PointsBet Lands Legend Drew Brees as Newest Brand Ambassador
The jockeying by sportsbooks to get a leg up in the ever-growing US legal sports betting industry continues. On Wednesday it was announced that Australian-based PointsBet took another step in increasing the overall profile of their brand and landed recently retired NFL legend Drew Brees as Brand Ambassador.
In what has been described as a multi-year deal, PointsBet poured a little cement on their relationship with NBC sports who earlier this year became the official sports betting partner of NBC Sports. Perhaps not coincidentally, Drew Brees, prior to his PointsBet deal announced that he has signed on with NBC Sports to provide analysis for Notre Dame games this year with the intention of joining NBC sports' biggest weekly sporting show, Sunday Night Football.
"Today is a massive day for our company as we welcome Drew Brees into the PointsBet family," said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO. "Drew is renowned for his tireless work ethic and achieved great success in his career regardless of the obstacles in front of him, possessing the scrappy, well-prepared challenger, win-at-all-costs mentality that embodies PointsBet's DNA. We look forward to collaborating for years to come and integrating Drew across our portfolio to complement PointsBet's market-leading technology infrastructure and strategic approach to the competitive sports betting space."
What Brees Brings to Pointsbet
Brees is a big name with a big personality and big credibility heading into his post-playing life. He will be able to use that credibility and his celebrity for PointsBet's gain.
Brees is expected to make a transition to NBC's biggest weekly sports broadcast, Sunday Night Football for the start of the 2022 season. His megaphone there will be huge. At first, he will be a game analyst for Notre Dame Football and serve as a studio analyst on Football Night in America, which precedes the weekly Sunday Night showdown.
Brees will also have a hand in creating original and unique betting content for PointsBet's media wing and will star in those productions. He will also have a hand in "leading watch parties and steering marketing and promotional concepts" according to a PointsBet press release.
What Brees Gets From Pointsbet
Most retired pro athletes search for a post-playing career. Brees gets that, along with the media spotlight he enjoyed on the field. A transition from the field to the TV studio is a logical step for some but Brees adding an elite sportsbook representation deal makes his post NFL path special.
Along with the media attention, Drew Brees will become what reports call a "significant PointsBet shareholder" with his Brand Ambassador deal. What that means isn't exactly clear, but it is widely accepted that a significant equity stake in PointsBet will be part of the deal.
“I am excited to team up with PointsBet, a leader in the future of sports entertainment built off elite technology,” said Brees. “Sports betting is growing across the country and will positively impact sports engagement, and I am proud to be at the forefront alongside PointsBet and NBC Sports.”
What Makes Brees a Big Deal?
PointsBet appears to have done well landing Drew Brees as a Brand Ambassador. One of the most recognizable names for a decade and a half in sports betting industry's bread-and-butter NFL, his name alone should provide a major boost to the Australian sportsbook.
Brees' legend cannot be understated. He retired from his storied NFL career as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, the NFL leader in completions and completion percentage and is second in touchdown passes and pass attempts. Among his awards are a Super Bowl MVP trophy, 13 Pro Bowl selections, and two NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Race to the Top
The US legal sports betting gold rush continues with sportsbooks, sports leagues, individual teams, sporting venues and even celebrities cashing in. Drew Brees catches on with one of the more aggressive, progressive books currently operating in the US scene.
PointsBet will be able, through their Brand Ambassador deal with Brees to leverage their existing, ground-breaking deal with NBC while at the same time aligning with one of the most respected stars in the most bet on league in the world.
With the deal, PointsBet may also be able to get a leg up in the yet-to-be-legalized Louisiana market, which promises big things if and when their industry goes live.
It is shrewd moves that have allowed Australian based PointsBet to climb the legal sports betting provider ladder and it is those same moves that should keep them there for the foreseeable future.
