Another bet(MGM) on No. 99

During his Hockey Hall of Fame career, Wayne Gretzky did it all on the ice. His appearance on The Young and the Restless aside, No. 99 is having a successful run in his post-playing career as a pitchman. And now, he’s adding hockey broadcaster and brand ambassador to his LinkedIn profile (although damned if we can find we can find him there).

BetMGM announced this week that Gretzky is the sportsbook’s new ambassador, joining fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders and former NBA star Jalen Rose. The announcement comes a little more than a week after it was announced The Great One would be TNT’s main analyst on its NHL studio show beginning next season. A tap of the old Titan twig to Simon Houpt of The Globe and Mail for his exclusive interview with Gretzky, whom we expect will have a rather significant role to play with BetMGM once there’s open regulated sports betting in his home and native land. The sports betting and gaming company is expected to be among the players applying for licence to offer legal wagering in Ontario when the province opens for business. 

https://twitter.com/WayneGretzky/status/1400068382519664645

 For Gretzky, who has been the face of sponsorship deals with banks, clothing brands, soft drinks brands, video games, coffee and doughnut operations (rhymes with Jim Nortons), etc., etc., etc. as hockey’s first North American-wide pitchman, he’s simply being as opportunistic as he was in finding Jari Kurri from behind the net during those glory years in Edmonton. 

 “The fact is that all these professional sports leagues – basketball, football, National Hockey League, the PGA – they’ve now all partnered with these companies, they’re in bed with them, and it’s part of professional sports now,” Gretzky told Houpt. “Any way you look at it, it’s part of the world today.”

 If anyone’s screaming “conflict of interest” with Gretzky’s wearing hats as a broadcaster and brand ambassador, don’t bother. Turner Sports and BetMGM are partners with NBA Digital on the NBA Bet live studio show that launched in May.