PointsBet hires basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal to star in ad campaign
Listed online betting platform PointsBet has signed US basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal as its Australian brand ambassador.
Listed online bet platform PointsBet has signed US basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal as its Australian brand ambassador ahead of a TV and internet advertising campaign this year.
O’Neal, who will receive part of his compensation in the form of equity in PointsBet, said he was looking forward to working with the company, which operates in Australia and the US.
“The rise of responsible sports betting is really exciting, and I am so excited to join forces with PointsBet, the best-in-class partner in Australia when it comes to online sportsbooks,” said O’Neal, who is widely considered to be one of the best basketball players of all time.
PointsBet chief marketing operator and co-founder Andrew Fahey said O’Neal was a natural choice given his status and basketball’s growing prominence in Australia.
“Shaq is an iconic figure in the worlds of sports and entertainment and was our clear number one pick to represent the PointsBet brand in Australia,” he said.
“US sports, particularly professional basketball, continue to be the fastest-growing betting sport in Australia, and we are very excited to align with such a transcendent athlete.”
O’Neal concluded a 19-year career with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2011 after picking up a slew of awards, including being named most valuable player (MVP) on four occasions.
Famed for his hulking seven-foot-frame, O’Neal has starred in movies, video games and TV shows, and has recorded four rap albums.
He also has a PhD in education and leadership and an MBA, after building a business career in the decade since leaving the NBA.
As well as becoming a professional sports analyst, he owns a Las Vegas restaurant, has developed real estate, purchased a minority share in the Sacramento Kings basketball team, and is a spokesman for Krispy Kreme Donuts. O’Neal has also invested in pizza chain Papa Johns and sits on the company’s board.
Shares in PointsBet closed at $16.11, up 0.6 per cent.
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