Rush Street Interactive inks podcast and brand ambassador deal with Mike Francesa
New York-based former WFAN drivetime host to front twice-weekly podcast for BetRivers sportsbook
Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has recruited New York-based radio personality Mike Francesa as its latest brand ambassador, inking a brand and content deal with the self-styled ‘King of New York’.
As part of the deal, Francesa will provide exclusive network and social media content for the BetRivers Sportsbook and the PlaySugarHouse online casino brand.
He will host a twice-weekly, hour-long podcast series, as well as hosting a series of digital videos that will appear on BetRivers’ and PlaySugarHouse’s various platforms.
Francesa will appear at select sporting events throughout the year, where he will create special “on the scene” videos for sports betting fans.
Francesa began his career with CBS Sports before joining WFAN, where he rose to fame alongside Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo as part of the Mike and the Mad Dog sports radio program, which ran for 19 years.
He would later go solo with the Mike’s On radio program for WFAN, before leaving the radio station in 2017 but would later return on a reduced basis before finally finishing in July 2020.
Francesa is the only sportscaster to ever win the coveted Marconi Award as ‘Major Market Personality of the Year’ more than once, as well as a successful network television career spanning over a decade at CBS Sports as a studio analyst.
Rush Street’s newest brand ambassador joins the likes of Bobby Valentine, Brittney Payton, three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth, former world number four tennis great James Blake and Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah, who signed for RSI earlier this month.
“I’m eager to begin a partnership with RSI,” said Francesa.
“Joining the BetRivers team will allow me to share my passion for sports in a variety of new ways while at the same time providing valuable sports betting advice to fans in New York and in BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse markets throughout the country,” he added.
RSI joins a burgeoning number of sportsbook operators partnering with radio personalities to produce podcasts, with the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM partnering with Dan Le Batard, PatMcAfee and US comedian Bill Burr respectively.
RSI CEO Richard Schwartz lauded the appointment of Francesa, emphasising that he was “thrilled” to have recruited the New York-based radio host.
“He is an icon in sports radio. We know our players will love his passionate personality and knowledge of sports which will make their betting experience on our platforms that much greater,” Schwartz added.