Pokémon Go has become an instant money maker for Nintendo and its creator, The Pokémon Company (which, incidentally, they own a chunk of). Despite being free-to-play, with a base of players surpassing 21 million active users in the US alone, the sales for in-app-purchases is generating plenty of revenue.
Now developer Niantic Labs is looking to include sponsored Pokéstops and gyms in the game. These are places to visit on the map where you can collect in-game items, and if deals are struck, businesses will play host to these meeting points.
Small business owners are reporting benefits to being in the the game (at this stage by coincidence, with them being near landmarks and the like). Some are actually buying in-game lures to entice both rare Pokémon and customers into their bars and food places.
John Hanke, director of the game, has told The New York Times they are already working to include this option in the future. The studio is already generating income this way via its previous title, Ingress, which shares the same basic concept as Pokémon Go. It's currently unclear whether there will be special items reserved for these places (as is the case in Ingress). One of the locations could be the fast food giant, McDonalds, which has worked with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company many times before in the past.