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Derek Jeter has been introduced as BetMGM’s latest model ambassador, bringing his aptitude for gamesmanship and hopefully slightly profitable streak to the favored sports betting and iGaming operator. As a part of the deal, the five-time World Collection champ will seem in a brand new nationwide advertising and marketing marketing campaign, dubbed “Legendary Performs,” whereas making appearances down the street at choose VIP fan occasions. BetMGM On line casino can even launch an unique Jeter-themed slot sport, making the Yankees shortstop the one present or former professional baseball participant together with his personal on-line on line casino sport.
Jeter is the newest sporting star to hitch BetMGM’s roster of ambassadors, alongside Barry Sanders, Tim Howard and Wayne Gretzky. After years of constructing performs on the diamond, Jeter says he was excited to group up with BetMGM to offer sports activities followers an opportunity to make some performs off the sphere as properly. “I’ve been properly conscious of every part they’re doing to form the way forward for sports activities betting and on-line casinos,” the Baseball Corridor of Famer tells Selection. “I come from being an expert athlete and I’ve seen how playing and the business has utterly modified over the past ten years or so,” he says, including, “It’s been type of enjoyable to observe, as a result of it brings loads of pleasure to the fan base.”
Although he admits he’s not a lot of a gambler himself — “I might play blackjack, however on the $5 desk,” he jokes — Jeter credit sportsbooks like BetMGM with bringing betting into the mainstream, evaluating the web wagering platform to fantasy sports activities.
“The recognition and the joy I believe in all probability began to take off slightly bit when fantasy sports activities turned so large,” he says. “And I believe additionally the notion modified. It was type of one thing you probably did on the sly and also you wouldn’t actually need to discuss to folks about it. Now, everybody compares notes and are like, ‘Who’re we going to wager on tonight?’”
It’s been greater than a decade since Jeter retired from baseball, however that hasn’t slowed down the 14-time All-Star. Jeter launched The Gamers’ Tribune as an athlete-driven media platform in 2014, and served for 4 years as CEO of the Miami Marlins from 2017 till 2022. He additionally makes common appearances as an analyst on Fox Sports and launched Cap 2 Productions (a reference to his jersey quantity with the Yankees and position as group captain) in 2024. Whereas others are “sitting down, consuming wine and taking part in golf” of their retirement years, per Jeter, the 51-year-old says he would “get bored” and wish to seek out one thing else to do. “There are not any indicators of me retiring or slowing down,” he says. “If something, I believe I’ve elevated the tempo.”
A part of his new tempo has been constructing out Cap 2 Productions, with the latest launch of a World Collection documentary for Apple TV+ known as “Combat for Glory,” together with tasks with ESPN and The Historical past Channel, amongst others. Whereas The Gamers Tribune centered on written articles and short-form video content material, Jeter says he’s excited to develop to long-form tasks with Cap 2 Productions, teasing extra “films, TV and on-line content material” to return.
The daddy of 4 can be desirous to create content material for all ages and generations. “I’ve a household now so family-friendly content material is one thing that’s necessary to me,” he says. “Numerous the reveals that I watch are youngsters reveals,” he confesses. “I’m ashamed to say it, however we’ll watch TV after which my oldest two go down by eight and I’m normally in mattress by 9.”
As for his personal appearing ambitions: Whereas he was the topic of the 2022 ESPN miniseries, “The Captain,” don’t anticipate Jeter to be auditioning for roles in Hollywood anytime quickly. The baseball legend says it was mockingly Spike Lee who shot down any appearing aspirations. “One of many perks of taking part in in New York is you get an opportunity to satisfy lots of people that you simply grew up admiring, and I used to be 21 years outdated once I noticed Spike Lee at a sport,” Jeter shares. “I mentioned, ‘Spike, when are you going to let me act in certainly one of your films?’ and he mentioned, ‘When you act like a shortstop tonight.’ That hit house.” Jeter says. “And I rapidly understood my priorities.”
The 2025 Main League Baseball season heads into its midway level with the All-Star Sport this week — now that Jeter is working with BetMGM, does he have a favourite to win the World Collection? “That’s an excellent query,” he says. “I can’t give away that info however tune into Fox,” he chuckles. “We’re going to have to choose a group there fairly quickly.”
What a few sleeper group to observe? “I don’t know in the event that they’re a sleeper group, however Detroit’s fairly good,” Jeter presents. “They’ve been taking part in properly and I believe they’re a group that not lots of people know so much about. Don’t twist this into saying I’m choosing the Tigers to win the World Collection although,” the star provides, laughing. “I’m simply saying they’re actually good.”
