All-Star MLB outfielder Charlie Blackmon has become the league’s first active player to be endorsed by a sportsbook after partnering with MaximBet, a gaming affiliate of the lifestyle company Maxim.
Blackmon will be featured across the brand’s social media platforms as well as other promotional campaigns, the company told ESPN.
Mere weeks before the start of the 2022 regular season, a new collective bargaining agreement was reached between the league’s players and team owners–per the agreement, players are permitted to sign sponsorship and endorsement deals with sportsbooks, but are still barred from betting on games.
In a press release, the two-time Silver Slugger winner said MaximBet’s attachment to the local Colorado community was a factor in his decision to partner with the sportsbook., which was “absolutely the right brand” for him. He also said that he looked forward to sharing “‘money can’t buy’ experiences” with fans throughout the season.
MaximBet currently operates across 30 states including Colorado, and has upcoming expansions planned in both Iowa and Indiana.
Historically adverse to all things gambling, MLB has become increasingly connected with sports betting and daily fantasy companies over the years, and some stadiums even feature physical sportsbooks, such as Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
