Dr DisRespect may not be allowed to stream on Twitch, but he certainly isn’t hurting for a platform. FanDuel is now the latest to partner with the famous streamer, who is California born and raised.
The collaboration covers both daily fantasy sports and sportsbook products. For Californians, the former will be of great interest going forward.
FanDuel’s collaboration with Dr DisRespect
The “Dr” made the relationship official earlier this month. FanDuel hasn’t disclosed any financial details of the deal, but it’s definitely a unique presentation for the gambling company that no other celebrity promoter has come up with yet.
Sports betting remains illegal in California, but FanDuel accepts DFS entries in the state regularly. That was the vertical involved in the first promotion to take fruition out of this deal, the $100k Dr DisRespect 2x Championship Duel.
That pool featured a $10,000 first prize, in addition to Dr DisRespect-branded merchandise. It’s going to be just the first of several promotional opportunities that feature the gaming personality.
Who is Dr DisRespect and why is this a good deal for FanDuel?
Dr DisRespect’s real name is Herschel Beahm. He is in his late 30s and a former NCAA D-II basketball player. He grew up in southern California, then attended Cal State Polytechnic. Beahm got his start in gaming in 2011, when he became the community manager for SledgeHammer Games.
His first claim to fame was helping create maps for the Call of Duty franchise. Meanwhile, he was building a strong following as a streamer on Twitch. Prior to his mysterious ban from that platform, he had over 4 million subscribers.
Since then, he has begun streaming on YouTube Gaming. Previously, he has helped promote many brands like G Fuel and Mountain Dew. By invoking his celebrity prowess, FanDuel likely hopes to make many of his fans regular customers.
Companies like FanDuel have waded into the waters of offering DFS contests for esports competitions. It’s not uncommon to find player pools for major League of Legends and Overwatch League matches.
However, esports fans and those who avidly follow popular streamers aren’t necessarily the same crowd. By enlisting Dr DisRespect, FanDuel gets its brand in front of a new audience. Whether that will convert to paid entries for the traditional sports that dominate FanDuel’s DFS games remains to be seen, however.
If legal sportsbooks ever do launch in California, this partnership could take on a new element. For now, residents of the Golden State can try out the special DFS games which demand nothing but respect.
