Jerome Bettis new brand ambassador, spokesman for BetRivers

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh has a new face for their online gambling and sports betting site.

Jerome Bettis, the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, was named brand ambassador and spokesman for BetRivers, casino officials announced Friday. BetRivers is a brand by the gambling company Rush Street Interactive.

“No matter where he was, growing up in Detroit, playing at Notre Dame or during his iconic career in Pittsburgh, Jerome Bettis made a positive impact on and off the field,” said Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street Interactive. “We are thrilled for Jerome to bring his authenticity and winning ways to the passionate sports bettors on BetRivers.com.”

In the coming months, Bettis, who gained the nickname “The Bus” after a Hall-of-Fame NFL career, will engage in promotions and events on the BetRivers platform, while giving insights on pro football games through social media accounts for BetRivers.

Bettis started his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1993 after playing three seasons at Notre Dame. He was traded to the Steelers in 1996. After playing 13 seasons, he retired in 2006 following the Steelers’ win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

During that time, Bettis joined the ranks of the NFL’s all-time rushing list, becoming one of six players in NFL history to rush for 13,000 yards.

The sportsbook at Rivers first opened in December 2018 as a temporary facility after sports betting was legalized in Pennsylvania. In 2019, a $5 million renovation brought 360 degrees of televisions, including two 50-foot-by-7-foot LED monitors and two dozen 86-inch flat screens, to the space.

Since the sportsbook’s opening date, the facility has handled more than $456 million in sports bets, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Of that, about $311 million was bet online, data show.