Ranked: Top Partnerships between Athletes and Gambling Companies

(AsiaGameHub) –   Kalshi’s latest sponsorship agreement with UFC champion Nate Diaz prompted us to examine prominent athletes who have publicly supported gambling companies.

Our selection features some of the most renowned figures in professional sports, both current and retired, who have achieved the highest level of success in their careers.

Important note: This list is limited to athletes based in North America.

LeBron James & DraftKings Sportsbook

Partnership began: January 2024

LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion and the all-time leading scorer in league history with 43,440 points, entered into a multi-year contract with DraftKings. Under this arrangement, James focused exclusively on weekly football predictions, with any NBA-related content strictly prohibited.

Television and online advertisements featuring James alongside comedian Kevin Hart became increasingly common. In our view, this collaboration produced their most entertaining commercial spot yet.

DraftKings has effectively leveraged “The King” as a brand ambassador, making this partnership our top choice.

Rob Gronkowski & FanDuel

Partnership began: January 2022

Few moments are more memorable than Rob Gronkowski’s “Kick of Destiny” marketing campaigns during Super Bowl 2023 and 2024—though he missed both attempts!

This innovative promotion allowed FanDuel users to vote “Yes” or “No” on whether Gronkowski would successfully make the kick, with $10 million in Bonus Bets at stake. Those who voted “No” shared in that prize pool.

More recently, FanDuel Casino launched a slot game inspired by Gronkowski titled All Gronk, All Gold, ahead of Super Bowl LVII in February.

Despite his difficulties with field goals, Gronkowski has significantly boosted FanDuel’s brand visibility as a high-profile endorser.

Giannis Antetokounmpo & Kalshi

Partnership began: February 2026

This deal sparked controversy amid ongoing NBA betting scandals. NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo acquired an ownership stake in Kalshi through his company, Ante Inc.

Antetokounmpo will appear in commercials and at live events promoting Kalshi. Under NBA rules, players may hold passive stakes of less than 1% in gambling-related businesses. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver clarified why the transaction complied with regulations.

“We have a rule—agreed upon collectively with the Players Association—that permits players to make what I’d call de minimis investments in sports betting companies, and we’re applying the same standard to prediction markets,” Silver explained.

He continued, “In Giannis’s case, as far as I understand, the investment is much smaller than 1%, so it doesn’t violate the rules.”

Wayne Gretzky & BetMGM

Partnership began: June 2021

Like LeBron James, Wayne Gretzky won four Stanley Cups and holds the record for most career points (2,857) in NHL history. Similar to Rob Gronkowski, Gretzky also has a custom slot game at BetMGM.

Gretzky has starred in numerous commercials for “The King of Sportsbooks,” including a recent ad featuring current Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

Notably, Gretzky also appeared in BetMGM’s Super Bowl advertisement alongside Tom Brady and actor Vince Vaughn two years ago.

Although we considered including Tom Brady, he no longer has a promotional deal with BetMGM following his role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The NFL prohibits its personnel from endorsing any form of gambling, including sports betting.

In a January study, researchers from Towson University and Notre Dame of Maryland University analyzed YouTube comments on gambling advertisements. While comedian Jamie Foxx drew the most criticism for BetMGM, Wayne Gretzky received four negative comments for every positive one. Commenters argued that it was “a bad look for someone who used to represent integrity in sports” to promote gambling on athletic competition.

Despite this backlash, the long-standing relationship between BetMGM and “The Great One” continues to endure.