PointsBet under fire as lightning bets promo video backfires
Sportsbook draws criticism for fake lightning strike video featuring brand ambassador Drew Brees
PointsBet has been criticized in the US after posting a fake video in which its brand ambassador, former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, was struck by lightning while filming a promotional video for the sportsbook operator.
The video, which was posted on Twitter at 1am on Friday morning, showed Brees shooting a video at the Catatumbo River in Venezuela, an area famous for the number of lightning strikes it receives annually.
https://twitter.com/commandersfan99/status/1598708273640783872
The video drew comments from Twitter users concerned over the health of the former New Orleans Saints quarterback, with PointsBet initially declining to comment further on the reports surrounding his health.
We are aware of the media coverage regarding PointsBet brand ambassador Drew Brees. We are in communication with Brees' team and will continue to monitor events throughout the coming hours. At this stage we will not be making any further comment.
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) December 2, 2022
Brees would later appear in a second video for PointsBet in which the sportsbook operator would confirm that the video posted was indeed a publicity stunt.
The stunt was arranged to promote PointsBet’s ‘lightning bets’ feature, first launched in October, which has already become a prominent part of its in-play sportsbook arsenal.
However, while the stunt may have increased the public appeal of the sportsbook, the viral video drew criticism from the support group Lightning Strike & Electric Shock Survivors International (LS&ESSI), which took aim at PointsBet over the promo.
“The recent Drew Brees lightning commercial is an inappropriate, disgusting method of promoting gambling or any TV commercial campaign,” LS&ESSI said in a statement.
“This is a deadly injury, and it is disappointing to see the continual ridicule of lightning and electrical injury survivors in comical light in which it is presented for commercial gain and profit.
“To poke fun at these folks and make this injury trivial is unacceptable, and what example does it set for our children to learn?”
The statement continued: “As a survivor, this is very disturbing, the thoughtlessness on the part of the participants who are trying to profit from tragedy is remarkable.
“Much progress through hard work and education has been made over the last twenty years to lower the lightning/electrical deaths and risk of injury through education and informed knowledge of the dangers,” LS&ESSI concluded.
Sunday Night ⚡️
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) December 5, 2022
It’s Right Here pic.twitter.com/TYh2Hf74b6
PointsBet has not commented publicly since the incident.