Pair Of Former Sports Stars Accept Positions In Sports Betting

For nearly the entire history of American professional sports, it was considered taboo for athletes to gamble, especially on games.

Now, a couple of retired sports stars have taken positions at sports betting sites, highlighting the incredible growth and mainstream acceptance of the activity.

DraftKings announced Wednesday that Chicago Bulls great and arguably the best player in the history of the NBA, Michael Jordan, was named as a “special advisor” to the company. According to a Forbes report, he was given an equity stake in the fantasy sports and sports betting giant.

In a statement, the company said that the Charlotte Hornets owner will provide “guidance and strategic advice to the board of directors on key business initiatives undertaken by the sports technology and entertainment company.”

Just a few hours later, former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch announced a content partnership with the sports betting site sportsbettingdime.com.

Unlike DraftKings, SBD is not an actual book, but instead a site that dives into the nitty gritty of the sports betting world and gives insight into which picks to make.

In the aftermath of his 12-season NFL career, Lynch formed a media company called BeastMode Productions LLC. In a press release, the company said that Lynch’s media company will be used to “highlight SportsBettingDime’s betting tools, analysis, and advice with BeastMode’s signature spin as the site’s oddsmakers and betting experts set the lines for Lynch to take on some unorthodox challenges in a variety of different sports.”

The pair of moves show the complete 180-degree spin that professional sports has taken with its attitude towards sports betting as more states legalize the activity. Just a few years ago, it would have been considered crazy for the current owner of an NBA franchise to take a position with an online sportsbook.

There are 18 states with legal and operational sports betting markets in the U.S. with another three states pending launch. Tennessee will likely be the next state to get up and running as regulators said recently that the online-only market should be operational by November.

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