Hard Rock Bet locks in MLB player licensing for immersive betting experience
Hard Rock Bet has signed a long-term licensing deal with MLB Players, Inc., giving the sportsbook access to official MLB player name, image, and likeness rights.
Good to Know - Hard Rock Bet now has official access to MLB player NIL. - Player headshots are already live inside the Hard Rock Bet app. - The deal also covers marketing for mobile and retail sportsbook products.
MLB Player Content Goes Live In Hard Rock Bet App
Hard Rock Bet users can now see MLB player headshots inside the app, including on player profiles and prop betting markets. The goal is simple: make baseball betting easier to read and closer to the players fans already follow.
MLB Players, Inc. and OneTeam Partners confirmed the launch Wednesday. The agreement also names Hard Rock Bet an official licensed sportsbook of MLB Players, Inc.
Mike Primeaux, Hard Rock Digital Executive Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, said:
"We are proud to partner with MLB Players, Inc. and OneTeam to bring official MLB player content to Hard Rock Bet. The power and authenticity of player NIL will play a critical role in elevating our product experience and strengthening fan engagement throughout the season."
The deal gives Hard Rock Bet more than in-app imagery. The sportsbook can also use MLB player IP across marketing and other campaigns tied to both its mobile app and retail sportsbook.
Evan Kaplan, President of MLB Players, Inc., said:
"Fans connect to athletes. As sports betting continues to evolve, the experience is shifting from a screen full of odds to something more recognizable, more intuitive, and closer to the game itself. This partnership with Hard Rock Digital ensures that connection is authentic, licensed, and reflective of the value MLB players bring to the game. When you build around the athlete, like Hard Rock Digital, you create a product that feels closer to the game itself. That's where this is going."
The launch arrives during a busy MLB betting stretch for Hard Rock Bet. Over the weekend, the company said a Florida bettor turned a $30.11 six-leg home run parlay into almost $2 million.
The winning picks were Riley Greene, Coby Mayo, Jesus Sanchez, Bryce Harper, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Nick Kurtz. The parlay carried +6,576,031 odds, equal to a one-in-65,761.31 chance.
