- BetRivers has announced the addition of James Blake as a brand ambassador and tennis analyst.
- Blake won ten singles and seven doubles titles during a 14 year professional career and reached a high of number 4 in the world.
- BetRivers is owned by Chicago based Rush Street Interactive.
Over the past decade tennis has become an extremely popular betting sport in ‘wise guy’ circles and it’s now breaking through to the mainstream. US facing sportsbooks are starting to strengthen their tennis offerings and BetRivers is no exception. Today, they announced the signing of former tennis pro James Blake. Blake will serve as a brand ambassador along with providing tennis analysis to BetRivers players through the website and social media.
Here’s the ‘official announcement’ from the BetRivers press release along with a biographical background of Blake:
Today, Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (NYSE: RSI) (“RSI”), a Chicago based gaming and betting company, is proud to announce the signing of James Blake, whose career-high singles ranking was World No. 4, to an exclusive brand and content deal with BetRivers.com.
Blake, a native of New York and later Fairfield, Connecticut, was known for his speed and powerful, flat forehand, won ten singles and seven doubles titles during his illustrious 14-year professional career (1999-2013). After defeating then no. 1-ranked Roger Federer, he placed fourth at the 2008 Olympics. Blake was part of the 2007 victorious U.S. Davis Cup team and also played in the quarterfinals of the New York open in both 2005 and 2006.
Richard Schwartz, CEO BetRivers’ parent Rush Street Interactive spoke effusively about Blake:
“RSI is proud to partner with a tennis great, a New York Times best selling author, and the 2008 recipient of the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award. When we add someone of the caliber of James Blake, a respected and authentic voice in the sport of tennis, to our roster of professional sports ambassadors, it shows our commitment to offer bettors the best in sports betting insights and analysis.”
Blake’s role is broader than the typical brand ambassador as he’ll also be providing expert tennis analysis to BetRivers’ clients. Here’s the press release description of his work responsibilities:
He now joins the winning team of RSI, one of the fastest-growing publicly traded online casino and sports betting gaming companies in the United States, as part of the BetRivers.com “Bet with a Winner” campaign. As an RSI brand ambassador and exclusive sports betting endorser, Blake will be engaged in great upcoming promotions and events on BetRivers platforms.
Starting with the U.S. Open, which commences today, Blake will provide his experienced perspective with BetRivers users on @BetRivers social media, additional digital and traditional media platforms.
Blake is looking forward to joining the BetRivers’ team and providing his insights to their client base:
“This year’s U.S. Open will be especially exciting as I can’t wait to offer my analysis to BetRivers bettors. RSI expressed to me how important it is for them to develop honest and transparent relationships with their players and I look forward to sharing my experience to assist tennis fans in making intelligent and informed betting decisions.”
Since his retirement from competitive play, Blake has found a new audience as a respected commentator on tennis. Blake is also currently a contributing analyst for the Tennis Channel and Tennis on ESPN and has done commentary for CNN and NBC. His memoir, Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life, was a New York Times Best Seller.
Rush Street Interactive operates retail and/or mobile betting under the BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse brands in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Colorado, Iowa and West Virginia. They are also headed to Arizona to offer mobile sports betting in a partnership with the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. BetRivers will also enter into a sponsorship and branding agreement with the Rattlers.
