Cricket and the betting industry share a close relationship.

Over the years, several top betting companies have invested heavily in various cricket leagues across the globe. They have also offered lucrative endorsement deals to popular cricketers in order to promote their betting platforms among sports gambling enthusiasts.

Here’s a list of some famous cricketers who have endorsed betting brands:

Brett Lee and Sportsbet.io

Online-based gambling company Sportsbet.io roped in Australia cricket legend Brett Lee as their brand ambassador in 2020. 

As per his role as Sportsbet.io brand ambassador, the former Aussie fast bowler leads a series of dedicated cricket promotions, giving users a chance to ‘Bet with Brett’. The promotions also include special cricket quizzes, the Brett Lee “Awesome Foursome” and a dedicated casino cashback. Furthermore, Lee also provides in-depth analysis from the world of cricket.

Having made his international debut against India in a Test match in 1999, Lee took 310 wickets in 76 Tests and claimed 380 scalps in 221 ODIs. He also bagged 28 wickets in 25 T20Is.

Brendon McCullum and Mostbet

One of India’s leading betting sites Mostbet signed former New Zealand cricket team captain Brendon McCullum as their brand ambassador. 

Established in 2009, Mostbet allows gamblers from across the globe to bet on various sporting events, including cricket. It also provides betting on online casinos that feature over 1300 slot games.

In his career which spanned between 2004 and 2016, McCullum amassed 6453 runs in 101 Tests and 6083 runs in 260 ODIs. He also registered 2140 runs in 71 T20Is.

Dwayne Bravo and 1xBet

Cyprus-based online gambling firm 1xBet and West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo entered into a strategic partnership by making him its first ambassador in India.

Under the agreement, Bravo and the betting company will collaborate on a series of unique promotions and offers for their fans. Furthermore, the Caribbean all-rounder will appear in various advertising campaigns for 1xBet.

Bravo is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in world cricket, scoring more than 6000 runs and picking over 300 international wickets for the West Indies cricket team. 

Virender Sehwag and ComeOn

India-based online betting platform ComeOn roped in former India opening batsman Virender Sehwag as their global brand ambassador. The online gaming platform covers worldwide cricket betting and provides betting tips and predictions. ComeOn is available as an Indian T20 League betting app and website. 

Between 1999 and 2013, Sehwag scored more than 17000 runs in international cricket and was a vital cog in the Indian cricket team set-up.

Shane Warne and DafaBet

Legendary Australia cricketer Shane Warne signed a five-year contract with Dafabet as the company’s sports representative and brand ambassador in 2019.

Warne’s role requires him to promote the company’s expertise in the cricket betting market and also offer in-depth analysis regarding anything related to the sport. 

Presently, Dafabet caters several betting markets and offers odds across various sports including cricket and football.

Considered one of the greatest leg-spinners of all time, Warne has bagged 1001 international wickets in 339 matches.

Kevin Pietersen and Betway

Leading online bookmaker Betway roped in former England captain Kevin Pietersen as their global cricket ambassador in 2019.

Under the agreement, Pietersen offers cricket insights on various events taking place across the world. 

The former middle-order batter pens his thoughts on all things cricket in the betting company’s online sports blog named Betway Insider. It features betting tips, predictions and exclusive columns.

Pietersen amassed 8181 runs in 104 Tests while also scoring 4440 runs in 136 ODIs. In the shortest format, the England batter aggregated 1176 runs in 37 T20Is.

Daren Sammy and FUN88

In July 2021, leading sports betting company FUN88 announced its partnership with two time T20 World Cup winning captain, Daren Sammy. As part of the association, Sammy was the face of FUN88’s branding and marketing campaign called #LagiShart.

Speaking about the partnership, Sammy explained why FUN88 was the brand he chose. “My relationship with the number 88, which has been my jersey number too, spans over two decades and with FUN88 I see a synergy to make it the go-to destination for sports enthusiasts in India,” Sammy said. 

“Having followed FUN88 for a while, I have seen how the platform has evolved over the years. It has celebrated sports and cricket and has brought fans together since its inception. I am excited about this association with the team at FUN88 and deeply thankful for being given the opportunity to be its ambassador and face,” the former T20 World Cup-winning captain added.

FUN88, which is an official partner of the Caribbean Premier League, was launched in India back in August 2020. In such a short time, the company has established a decent fanbase within the country by offering ‘one of the broadest portfolios of markets and odds across a variety of sports and leagues’.

Chris Gayle and 10CRIC

“Betting has its new boss,” stated 10CRIC upon announcing West Indies icon Chris Gayle as their brand ambassador for a tenure of two years in March 2021. With sports betting gathering steam, roping in Chris Gayle was a massive coup given his popularity in the Indian subcontinent and around the world.

Known as the Universal Boss, Gayle has entertained the Indian audience through his antics in the Indian T20 League and through his association, 10CRIC focused on creating intriguing content for sports fans and driving engagement through that.

Commenting on becoming the face of the brand, Gayle said, "I am very happy to be representing 10CRIC and looking forward to many exciting projects during our collaboration over the next 2 years, and hopefully beyond that. I am impressed with how much they care about the cricket fans and with the way they have built such an incredible product that provides so much fun and entertainment"

Brian Lara and W88

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara was roped in as the face of a leading betting company, W88 in May 2021. W88, who were the shirt sponsor of Premier League side Aston Villa during the 2019/20 football season, signed a multi-year partnership with Lara to grow their presence within the cricketing community.

“I am pleased to be working with W88, supporting them across their exciting growth plans in the world of cricket. W88 is an ambitious and respected brand within the gaming industry, and I am looking forward to helping build their market presence in the sport,” said Lara upon the announcement.

W88 are now the primary sponsor of the Crystal Palace team in the English Premier League and hold the legal license from PACGOR – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The company is known for its lucrative welcomes bonuses that can stretch up to INR 15,000 on Sportsbook and online casinos.

Dale Steyn and Parimatch

In May 2021, global sports betting brand Parimatch announced former South African pacer Dale Steyn as their first cricket ambassador. The main idea behind the 18-month deal was to increase the brand awareness among fans of the game in Africa and the United Kingdom.

“I am very excited to partner with a renowned global brand like Parimatch as global brand ambassador. Cricket is a sport where everyone has differing predictions and there’s no better way to enjoy the sport than with Parimatch,” said Steyn of his new partnership.

Parimatch has been an active player in the sporting world, also tying up its associations with the likes of MMA superstar Conor McGregor, legendary boxer Mike Tyson, UFC fighters Alexey Oleynik, Petr Yan, and the Shevchenko sisters. Partnering with Steyn is their first step in the world of cricket and it certainly won’t be the last.

Sunil Narine and FairPlay Club

In July 2021, Sunil Narine became another player from the West Indies to become the face of a leading sports betting company. The star bowling all-rounder came in partnership with one of India’s trusted betting exchange platforms, FairPlay Club. 

Narine became the face of FairPlay Club 2.0 which was launched with a brand new identity but with a similar motto of ‘reassurance of trust and security in the minds of potential and existing FairPlay club members’.

“Sunil Narine brings with him an air of reliance and reinforces the concept of fairness with his sportsman spirit and experience that he’s had in the gentleman’s game,” read an official statement from FairPlay Club.