The Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon has blazed a trail in MLB’s sports betting endorsement market.
Colorado-based sportsbook MaximBet announced Blackmon as its first athlete partner across the four major sports — which also makes him the first active MLB player to endorse a betting company.
Prior to the ratification of the league’s new CBA, only league and team entities were permitted to enter into partnerships with sportsbooks.
With the new agreement in place, players and coaches are now allowed to do so as well.
According to league rules, Blackmon or any other player who signs this type of deal is not allowed to promote baseball betting explicitly, but can support the sportsbook through ads and similar promotional activities. MLB players are still prohibited from betting on games.
The 35-year-old, who has spent his entire career with Colorado, is a four-time All-Star and won the NL batting title in 2017.
