Shaquille O’Neal, an NBA and Faculty Basketball Corridor of Famer, has joined DraftKings as America’s main sportsbook and on line casino model’s ambassador.
Shaq Turns into Newest Model Ambassador for DraftKings
In his newfound position, Shaq will search to advertise DraftKings’ identify and likewise convey his experience and perception into the world of basketball throughout varied media alternatives and activations, leveraging his reputation as one in every of America’s most beloved athletes by followers and outsiders.
Teasing followers as a part of the reveal, Shaq stated: “Some folks name me Shaq, however you possibly can name me Mr. DraftKings.” In a press release shared by DraftKings by CMO Stephanie Sherman, the corporate added:
“DraftKings is thrilled to welcome NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to the household. Shaq’s persona and unparalleled power will elevate our model by varied advertising and marketing initiatives all NBA season. His huge presence matches our dedication to delivering distinctive experiences for our gamers.”
DraftKings is in a cut-throat neck-and-neck battle in opposition to its rival FanDuel to safe a rising swathe of the sports activities betting area within the United States at a time when abroad manufacturers are sounding a retreat, and the competitor’s discipline is thinning, compelled out of pricy markets that make it more durable for anybody however the duopoly to dominate.
O’Neal endorsing an organization will not be precisely odd. He has had greater than 100 totally different endorsements thus far throughout and after his NBA profession, showing on advertising and marketing campaigns by Nestle, Oreo, Burger King, PepsiCo, and plenty of others.
The person himself has amassed an enviable wealth price greater than $330 million and he has identified find out how to use his clout to assist construct each manufacturers and scout new enterprise alternatives for himself.
Sportsbooks Eager to Faucet into Celebrities
Within the meantime, partnerships between athletes and main sports activities betting firms, similar to Caesars, FanDuel, and BetMGM are in no way shocking.
DraftKings has sought to workforce up with basketball expertise earlier than as nicely, signing LeBron James as one other model ambassador and including David Ortiz, the well-known baseball participant higher identified to his followers as “Massive Papi.”
Different manufacturers haven’t been a lot behind, looking for to faucet into the superstar standing of different athletes, together with Kevin Garnett and Wayne Gretzky for BetMGM or Jordan Spieth and Rob Gronkowski for FanDuel.
O’Neal will probably be simply one other member of this sprawling effort of celebrities becoming a member of in to drum up help for sports activities betting manufacturers competing for clout out there.