Shaq’s back and WynnBET’s got him.
Of course, Shaquille O’Neal has always been at the center of anything related to professional sports and more. But a recent announcement put him in the spotlight once again, this time as the newest brand ambassador for the WynnBet mobile sports betting app.
The sportsbook spinoff of Wynn Resorts, WynnBet has become a major player in the world of state-regulated sports betting. And over the past few weeks, the brand has brought on a number of former pro athletes.
As part of the deal, O’Neal will serve as a strategic consultant to the sportsbook. He’ll be front and center in advertising campaigns across all media, while also appearing at fan events and contributing to the company’s media partners that include Cumulus Media, Minute Media and Blue Wire Podcasts.
He’ll also launch the eponymous “Shaqpot,” a free-to-play game to be offered in WynnBet’s app.
From LSU to WynnBet: Looking back at Shaq
Shaq’s résumé shines and speaks for itself. Basketball Hall of Famer, 15-time NBA All Star, four-time NBA champion, TV sports analyst, platinum-selling rapper, team owner, actor, entrepreneur. His ties to Louisiana go back to his college years.
At Louisiana State University, his basketball record included:
- Two-time SEC Player of the Year
- NCAA men’s basketball player of the year (1991)
- College player of the year (AP and UPI)
And it’s not just O’Neal’s 7-foot 1-inch frame that makes him statuesque. There’s actually a 900-pound bronze statue of him in from of LSU’s basketball practice facility.
During his 19 seasons in the NBA, Shaq played for six teams, with career averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He was the first player ever named NBA Player of the Week the very first week he played professionally. His induction into the Hall of Fame came in 2016.
He’s starred as a sports analyst on TNT since 2011. Now, Shaq’s taking his talents to WynnBet.
“I love working with my friends at Wynn Resorts and I am so excited to take WynnBet to new heights,” O’Neal said.
“Mobile sports betting is having a major moment, and I believe that WynnBet will be a powerful force in the industry.”
WynnBET expands reach, ambassadorship lineup
Bettors can access the WynnBet app in seven states, but none closer than Tennessee. In total, the sportsbook reaches almost 53% of the US population, with plans to increase that to almost 77% by launching in other jurisdictions. That could include Louisiana, which just approved emergency rules to potentially set up a September launch of regulated sports betting.
In July, WynnBet became a sports betting partner of the NFL and built out its list of ambassadors earlier this summer. Shaq joins a team featuring two former NFL greats (Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Nick Mangold) and America’s most-renowned goalkeeper, Tim Howard.
Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Interactive, called Shaq “a great friend of Wynn Las Vegas for many years.”
“A successful businessman, NBA legend and one of the most well-known personalities in sports media, we believe our players will enjoy interacting with him through the WynnBET app and are excited to feature Shaq in our advertising campaign set to debut later this summer.”
