Celebrities Appear Everywhere in Gambling Ads but Most Americans Feel Little

t feels hard to escape celebrity gambling ads. Sports broadcasts, social feeds, even podcast breaks carry familiar faces. LeBron James, Kevin Hart, who both featured in a DraftKings ad,  and Druski (PrizePicks) appear often, selling sportsbooks and fantasy platforms with polished confidence. Yet fresh data suggests most Americans barely react.

A YouGov study published January 13 looked closely at how adults age 21 and older respond to celebrity endorsements tied to gambling brands. The findings point toward indifference, mixed with a growing discomfort around authenticity.

Good to Know

• Seven in ten Americans say celebrities do not change how they view gambling brands
• Many gamblers say celebrity ads reduce authenticity rather than build trust
• Visibility improves, but confidence often stays the same

YouGov focused on a familiar marketing habit. Gambling brands rely on celebrities to cut through crowded advertising space. The idea feels simple. Fame creates attention. Attention creates trust. The data challenges that logic.

Across the full survey, seventy percent of Americans said seeing a celebrity in a gambling ad did not improve or damage how they feel about a brand. Only twelve percent said celebrities improved their perception. Another twelve percent said celebrities made them feel worse.

Among people who identify as gamblers, reactions stayed muted. Forty-two percent said celebrity ads either improved their view or made no difference. Ten percent said celebrity appearances pushed them toward a more negative feeling.

Celebrity marketing rarely causes backlash. At the same time, it rarely convinces new audiences.

Non gamblers showed even less movement. Only twelve percent said celebrity gambling ads made brands feel more appealing. Most remained unmoved. Many gamblers already hold accounts on major platforms, which helps explain why ads tend to reach people already inside the system.

YouGov also tested whether celebrities make gambling brands seem more responsible. Only thirteen percent of Americans said yes. Nearly half said no. Another thirty-one percent felt neutral, while nine percent said they did not know.

Authenticity raised stronger reactions. Thirty-eight percent of Americans agreed that celebrity gambling ads make brands feel less authentic. Only eighteen percent disagreed. Among gamblers, that concern ran deeper. Forty-six percent agreed authenticity suffers when celebrities take center stage. Just twenty-three percent disagreed.

Visibility told a slightly different story. Twenty-two percent of Americans said celebrity ads help brands get noticed. Forty percent said they would not notice more. Gamblers responded differently. Forty-three percent said celebrity appearances increase notice, while twenty-four percent said no.

The picture feels clear. Celebrity ads help brands get seen, especially by active gamblers. Trust, however, does not follow as easily.

YouGov summed up the tension directly:

“Celebrity endorsements may help gambling brands stand out, especially with active gamblers, but they may not guarantee a shift in brand perception or behavior. Brands should focus on aligning with the right kind of celebrity – preferably those with a direct link to sports or gambling – to keep messaging credible and effective.”

That idea showed up again when respondents weighed in on who fits gambling ads best. Gamblers pointed first to athletes and professional gamblers, both at forty-one percent. Actors followed at thirty-eight percent. Musicians and comedians came next at thirty-four percent.

The general public agreed on ranking but not enthusiasm. Only eighteen percent said professional athletes felt appropriate at all.

The data leaves gambling brands facing an awkward balance. Fame still draws eyes. Yet polished celebrity messaging often weakens authenticity. Many viewers seem to prefer experience, clarity, and real connection over star power.

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