Mike Francesa is back.
Granted, he never actually left in the first place.
The longtime retired/unretired New York radio host has reemerged following his latest short-lived slumber — this time with BetRivers Sportsbook.
Mike Francesa joins BetRivers as brand ambassador
According to a press release, Francesa will do a twice-weekly podcast and provide digital video content for BetRivers and its sister brand PlaySugarHouse.
He will also apparently appear at select sporting events where he will create special “on the scene” videos for sports betting fans that will appear on the BetRivers New York sportsbook platform.
Francesa said in a statement that he plans to provide “valuable sports betting advice to fans in New York.”
A member of the Radio Hall of Fame, Francesa co-hosted the ever-popular Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN. He has spent over 30 years serving the New York sports audience, helping Francesa become the only sportscaster to win the Marconi Award as “Major Market Personality of the Year” multiple times.
“We are thrilled to have Mike Francesa, the radio ‘King of New York’, join our BetRivers family of Brand Ambassadors,” Richard Schwartz, CEO of BetRivers’ parent company Rush Street Interactive, said in a press release. “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.”
Personalities continue to pile up for NY sports betting
The expansion of sports betting-focused media in New York and New Jersey continues at a fever pitch.
Odds, ads and partnerships between sportsbooks and teams have been dominating televised games since the Jan. 8 launch of online sports betting in New York.
For example, MSG+ has had multiple betting-focused alternate broadcasts of Knicks’ games. PointsBet has stated its intentions to have betting-focused broadcasts for Mets’ games on SNY. The Yankees would like to do the same via the YES Network.
WFAN host Craig Carton, who served slightly more than a year in prison due to a multi-million fraud scheme used to pay off his gambling debts, partnered with FanDuel last year to become the company’s first national responsible gaming ambassador.
Henrik Lundqvist, the Ranger great who has since become an analyst with MSG, is a brand ambassador for Caesars.
