DraftKing to bag a win with Super Bowl’s betting scene

Claire Peterson on September 5, 2023

DraftKings – Nowadays, gambling is legal in many places, especially when it includes sports.

Super Bowl LVII is conceivably the biggest event now occurring in the gambling industry.

High stakes

The American Gaming Association predicts that more than 50 million wagers totalling more than $16 billion will be placed before the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs NFL game.

Because of the importance of the game, the following giants of the gambling industry had the possibility to bring in more customers:

DraftKings
FanDuel owner Flutter Entertainment (PDYPF)
MGM
Caesars (CZR)
Wynn (WYNN)

The event also had an impact on various sports betting businesses’ stock valuations, with some of their shares improving in 2023 as the market as a whole rallied.

However, a few of the shares are still recouping some of their big losses.

Stock progress

Over the past year and the previous, DraftKings experienced declines of 30% and 75%, respectively.

Barstool Sports is still owned by Caesars and Penn Entertainment (PENN), despite a 40% value decline from the prior year.

Rush Street Interactive, the parent firm of BetRivers, had a decline of more than 65% over that time.

Each business invested significantly in pricey advertising initiatives.

While Jamie Foxx has been in MGM advertising, Kevin Hart has been seen endorsing DraftKings.

Caesars has received endorsements from JB Smoove and the Manning family in television commercials.

Sportsbooks have also started to spend money on promotional initiatives like “free bets.”

Two birds and one stone

Providers of sports betting now have to use strategies that achieve two objectives at once:

Gain new customers
Restore investors’ confidence

But MGM presently has the upper hand over its competitors.

Only one physical sportsbook is staffed at its BetMGM location for the NFL game. BetMGM is a 50/50 joint venture between the major Las Vegas casino and UK gambling provider Entain.

The Phoenix Stadium relocated there in 2022, taking over the area next to State Farm Stadium, the previous home of the Chiefs and Eagles.

There is no denying that gamblers have placed wagers using mobile devices.

The CEO of BetMGM, Adam Greenblatt, emphasized that activity at the sportsbook should move quickly both before and during the game.

“We have prepared for this Super Bowl like never before, said Greenblatt.

“We are staffing up for a lot of demand.”

Marketing opportunity

In the 17,000 square foot sportsbook next to the stadium, according to Greenblatt, there are 38 HD TVs and a sizable display wall where bettors can watch the game.

To encourage fans to wager on the game, there are 25 betting incentives.

According to Adam Greenblatt, having a real presence at the Super Bowl presents a significant marketing opportunity in a market where websites like DraftKings, FanDuel, and other bookmakers compete.

He wants people to download the BetMGM app, create an account, and place bets at the sportsbook on Sunday.

By reminding participants that MGM is a respected casino brand rather than a start-up like DraftKings, FanDuel, or Barsteel, Greenblatt emphasized the significance of marketing.

“We’re fun and sophisticated. Ocean’s Eleven. That was an MGM experience,” he said, reminding people it was the MGM Grand in the 2001 film.

“We want to be both aspirational but also accessible.”

Sports betting companies vs. casino companies

Even if there is competition, people who are new to the sector are not excessively concerned about casino operators.

Amy Howe, CEO of FanDuel, asserts that with sports betting being permitted in Ohio, Maryland, and Kansas in 2022, there will be lots of room for expansion.

“This should be the single biggest day in FanDuel’s history,” Howe said.

She said that for Super Bowl LVII, FanDuel expected 17 million bets, or more than twice as much as those made on the Super Bowl in 2022.

Howe claims that FanDuel expects the betting to attract over 500,000 new clients who will gamble on the game, particularly as more women do so.

Jason Robins, the CEO of DraftKings, thinks that bookmakers have realized they cannot continue to invest in expensive promos.

“If anything, the competition now is less intense than last year,” said Robins.

“Last year was the peak. It was somewhat irrational.”

Businesses like DraftKings used to face sanctions from Wall Street for striving to increase their market share at any costs.

“Investor tolerance for the types of undisciplined spending during the NFL season last year has waned,” said Robins. “Investors want to see a path to profitability.”

“That’s different from 2021 when customer growth was being rewarded.”

More Super Bowl LVII advertising is still anticipated from FanDuel and DraftKings.

NFL player Rob Gronkowski’s field goal for the FanDuel ad was touted the “kick of destiny,” while Kevin Hart is the subject of another DraftKings commercial.

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Super Bowl sees two Black QB make history

Jason Robinson on September 5, 2023

Super Bowl – Sports finals each have an unique background since they include more than just a contest between two teams.

Despite the ups and downs the NFL has experienced this season, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs game is sure to be thrilling.

Two Black quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, will face off for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LVII.

Buildup

For a game of this level, the majority of players concentrate on tactics, game strategy, and training.

However, Mahomes and Hurts are conscious of how serious the situation is because they want to spark a dramatic change in the next generation of NFL players.

“It’s special,” said Patrick Mahomes, who makes his third Super Bowl appearance in Arizona this Sunday.

