Michigan's Jalen Rose Named BetMGM Celebrity Brand Ambassador

Jamie Foxx has been a prevalent figure on televisions in Michigan, promoting BetMGM and its gaming offerings. The company announced this week its next celebrity brand ambassador and it’s another familiar figure to Michiganders.

Michigan basketball legend and Fab Five member Jalen Rose is the next ambassador for the gaming company on Monday. Rose will be featured in BetMGM’s future marketing campaigns and take part in numerous BetMGM fan events.

"The excitement around sports and the growth of sports betting, and BetMGM in particular, this year has been special to witness," Rose said in a news release on Monday. "I'm beyond excited to go from a spectator to a player joining the BetMGM team, continuing to defy industry expectations."

Rose was a member of the Fab Five, which went on to become the first team in NCAA history to compete for the national title with all-freshman starters. Rose then went on to complete a 13-year career in the NBA before transitioning to an analyst and columnist.

In addition to being featured in marketing campaigns, Rose will engage with BetMGM customers and MGM Resorts’ M Life Rewards loyalty members, both virtually and in-person. He will also make guest appearances on radio and television programs nationwide while representing BetMGM.

"Jalen Rose is an All-Star addition to the BetMGM team,” Matt Prevost, chief revenue officer for BetMGM, said in the release. “The impact he has had on the game of basketball is surpassed only by the exceptional analysis he provides fans daily. We anticipate a great relationship and look forward to the initiatives we'll pursue together."

BetMGM One Top Operators in Michigan

BetMGM was one of the first to go live with mobile sports betting and online casino gaming when Michigan officially launched both platforms on Jan. 22. Since then, BetMGM has emerged as one of the top operators in the state.

BetMGM had the highest February revenue in online casino gaming revenue with $26.9 million, beating out FanDuel ($14.5 million). It was the second consecutive month BetMGM recorded the highest revenue in the online casino market after recording a high of $11.1 million for the 10-day span online gaming was active in January.

On the sports betting side, BetMGM had the second-highest handle at $75.7 million, trailing only FanDuel at $87.2 million.