Posted on: October 16, 2024, 01:36h.
Final up to date on: October 16, 2024, 01:54h.
NBA and Faculty Basketball Corridor of Fame member Shaquille O’Neal is teaming up with DraftKings to advertise the sports activities betting and iGaming chief.
O’Neal, extra affectionately referred to as Shaq, is among the most beloved celebrities in America right now. As such, O’Neal has garnered an countless providing of endorsement offers, most of which he’s gladly taken on.
Shaq’s newest promoting pact is with DraftKings, the Boston-based firm that, together with rival FanDuel, instructions the lion’s share of the US sports activities betting and on-line on line casino markets. Shaq’s storied profession within the NBA concluded in 2011 with the Boston Celtics.
Some individuals name me Shaq however you possibly can name me Mr. DraftKings,” Shaq mentioned in a social media video shared by DraftKings.
The video promotes Shaq’s many nicknames, together with Diesel, Superman, The Large Aristotle, Large Galactus, Actual Deal, Large Shaqtus, Large Agave, Shaq Fu, Wilt Chamberneezy, M.D.E., Large Shamrock, and his latest one — Mr. DraftKings.
In a press release offered to On line casino.org, DraftKings Chief Advertising and marketing Officer Stephanie Sherman mentioned the corporate is “thrilled” to welcome the four-time NBA champion and 15-time NBA All-Star to its roster.
“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,” mentioned Sherman.
Movie star Endorsements Proceed
Since sports activities betting went mainstream following the US Supreme Court docket’s landmark ruling in Could 2018, sportsbook operators have invested closely in celeb endorsements to market their companies. Numerous athletes and celebrities have appeared in commercials for DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook.
A number of notable athlete endorsements embody LeBron James and David Ortiz for DraftKings, Kevin Garnett and Wayne Gretzky for BetMGM, Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Spieth for FanDuel, and the Manning household for Caesars.
It might be a shock if serial endorser Shaq was solely now getting in on the sports activities betting sport. Properly, he isn’t, as O’Neal beforehand held a sponsorship settlement with the WynnBet sportsbook model.
Wynn Resorts ceased working the ebook in all however Massachusetts and Nevada, and subsequently allowed its endorsement with Shaq to run out. That freed him up for DraftKings to amass the greater than seven-foot-tall huge man for its promoting efforts. Shaq has additionally promoted PointsBet in Australia.
Whereas some shoppers and accountable gaming advocates have criticized celebrities and athletes for endorsing sports activities betting and on-line casinos, analysts and advertising and marketing consultants say such sponsorships are efficient in buyer acquisition pursuits.
In a 2022 research from YouGov that requested shoppers about celeb endorsements, simply 9% mentioned celebrities, sports activities stars, and influencers are efficient at selling playing. That pales in comparison with 53% who mentioned such sponsorships assist enhance magnificence and beauty product gross sales and 45% for clothes and niknaks.
Shaq’s Endorsements
Shaq’s endorsement listing is almost as spectacular as his NBA profession. Over the a long time, he’s endorsed virtually 100 corporations and/or merchandise starting from Icy Sizzling and The Common Insurance coverage to Reebok and Taco Bell.
He’s additionally lent his likeness to Burger King, NBA 2K, PepsiCo, JCPenney, Wheaties, Papa John’s, Oreo, Nestle, and Buick.
Shaq can be a serial entrepreneur and businessman who has used his greater than $330 million in on-court earnings and celeb endorsement cash to fund his off-court endeavors.
Shaq as soon as owned 155 5 Guys eating places. He disposed of that funding in 2016 for a reported $100 million revenue in favor of launching his personal restaurant referred to as Shaquille’s. That enterprise failed, nonetheless, prompting O’Neal to embark on a fast-casual fried hen idea referred to as Large Rooster.
Large Rooster has discovered success. Right this moment, the corporate has 33 places, together with two in Las Vegas.
