Eden Hazard Partners With Stake as Global Ambassador

Crypto casino platform Stake has announced that former Chelsea and Real Madrid player, Eden Hazard, has joined the company as a global ambassador.

Hazard said, “Football has given me so many incredible memories, from lifting Domestic and European trophies, to representing my country as captain, and making many friends along the way. Now, in this next chapter, I can’t wait to engage with fans in new and meaningful ways, sharing insights, excitement, and the pure joy of football together with Stake.”

In a press release announcing the partnership, Stake referenced Hazard’s millions of social media followers, whom he will use to promote the brand. He has 27 million followers on Instagram, where he posted a video dressed in a Stake shirt.

Not all fans reacted positively to the partnership, with many commenting they were disappointed to see the player actively promoting a controversial gambling company.

Hazard’s Instagram profile notes that the platform is inaccessible from Spain. It is also banned in the UK and France, where the midfielder played for Chelsea and Lille, and in his native Belgium. Other restricted zones include Australia, the home country of the company’s founders, Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani.

In addition to his popularity in Europe, Stake noted that Hazard also has a major fanbase in Asia, including 3.6 million followers on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Stake is, of course, also banned in China, where gambling is prohibited in all forms.

Stake Ending Presence in Premier League

Despite being prohibited in the UK, Stake sponsors Premier League team Everton FC, with its logo appearing on the club’s shirt since 2022. Appearing in a blue shirt with Stake emblazoned across his chest, one fan joked that he thought Hazard had come out of retirement to join the club.

This will be the final season of that deal, however, as the league has moved to ban teams from displaying gambling companies on the front of their shirts.

Clubs can continue having betting sponsors on their shirt sleeves. However, the UK government has said it will not allow unlicensed platforms, such as Stake, to sponsor clubs in the future.

Stake Promoters Face Backlash

Hazard joins a long list of high-profile names to endorse Stake, including fellow soccer players Patrice Evra, Sergio Aguero, and Iker Casillas.

Casillas joined up in December, posting a video of himself playing roulette on the site, despite its ban in his home country, Spain.

Some fans responded to the video, commenting, “It’s a disgrace that a legend like you lures people into gambling. As if you need that money. Shame on you.”

Perhaps the most notable Stake ambassador is Drake, who regularly livestreams gambling sessions on the platform. Despite a public fallout with the owners, he continues to promote the company online. Fans have also urged him to cut ties with the company.

Additionally, along with fellow streamer Adin Ross, Drake has been named in lawsuits against Stake, alleging his active promotion of the company is encouraging illegal gambling. He has also been accused of using the partnership to artificially inflate Spotify plays.

It is unclear whether Hazard will engage with Stake to the same extent as Drake, who has placed a string of high-value sports bets. Recent losses, including a $1 million wager on the Patriots in the Super Bowl, have led him to focus more on casino gaming.

It is more likely the soccer stars will be used in promotional campaigns ahead of the World Cup, which takes place in North America later this year. An estimated $150 billion in wagers is expected globally on the event.

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 Crypto casino platform Stake has announced that former Chelsea and Real Madrid player, Eden Hazard, has joined the company as a global ambassador. Hazard said, “Football has given me so many incredible memories, from lifting Domestic and European trophies, to representing my country as captain, and making many friends along the way. Now, in this
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