There Were 9 Sportsbook Commercials In Monday’s Celtics Game Broadcast

During the period of US sports betting, viewers are exposed to numerous sportsbook advertisements while watching sports broadcasts. Massachusetts has also followed suit, as fans tuning into Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins games find themselves bombarded with sports betting commercials.

Therefore, I made the decision to immerse myself in the first-person experience by watching a Celtics game.

With the arrival of sports betting in Massachusetts, how will Celtics broadcasts be impacted by the inclusion of sportsbook advertisements? I had the opportunity to witness this firsthand while watching the Celtics vs. Rockets game on Monday, and here are my observations regarding the presence of sportsbook ads during the broadcast.

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Sportsbook ads in Celtics game vs. Rockets

Ads for Massachusetts sportsbooks were visible right from the start of the game.

They were actually present prior to the commencement of the game.

Before the start of the game, NBC Sports Boston displayed a visual representation on DraftKings Massachusetts of the pre-game betting odds. This visual included the spread, moneyline, and total for the upcoming game.

As soon as the game began, my attention was drawn to the various forms of sportsbook advertisements. These promotional messages were predominantly displayed in three different formats: through commercials, graphics, and signs strategically placed throughout the arena.

Commercials

During the broadcast, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, three Massachusetts sportsbooks, aired commercials.

The app releases by all three platforms in Massachusetts were accompanied by the promotion of their MA sports betting welcome bonuses. Additionally, celebrity appearances took center stage in the commercials of all three companies.

There were a total of four commercials from both DraftKings and FanDuel, whereas BetMGM had only one commercial. To be more precise, the commercials from FanDuel and DraftKings were aired once in each quarter, while BetMGM’s solitary ad was shown during halftime.

During every quarter’s initial commercial break, FanDuel Massachusetts showcased commercials. Notably, in the first and third quarters, the company broadcasted 30-second commercials highlighting numerous celebrities such as Kay Adams, Boomer Esiason, Charles Barkley, and former Patriots icon Rob Gronkowski.

The commercials aired during the second and fourth quarters on FanDuel did not feature any celebrities. Instead, they utilized text and a narrator to convey the message.

Similar to FanDuel, DraftKings also aired one commercial during each quarter; however, the FanDuel commercials consistently preceded the DraftKings commercials.

Kevin Hart, Tony Hawk, David Ortiz, Zdeno Chara, and Brian Scalabrine were among the celebrities featured in the four DraftKings ads. The ex-Boston athletes played a significant role in endorsing the sportsbook’s “Bet Local” slogan.

During halftime, a solitary ad by BetMGM aired in Massachusetts, starring the renowned Kevin Garnett from the Celtics. The ad primarily highlighted BetMGM’s enticing welcome bonus in Massachusetts, offering up to $1,000 in bonus bets.

Furthermore, it is important to mention that all three companies prominently displayed Responsible Gambling information on the screen during their advertisements. Notably, DraftKings went the extra mile by dedicating an entire commercial to promoting responsible gambling. During a commercial aired in the fourth quarter, Hawk cleverly drew a parallel between wearing a helmet while skateboarding and practicing safe bets.

Graphics

Throughout the duration of this particular broadcast, the only graphics displayed were from DraftKings, and they appeared multiple times.

At the start of the game, a prominent DraftKings graphic appeared at the bottom of the screen. It displayed a bet called “DraftKings 3 in first 3,” allowing users to predict whether there would be more or less than three successful 3-pointers within the initial three minutes of the game. However, only a single 3-pointer was made during this period, resulting in the graphic indicating that the “under” bet had been successful.

Afterward, the graphic transformed into a standard notification announcing the availability of the DraftKings app in MA. It urged users to instantly download the app onto their mobile devices.

Keeping sports bettors engaged in this manner is intriguing, but it can also cause disruption since the graphic occupied a significant portion of the screen during gameplay.

Towards the end of the game, DraftKings displayed refreshed game odds through additional graphics. These updates appeared during the final moments of the second and fourth quarters, but were not shown during the game in progress.

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Arena signage

Signage around the arena was another clear indication of sportsbook ads during this broadcast.

At the Toyota Center in Houston, the presence of the DraftKings logo was noticeable on the padding beneath the baskets. Moreover, small electronic ad boards were positioned higher up behind each basket, displaying the DraftKings logo frequently alongside other company logos.

The DraftKings logo was also prominently displayed multiple times on the center court table on the far side.

Overall experience

Sports betting ads are a permanent fixture in Massachusetts, as they were noticeably featured during Monday night’s Celtics broadcast and will persist in the future.

Based on my observations of this particular broadcast, I noticed that the commercials from each sportsbook primarily targeted new bettors who were interested in signing up. These advertisements emphasized the steps to initiate the sign-up process and explained the process of claiming welcome bonuses.

The graphics in the live stream were particularly advantageous for viewers who already had sportsbook accounts. These graphics predominantly showcased game-specific betting options and continuously updated odds.

Boston Celtics betting in Massachusetts

There are six Massachusetts sportsbooks where Celtics fans can place bets on NBA games: DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET, FanDuel, and Barstool Sportsbook. Each of these platforms provides a diverse range of betting options for every NBA game.

There are several upcoming app releases. Betr is scheduled to go live in April, followed by the launch of Bally Bet and Fanatics Sportsbook in May. Additionally, Betway is set to launch in January 2024.

Basketball enthusiasts in Massachusetts have the opportunity to engage in more than just Celtics betting. They can also place bets on NCAA March Madness games and participate in various NCAA Tournament bracket contests.