Fanatics Sportsbook bets on Kendall Jenner in its Super Bowl debut—inside the approach

Marketing

Fanatics Sportsbook is betting on Kendall Jenner with the launch of its first-ever Big Game commercial and Jenner’s first Big Game advertising campaign, “Bet on Kendall.”

The campaign is the first production from the recently launched Fanatics Studios, the groundbreaking joint venture between Fanatics and OBB Media. Bolded, OBB’s branded entertainment division, served as the creative studio.

In the spot, Kendall leans into the long-running internet joke that any basketball player who gets close to her is subject to …consequences. Fueled by memes, real-life coincidences, and fan speculation, the so-called ‘Kardashian Kurse’ isn’t denied, but rather addressed head on, with Jenner making reference to her previous basketball boyfriends. With a wink and a nod, Jenner reveals that while the internet has been speculating about the Kurse, she’s been doing something far more strategic (and likely Kris Jenner approved): betting on it.

Set in a “kursed” mansion on a hill, the 30-second ad, which will air during halftime, and 90-second digital spot blend sharp comedy with high-gloss visuals and faceless exes as Jenner explains how she’s turned her rumored effect on men into winning bets on Fanatics Sportsbook. The result is a flirtatious, self-deprecating take on sports fandom that invites viewers to take a side… betting with her or betting against her on Fanatics Sportsbook once her pick for the Big Game is live.

Selena Kalvaria, Chief Marketing Officer at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, said: “The magic of this campaign is how Kendall Jenner transforms the lore of the Kardashian Kurse into something playful, participatory, and unmistakingly of the moment. With Fanatics’ unparalleled cultural influence in sports, ‘Bet on Kendall’ is the perfect way to bring Fanatics Sportsbook into the spotlight with Fanatics Studios and our incredible partners at OBB Media.”

“As our first official Fanatics Studios project since launch, ‘Bet on Kendall’ is exactly the kind of storytelling we are excited to be creating at Fanatics and OBB: content at the intersection of sports and culture, fit for the biggest stage in sports entertainment,” said Michael D. Ratner, Founder & CEO of OBB Media and CEO of Fanatics Studios.

RECOMMENDED