NBA Superstar Wemby Against Promoting Sports Betting
Written by Tariq on October 2, 2026
Despite the popularity, and despite the potential revenue Victor Wembanyama could net, he’s not interested in those endorsements. According to the American Gaming Association, sports betting revenue surged to a record $16.96 billion in 2025, a staggering 22.8% year-over-year increase. That figure was bolstered by a 22% annual growth of the online sports betting market.
“Absolutely not,” Wembanyama told reporters Thursday, Oct. 1 when asked if he would ever become a brand ambassador for a sports gambling company. “I would never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it, in my opinion. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
As the landscape for sports betting and prediction markets has exploded in recent years, several players have profited by signing deals to endorse these companies.Recently, LeBron James’ previous deal with DraftKings expired, so he partnered with Polymarket. In February 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo took a passive equity stake in Kalshi that is less than 1%, and he’s doing promotional work for the prediction market. Boardroom, a sports and entertainment media network co-founded by Kevin Durant, has partnered with FanDuel, with Durant frequently appearing in ads and even floating proposed parlay bets that fans and users can tail.
Source: USA Today
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