PointsBet Australia Picks Shaquille O’Neal as Brand Ambassador

PointsBet, the Melbourne-based sports betting juggernaut has appointed Shaquille O’Neal as the new brand ambassador for its Australian facing business. Going forward, the American basketball legend aka The Big Cactus/The Big Aristotle/Diesel will make appearances in marketing campaigns for PointsBet Australia on Tv, social media, mobile and digital platforms.

Andrew Fahey, the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of PointsBet expressed his enthusiasm at the prospects of working with the three-time NBA finals MVP in the following statement;

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“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. 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.”

Further, we are delighted that Mr O’Neal has agreed to take part of his consideration in the form of equity in PointsBet, which underscored the alignment and trust across our teams and our shared belief in the opportunities ahead for PointsBet”

Shaquille O’Neal, or Shaq as he is popularly known, retired from a successful basketball career spanning nearly two decades after the 2010/11 NBA season but he remains a sports icon for his outstanding achievements during his active years. By the time he hung his boots, Shaq had amassed a long list of accomplishments, the most notable being; three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, 15x NBA All-Star, the 2000 NBA MVP, three NBA Finals MVP, four NBA championship titles, and winning the gold medal in the 1994 FIBA World Cup and 1996 Olympic Games for his home country.

On top of his stellar basketball career, he stayed in the limelight after releasing four rap albums and starting in two reality Tv shows among other movie, television, and video game appearances. He is also managing an NBA 2K League eSports group and this appointment as the PointsBet brand ambassador marks another highlight of his lifetime achievements.

Upon his appointment, the 7’1” basketball leviathan on his part voiced his elation at the opportunity saying that:

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“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.”

The PointsBet Brand is Making Big Moves in 2021

Besides striking a deal with Shaq to leverage his high-profile status as part of the company’s marketing strategy in Australia, PointsBet has also been expanding its footprint in the American sports betting scene.

Last week, PointsBet made the cut in the 11th hour after getting the go-ahead from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to join nine other sportsbook operators for Michigan’s online and mobile sports betting launch.

While the approval came late, the Australian sportsbook brand had already received a provisional license from the MGCB in December alongside 14 other sports betting operators as they waited to fulfilled additional regulatory requirements before the debut date last Friday. In Michigan, the sports betting leader is also planning to roll out its online casino gaming product later this year pending MGCN approval.

Counting the Wolverine State, PointsBet is now operational in a total of six states including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and New Jersey. Across these states, the company is also partnered with NFL, NBA, and NHL teams as well as sports arenas to tighten its grip in USA sports.