BetMGM jumped for a big splash in promoting its sports betting and online gaming platform, turning to Oscar and GRAMMY Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx to be the face of its new advertising campaign.
Foxx and BetMGM are combining for “The King Of Sportsbooks” ad campaign in conjunction with creative agency 72andSunny New York. The campaign is highlighted by a 60-second video ad that features Foxx explaining the rush of sports betting, walking on the water in the Fountains of Bellagio while sports video clips are played among the fountains’ sprays.
“Jamie is an exceptional talent and we’re proud to have him partner with us on our new campaign for BetMGM,” said BetMGM’s Chief Marketing Officer Matt Prevost in a statement. “The King of Sportsbooks campaign is the next step in the evolution of the BetMGM brand and Jamie brings a unique ability to tell our story in an incredibly creative and entertaining way. BetMGM exists at the intersection of sports and entertainment and Jamie fits this positioning perfectly; we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the BetMGM family.”
BetMGM currently operates mobile sports betting in seven states and plans to be available in four more by the end of 2020. It received a conditional sports betting license to operate in Tennessee on Wednesday ahead of an expected launch to take place on or before Nov. 1.
Foxx the latest high-profile sportsbook pitchman
Foxx will be readily familiar to sports fans after starring as charismatic young quarterback Willie Beamen in the 1999 film “Any Given Sunday,” which was Oliver Stone’s ode to professional football. He recently won the “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” at the NAACP Images Award and earned a SAG nomination for “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role” for his performance in “Just Mercy.”
BetMGM making Foxx the face of this ad campaign continues the trend of sportsbooks utilizing athletes and celebrities to help promote their brand. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is now actively promoting the Barstool Sports betting app that launched in Pennsylvania last weekend, and Australian-based sportsbook PointsBet recently turned to former Chicago Bears defensive back and return specialist Devin Hester for their launch into Illinois earlier this month.
PointsBet also counts Hall of Fame NBA point guard Allen Iverson and former NFL defensive back Darrelle Revis — another expected Hall of Famer — among its spokespeople.
