Drew Brees, a recently retired star NFL quarterback has become the latest sports superstar to partner with PointsBet as he begins his off-the-field career. The two parties’ exclusive multi-year agreement includes an undisclosed equity stake as well as a cash component for the former Saints quarterback, who will serve as a brand ambassador for the global gambling operator. NBA legend Shaquille O’ Neal signed as an Australian ambassador for Pointsbet in January 2021.
Brees will be involved in a variety of the sportsbook’s advertising and marketing efforts, including creating and starring in content, hosting watch parties, assisting with promotions, and more, similar to what other ambassadors, including former NBA star Allen Iverson, have done.
The position overlaps with Brees’ transition into the NBC Sports broadcast booth, which he confirmed after retiring from the NFL this spring. As part of a five-year partnership announced in August, NBC Sports has a 4.9 percent equity stake in PointsBet. In the deal, which was valued at nearly $500 million including equity, PointsBet became the official betting partner of NBC’s sports assets (including NBCSN, the Golf Channel, and its eight regional sports networks).
The addition of Brees, who is now an analyst for the network, further binds PointsBet and NBC as the lines between sports betting and media become increasingly hazy. One source familiar with details of the contract indicated that Brees will not discuss sports betting data or statistics on the air.
The future Hall of Famer will begin as a Notre Dame football analyst and a studio presence for Sunday Night Football’s lead-in programming, but it is widely expected that Brees will eventually take over the network’s NFL game coverage. If and when he does discuss sports betting during broadcasts, it will be similar to how current Sunday Night Football play-by-play announcer Al Michaels approaches the subject subtly, allowing fans to “connect the dots on their own” using Brees’ knowledge of the game, according to a person familiar with the arrangement.
PointsBet, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, launched in the United States in 2019 and is currently available in five states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and New Jersey.
“I am excited to team up with PointsBet, a leader in the future of sports entertainment built off elite technology..I am proud to be at the forefront alongside PointsBet and NBC Sports.” – Drew Brees
The NHL is also a shareholder in PointsBet, as part of a larger agreement that made PointsBet the league’s official betting partner. The sportsbook also has multi-year agreements with the WNBA, the University of Colorado, the PGA Tour, and the Indiana Pacers, as well as the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and their home arena through ownership group Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
Based in London, Natasha is a former sports journalist with experience working for some of the biggest athletes & brands in the world of sports and iGaming.