• by Ray Schultz , April 17, 2023

Newspaper chain Lee Enterprises has formed a three-year partnership with Catena Media that will provide it with online sports betting and casino content. 

Catena will supply online gaming content for all of Lee’s brands in 77 markets.

Editorial and advertorial content will be syndicated via Lee’s flagship betting product frontpagebets.com in select properties..

In addition, Catena’s content will be supported through Lee’s social media channels. 

Catena seeks to “make sports betting and casino gaming more accessible and engaging for players,” says Ryan Harper, vice president North America for Catena. 

The arrangement with Lee provides it with a broader audience in existing states through brands including Buffalonews.com and Tucson.com, part of the Arizona Daily Star. In addition, Catena will receive a springboard in other states ahead of potential market launches, including STLtoday.com in Missouri, and other brandsi n Texas, Minnesota, Alabama and North Carolina, the company says. 

According to Catana, online sports betting in the U.S. first became legal in Delaware and New Jersey in 2018, and has since become licensed in 30 states. Online casino gaming, which was first legalized by New Jersey in 2013, is nowregulated in six US states, it adds.