The Rise of Online Casino Gambling Among A-List Celebrities

For a very long-time, the idea of seeing mainstream celebrities talking about, let alone taking part in, online gambling, seemed absurd. Su...

For a very long-time, the idea of seeing mainstream celebrities talking about, let alone taking part in, online gambling, seemed absurd. Sure, British footballers and the occasional actor would make an appearance in an advert, but you would never see any major, A-list stars involved in gambling. This has changed massively in recent years, with major Hollywood stars now working with some of the best online casinos out there. Let’s take a look at why that is exactly, and whether that trend is likely to continue.

America Embracing Gambling

One of the biggest factors in more Hollywood and A-list celebrities getting involved in the online casino world is the legalization of online casinos in many states across America. While some big states like California or Texas have yet to throw their hat in the ring when it comes to online gambling, it is still far much acceptable than it was before.

As more states legalize online gambling, the taboo around it as a pass-time begins to slip away. The USA has always been much more conservative than other Western countries when it comes to gambling, and as such, being associated with it has never been seen as a positive for celebrity image. As laws have become more relaxed, more celebrities have been more open to the idea of embracing it.

Not all forms of gambling have been treated this way though, with poker being a favorite among some celebrities. Still, the promotion of a poker-based lifestyle or even anything seen as promoting the game has largely been avoided until recent years. Outside of someone like Jennifer Tilly, who is a cult figure in both the poker world and within the horror genre, and Matt Damon, who has starred in poker-themed movies like Rounders, you would never see someone talking about as anything other than a little hobby.

Commercial Opportunities

Of course, the biggest reason for an increase in celebrities being involved in the online casino world is the commercial opportunities that it presents to people. The online gambling industry has undergone a period of major success in the last decade, and with more and more countries legalizing it, there is a lot of opportunity for sponsorship and advertising. This is undoubtedly the biggest factor in an increased interest in online casinos from a-list stars.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Drake, Nikki Minaj, Jose Mourinho, Ben Affleck, Mike Tyson, and many more have all been the face of a major casino or sports-betting brand at one point or another, and there is no doubt that they profited from quite substantially from doing so.

Celebrity-branded betting content is also something that has the potential to be extremely popular. While it has typically been bands and musicians that have leant their branding to slot games, the intersection of iGaming and sports suggests that we could see a lot more of this in the future.

A Short-Lived Period?

Celebrities and major sports stars associating themselves with top casino and sports-betting brands is quite a new occurrence, and there is a strong chance that it won’t be one that lasts all too long.

Responsible gambling advocates have been quick to point out the potential dangers of celebrities advertising with major casino and sports-betting companies, and several regulators have already taken steps to control it. The UKGC, often an industry leader when it comes to regulation, banned celebrities from appearing in adverts in November 2022.

The USA, as a country very much in an online-gambling boom period, is still yet to make these kinds of moves, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that it will happen in the future. If it does, then it looks as though this may have been somewhat of a gold rush for both celebrities and operators alike.

If this happens, then the question is who will fill these roles? The status of influencers in the online gambling space is also becoming more important, with several key figures from that world being involved with, or in the case of Jake Paul and Betr, launching their own betting brands. This feels like a whole new direction that the industry could go in.

An Interesting Future

The rise of online gambling in the USA means that the industry’s relationship with A-list stars and other forms of media is going to continue to grow at a rapid rate. While there is a good chance that this may not last forever, it will no doubt continue to benefit almost everyone involved, and continue to change the way online casino content is consumed, while it lasts.