While this has not been officially announced, Phil Hellmuth, the Poker Brat, is set to become the main ambassador of BetRivers Poker.
Based on recent tweets and videos shared by Hellmuth on X, he was seen participating in an extensive five-hour photoshoot in San Francisco, California, donning BetRivers branded apparel. The videos clearly suggest that Hellmuth is set to be the face of BetRivers Poker, which made its debut in late October in Pennsylvania.
Hellmuth is one of the most recognizable names in poker, with an unparalleled record of 17 WSOP bracelets. His potential involvement with BetRivers Poker, alongside Phil Galfond, could provide a significant boost to the platform’s visibility, having launched just a few weeks back.
Hellmuth’s Strong Ties with Rush Street
This partnership, while unconfirmed, is not entirely surprising. Hellmuth has a long-standing friendship with Greg Carlin, the founder and former CEO of Rush Street Gaming, and was an early investor in Rush Street Interactive (RSI), BetRivers’ parent company. He reportedly invested around $300,000 in 2020, but this summer, he sold his entire stake for approximately $1.65 million—a move that coincided with RSI’s controversial decision to end its affiliate program in several states earlier this year.
Despite divesting his stake, Hellmuth’s continued association with RSI suggests a strong mutual interest in promoting the BetRivers brand.
Interestingly, Hellmuth’s recent photoshoot was not limited to poker-related imagery. The shoot featured him engaging with various sports props, including basketballs, footballs, baseball bats, and hockey sticks. In one of the clips, Hellmuth commented, “I like all these sports and bet on all these sports,” hinting at a broader ambassadorial role encompassing BetRivers’ entire brand, including its sports betting vertical.
The branding on Hellmuth’s apparel during the shoot prominently featured “BetRivers,” not “BetRivers Poker,” further supporting the idea that he could become the face of the entire BetRivers brand. This aligns with his growing involvement in sports betting, including his role as a co-host on a recently launched sports betting podcast called “WeWin Sports Podcast.”
BetRivers Poker Gears Up
The timing of this partnership coincides with BetRivers Poker ramping up its efforts following a quiet launch. The operator has introduced two new promotions—SNG Saturdays and MTT Early Bird—rolled out the much-requested “View Stack in Big Blinds” feature, and hired a dedicated social media and content manager to enhance its presence.
As noted by our sister site, Poker Industry PRO, these moves signal BetRivers’ commitment to establishing its presence, and Hellmuth’s likely announcement as its main ambassador further reinforces this intent.
This wouldn’t be Hellmuth’s first foray into brand representation. Over the years, he has lent his name to several ventures, including the infamous Ultimate Bet poker site. Hellmuth is also a client of Poker Royalty, an agency that represents many high-profile poker players. He also represented YouStake, a staking platform now owned by StakeKings as well as Decent.bet.
In addition to his brand partnerships, Hellmuth has appeared on a variety of live poker shows, such as Poker Night in America (owned by RSI), PokerStars’ The Big Game on Tour, ARIA, Poker After Dark, High Stakes Duel, and numerous other poker-related broadcasts.
Should his ambassadorship be confirmed, it could be a game-changer for BetRivers Poker. Despite his controversial reputation, Hellmuth has the ability to draw new players not only to the poker platform but also to BetRivers’ broader offerings, including casino and sports betting products.
BetRivers Poker is currently only available to Pennsylvania online poker players, but it is expected to expand to other states, including Delaware, New Jersey, and Michigan — all members of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which would allow the operator to form a shared liquidity network.
Although Pennsylvania has not yet joined MSIGA, it has begun the process, potentially setting the stage for a four-state network for BetRivers Poker that could compete with established operators like PokerStars US, WSOP Online, and BetMGM Poker US.
