Major gambling company places its chips with the snooker world championship

Where there is money to be made, or exposure to be gained, there will be those who will want a piece of the action.
Media companies are buying into gambling, gambling into media and everything in between.

Now, however, 888.com one of the biggest online gambling enterprises has agreed to a five-year deal to sponsor the World Snooker Championship.
Until now, Embassy, the tobacco company has sponsored the championship.

The event draws a massive local audience. In last year's final close to eight million people watched the competition.
The United Kingdom's public broadcaster, the BBC screened it live.
888.com is hoping to give the competition a 'face-lift' by developing promotional and marketing events and by improving its look and feel.
Additionally, 888.com will be sponsoring other major snooker events.
The 2006 calendar includes the Masters, Grand Prix and UK Championship.

As a major institution in Britain, and increasingly popular overseas, 888.com, according to Chief Executive John Anderson, is very excited to be participating in the sport.
Of course the Chairman of World Snooker was equally thrilled. Along with securing the multi-million dollar sponsorship they were also able to secure public television coverage and location for the next five years.
Such sponsorship, he adds, will help transform the commercial nature of snooker and propel it into the future.
Both sides can thank marketing mogul IMG/TWI for brokering the deal.
The World Snooker Championships have been played annually since its inception in 1977. The traditional location of the game is at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Additionally, SAGA will be the new main sponsor of the Masters competition held annually at the Wembley Conference Centre. SAGA is an insurance company that provides products and services especially for people aged over fifty. SAGA is a multi-million dollar enterprise with over 2 million customers, a monthly magazine and three radio stations.

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