Australian sportsbook PointsBet has tabbed former New York Jets superstar Darrelle Revis to be the face of its digital platform in the U.S. PointsBet announced in July that it would enter the U.S. market in New Jersey. That product is expected to launch soon.
Revis, a four-time first-team All-Pro cornerback, also played one season apiece with the Buccaneers, Patriots, and Chiefs but starred during his eight seasons with the Jets. He will write blogs and produce videos for PointsBet that offer insights into football and betting.
ESPN initially reported the news, and Revis’ portrait is already on the company’s U.S. website. Former NBA MVP Allen Iverson is also featured on the PointsBet’s parent site and has starred in a series of ads running in certain parts of the U.S.
PointsBet will offer traditional sports betting but stands out for its trademark points betting, which adds more risk and reward to a wager. If a bettor picks the over on an NFL game with an over/under of 50 points and the final score is 30-27 (i.e., 57 points), the person would receive seven times his or her wager. The multiplier works the other way, too. A final score of 30-17 (47 total points) means he or she would lose three times the initial bet.
SportTechie Takeaway
PointsBet CEO Sam Swanell told Legal Sports Report that the U.S. market was always its long-term goal. “It was all about America,” Swanell told the website. “Australia was very much proof-of-concept for us. We always had one eye on America.” Advertising in conjunction with established domestic superstars will help with name recognition—and open a new source of revenue for retired athletes.