DraftKings ad starring Kevin Hart and LeBron James highlighted for its effectiveness

December 12, 2024
By

The ad was ranked most effective among online sports betting ads for 2024 in EDO's year in review.

Key points: 

- Three DraftKings ads feature in top five of online sports betting commercials

- FanDuel also features with two ads 

EDO, a TV outcomes company, which measures predictive behaviors driven by convergent TV advertising, has released its 2024 year in review. 

This review of the year looks into the most effective ads across 17 different industries, such as alcohol, insurance, travel, etc, based on the likelihood for those ads to generate consumer engagement, and ranking the top five. 

Related to gambling, one of the industries analyzed by EDO was online sports betting. 

Making up the top five for the sector were only two companies, namely DraftKings and FanDuel, with the former taking up both positions at the top. 

Leading the way for online sports betting ads was DraftKings’ NFL offer of bet $5, get $200, which featured comedian and actor Kevin Hart and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, with the pair talking about an NFL offer James has received and includes Hart making fun of the basketball player’s age. 

Good to know: LeBron James became a talent ambassador around football in January of this year 

EDO ranks the effectiveness of ads based on a percentage of much more effective a campaign is at driving consumer engagement compared to that particular industry’s average ad performance. 

In this regard, DraftKings’ effort with Hart and James was said to be 267% more effective than the sports betting average, while its Diaper Loser – Fantasy Games ad was the next highest at 249% more effective. 

FanDuel made up the next two spots with its ad featuring Dolph Lundgren at 222% and its MLB – Take Me Out ad at 207%, while the fifth position was taken by DraftKings and Hart again with The Kevin Hart of Sportsbooks at 194%. 

EDO SVP, Head of Client Solutions Laura Grover said: “This year, top-performing brands increasingly harnessed the star power of celebrities, athletes, and influencers to spark consumer interest.” 

In similar 2024 insights, sports betting bet-tracking app Pikkit has released trends and general insights into sports betting on its platform across the past year. 

State-by-State

Company Spotlight

Bragg Gaming

Bragg Gaming Group is a global content-driven iGaming technology provider, serving online and land-based gaming operators with its proprietary and exclusive content and cutting-edge technology.
Virtual Showroom

Supplier

Industry Awards

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier

Land-Based

GA Newsletter

Exclusive news, analysis, insights, and interviews delivered straight to your inbox

Rickard Vikström: How 2025 is shaping up for US iGaming

Internet Vikings CEO & Founder Rickard Vikström joins Gaming America to discuss the US online landscape in 2025.

CEO Special: Ray Pineault, Mohegan President & CEO

In the last 30 years, Tribal gaming has gone from fighting for a place at the table to having a permanent seat. Having been with Mohegan for 24 years, in this CEO Special edition of the Huddle we spoke to Mohegan President and CEO Ray Pineault, where we discussed: The importance of teamwork His early law career and coming to Mohegan Balancing work life and family life The development of Tribal gaming during his 24 years with Mohegan Mohegan's bid for New York What Mohegan means to him.

46-netrefer
NetRefer G2E Preview: Believing in US potential
David Buhagiar, NetRefer's Senior Manager of Marketing & Acquisitions, speaks to Gaming America about the company's first US client and its hopes for G2E.
44-Derik.Mooberry
Zitro G2E Preview: Aiming to be the leader
Gaming America speaks to Zitro USA CEO Derik Mooberry about the company's growing presence in global markets.
42-Gary.Ellis
Marker Trax and Koin G2E Preview: Finding solutions in payments
Marker Trax and Koin CEO Gary Ellis speaks on turning knowledge into action, with new offerings set to be displayed from the company at G2E 2024.
40-Kevin.Kilminster
Playtech G2E Preview: And it's live!
Kevin Kilminster, Chief Product Innovation Officer at Playtech Live, speaks to Gaming America about live casino and its rise in US prominence.

Another year approaches its end, as 2024 slowly becomes our past, 2025 the present and a wave of opportunity defines gaming's future. There is an air of change as the regulated gaming world looks to welcome a new entra...

8-10-From-the-top
From the top: Reflecting on the past and looking to the future of land-based casinos
Gaming America reviews the closures of the Mirage Hotel and Casino, as well as the Tropicana, but also keeps an eye on the future with Durango Casino and Resort GM David Horn.
36-41-Oliver-Lovat
Cover Feature: Exploring what might be next for land-based casinos
Nothing is new. Everything is new. Oliver Lovat, regular Gaming America columnist and resident Las Vegas expert, discusses what the next generation of casinos need to succeed, while also reflecting on Vegas' generational shift away from the Tropicana and Mirage.
42-43-Lefosse---Brazilian-Sports-Betting
Steadying the ship in LatAm's largest market
After regulatory limbo, sports betting in Brazil is moving towards legal certainty – by Eduardo Carvalhaes, partner in Public Law and Regulation at Lefosse, and Karen Coutinho, counsel in Public Law and Regulation at Lefosse.
44-45-Lazarus-Legal
Brazilian opportunity: The future of LatAm
Edwin Monzon, Managing Partner of Lazarus Legal, speaks to Gaming America about Brazil's upcoming iGaming and online sports betting regulation, assessing both the prospects and challenges involved.