“There’s so many great ones that haven’t been recognized because of the stereotype of the Black quarterback not being able to have sustained success.”

“I’m glad that I’m able to be on this world stage with another quarterback in Jalen that’s able to play at a high level and prove that we’ve been able to do this the whole time.”

The 24-year-old Jalen Hurts will play in his first Super Bowl.

“It’s a historic moment,” said Hurts.

“To be on this platform and to give so many others so much inspiration moving forward, telling them that they can do it too. It’s a proud moment.”

NFL history made

Doug Williams entered the game in 1988 and went on to become the first Black quarterback to play in and win the Super Bowl.

Six further Black quarterbacks have entered the game since that time.

Only Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes have won the Lombardi Trophy, however.

With Mahomes on the other side of the field, Jalen Hurts will become the seventh Black quarterback to compete on such a prestigious platform.

The competition serves as an inspiration for younger generations.

“I’ve learned more and more about the history of the Black quarterback since I’ve been in this league and the guys that came before me and Jalen set the stage for this,” said Majomes.

“I’m glad that we can set the stage for kids that are coming up now.”

“If we can continue to show that we can consistently be great, I think it’ll just continue to open doors for other kids growing up to follow their dreams and to be a quarterback of an NFL team.”

The quarterback myth

The lack of diversity among owners and head coaches is one of the reasons why Black quarterbacks struggle in the NFL.

A lack of trust has led to the idea that a Black quarterback could struggle in the position because of a lack of leadership skills.

Doug Williams spoke about it in an interview with National Public Radio, saying:

“You know, as a Black quarterback, it was never about my ability to play the position. That wasn’t the question.”

“The question has always been leadership. Could you lead the team?”

It would appear that discrimination has been eradicated since four of the top five highest-paying contracts in football were awarded to black quarterbacks.

Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are two examples.

Mahomes never had any doubts about his ability to lead the club to a run of victories.

He played through an ankle injury and assisted the Chiefs in winning their third Super Bowl in four years.

Contrarily, Hurt won his contract by physical dominance and persuaded skeptics with his accurate throwing and 22 passing touchdowns.

The prototypes

Mahomes and Hurts are not only making history, but they are also redefining what an NFL quarterback ought to be.

They both have high sports IQs, strong sprinting and throwing abilities, and will succeed because of these attributes.

“These guys are the new prototypical quarterback in the NFL,” said Robert Griffin III, summing up the two Super Bowl quarterbacks.

“A triple threat. As they beat you with their arms, they beat you with their legs and they beat you with their minds.”

“And the fact that they’re the first two Black quarterbacks to be going up against each other in the Super Bowl makes this even more sweeter for all the generations that are coming up after them.”

Play styles

Despite the fact that Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are both outstanding football players, their playing styles are different.

Jalen Hurts is well known for his dexterity, drive to score touchdowns, and ability to deliver precise passes.

Hurts has distinguished himself for his great work ethic and exhibited remarkable growth in his early seasons.

Many believe Patrick Mahomes to be the NFL’s most exciting quarterback right now.

He is considered a magician and has a wide variety of throws.

By making it to the AFC Championship game in his first season as the starting quarterback, Mahomes has also shown that he can win.

At the age of 27, he has already taken part in three Super Bowls, displaying his NFL talent and opening doors for future Black quarterbacks.

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Rihanna returns to appease fans with a song for Wakanda Forever

Leah Cooper on October 27, 2022

Rihanna is making her return to music with a new song for the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.

Lift Me Up

The artist recently teased his new single with a short video clip on Twitter.

Fans speculate that the song “Lift Me Up” is a musical tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.

Boseman played the original Black Panther in several MCU movies, including Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, and two Avenger films.

Rihanna co-wrote its tune with fellow artist Tems, Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson, and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.

“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song,” Tems revealed.

“I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life.”

“I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them.”

“Rihanna has been an inspiration to me, so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.”

The release date

On Tuesday, Marvel Studios confirmed that Rihanna is one of the artists who will contribute to the soundtrack for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

“Lift Me Up” is Rihanna’s first single in over six years.

Additionally, “Lift Me Up” will be streamed on Friday, 28th October.

Marvel Studio shared the news on Twitter with a clip of a glittering Wakanda Forever logo before it morphs into Rihanna’s signature ‘R’ logo.

Rihanna fans last saw the logo in any context years ago.

Rihanna

The singer’s fans quickly made the teaser trend on Twitter, with thousands of people sharing their excitement for her return.

The return of the artist/entrepreneur to music was imminent after confirming last month that she would perform in Super Bowl 2023 in Phoenix.

Rihanna’s last full-length release was the 2016 album “Anti.”

Since then, she has focused on her career as an entrepreneur by launching two brands: cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty and the Savage x Fenty lingerie line.

The artist has also vaguely hinted at two different albums for years.

She was often photographed as she walked in and out of recording studios.

Fans will see Rihanna again when she appears in the fourth installment of her Savage x Fenty show on Amazon Prime Video.

References:

Rihanna to debut new music on ‘Wakanda Forever’ soundtrack

Rihanna returns to music with ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ original song