ShareThe legality of sports betting in the US has added a new income stream for celebrities, that of gambling ambassadors, with Vanessa Hudgens and Vince Vaughn among the latest stars to attach their names to the betting world.
Vaughn, he of "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" and "Swingers" fame, recently inked a deal to represent Caesars Sportsbook and Casino. Hudgens, the "High School Musical" and "Spring Breakers" star, has teamed up with BetMGM in an attempt to woo her 54 million Instagram and Twitter followers, combined.
Some may recall that Vaughn took on the role of Celebrity Master of Ceremonies at the 2022 WSOP, adorned in a Caesar costume while kicking off the Main Event by announcing that it was time to "shuffle up and deal."
Vaughn and Hudgens are no doubt shuffling off to the bank in their newest gigs as brand ambassadors, joining the likes of Nicki Minaj, Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Patton Oswalt and the Manning family of NFL fame.
Minaj parlayed her musical talent as the Queen of Rap into a deal with MaximBet. Jamie Foxx is sharing his celebrity status alongside Hudgens at BetMGM.
Of Minaj's ability to influence others, MaximBet CEO Daniel Graetzer said, "there is no one better suited to take this form of entertainment mainstream.”
Celebrities can thank a Supreme Court decision in 2018 that struck down PASPA - the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act - allowing states to offer sports gambling laws at their own choosing. Since that time, more than 30 states have launched legalized sports betting in one form or another, with additional states likely to join the party in the future.
We can expect more celebrity signings as brand ambassadors in the realm of legalized gambling as time marches on. It has become a virtual marketing war as casinos search for recognizable faces to promote their product.
