99 is making another splash in the North American iGaming market. And this time, hockey fans and bettors are the ones to benefit.

The Canada-based online sports betting, casino, and free-to-play company has partnered with the National Hockey League to not only become an official partner of the NHL, but to also roll out a free-to-play game called "NHL PrePlay."

The game, available to anyone in Canada, will ask participants to answer a series of predictive outcome-based questions such as "Who will win tonight's game?" BET99 is also leveraging player and puck tracking data from NHL Edge to include more creative categories like which player will record the hardest shot or the fastest skating speed.

Points will be awarded based on correct answers, with the No. 1 player for the 2022-23 season taking home the first-place prize of $100,000. Additional prizes include NHL Shop gift cards, tickets to games, and monthly giveaways to larger events like the Winter Classic.

"This partnership is groundbreaking for Canadian hockey and sports fans," Jared Beber, CEO of BET99, said Tuesday in a statement. "NHL PrePlay will amplify fan engagement and excitement around NHL games, especially the prizes, which include access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences."

The partnership will also elevate the BET99 brand within NHL arenas. The sports betting site will be prominently featured within the NHL's new dasherboard technology, which appears regularly on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada and various U.S. hockey broadcasts.

This is the second major development for BET99 in December, following an announcement on Dec. 1 that it had reached a licensing agreement with Genius Sports Limited to offer low-latency live streaming of NFL regular-season and playoff games in Canada.

Written By:
James Bisson
James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief of Sportsbook Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.