The “Poker Brat”, 17-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, has officially been unveiled as the new ambassador for BetRivers.
The announcement comes as no surprise, as Hellmuth had recently shared photos and videos from a California studio shoot, where he was seen sporting BetRivers-branded apparel. Furthermore, he was also spotted at the WSOP Paradise festival in the Bahamas donning a BetRivers logo cap.
Now, the partnership has been officially confirmed.
According to the press release, Hellmuth will join BetRivers as a brand and content partner, bringing his expertise and presence to support a variety of player experiences across RSI’s Casino, Sportsbook, and Poker offerings. His involvement will also extend to RSI’s media productions, including the BetRivers Network and the Poker Night in America show.
“Phil Hellmuth is a living legend whose influence extends far beyond the poker table to all gamblers, and we are excited to welcome him to the BetRivers family,” said Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive (RSI).
Hellmuth joins an illustrious roster of BetRivers ambassadors, which includes celebrated sports personalities like NFL legend Jerome Bettis, tennis star James Blake, and NBA icon Joakim Noah. The brand is also represented by notable media figures, including former sports anchor Dan O’Toole, sports reporters Natasha Staniszewski and Julie Stewart-Binks, and New York broadcasting legend Mike Francesa.
“Phil’s unmatched passion, dynamic personality, and flair for entertainment make him the perfect ambassador as we continue to expand our offerings and elevate player experiences across our platforms. His expanded role in the BetRivers Network, including increased appearances on Poker Night in America, and his contributions to promoting our new online poker platform, will bring unparalleled excitement to our players. Additionally, his involvement with our best-in-class mobile casino and sportsbook promotional games will create unforgettable moments for players and fans alike, Schwartz further added.”
“Partnering with Rush Street Interactive and BetRivers is an exciting new chapter for me,” said Hellmuth in the press release. “Ever since meeting the Rush Street Interactive executive team in 2012, I have been a fan. I have been impressed with RSI’s moxie, will, and determination to build a beautiful product—an online gaming experience that people love to use and play on. Today, I am proud to announce that we will elevate our collaboration to share my experience and love of poker, gambling, and entertainment with BetRivers players and fans, both online and in person. First up, I will attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans with BetRivers VIP players!”
History of Phil Hellmuth and Rush Street Interactive
Hellmuth’s tie-up with BetRivers and its parent company Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has been known for years. His long-standing friendship with Greg Carlin, founder and former CEO of Rush Street Gaming, and his role as an early investor in RSI highlight this deep association.
In 2020, Hellmuth reportedly invested $300,000 in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group Inc., which merged with RSI later that year, enabling the gaming company to go public. However, this past summer, he sold his entire stake of 165,000 shares at $10 each, earning $1.65 million. This divestment coincided with RSI’s controversial decision to terminate its affiliate program in several states.
Despite selling his RSI stock, Hellmuth has maintained ties with the company and now serves as the face of the BetRivers brand. This announcement follows nearly two months after BetRivers launched its online poker platform in Pennsylvania—a move Hellmuth hinted at years ago, noting RSI’s ambitions to enter the US online poker space.
RSI’s journey into online poker began with its acquisition of Phil Galfond’s Run It Once Poker in 2022 through a $5.8 million cash-and-stock deal. After two years of development, the poker platform finally launched in Pennsylvania, with plans to expand into additional states, including a shared liquidity network spanning Delaware, New Jersey, and Michigan.
This isn’t Hellmuth’s first venture into brand representation. Over the years, he has been associated with several notable poker brands and rooms, including the infamous Ultimate Bet poker site. A client of Poker Royalty, an agency representing high-profile poker players, Hellmuth has also partnered with platforms like YouStake, now owned by StakeKings, as well as represented Decent.bet.
Beyond brand endorsements, Hellmuth has made regular appearances on popular poker shows, including Poker Night in America (owned by RSI), PokerStars’ The Big Game on Tour, ARIA High Stakes, Poker After Dark, High Stakes Duel, and many other poker-related broadcasts.
BetRivers Poker has stepped up its promotional efforts with the launch of two new offerings: SNG Saturdays, which rewards players with free entries to SNG Select tournaments, and MTT Early Bird, providing a 10% refund on total tournament buy-ins each week. SNG Saturdays runs until January 11, 2025, while MTT Early Bird is available through January 5.
