🏆 Top 5 Indian Athletes Endorsed by Betting Brands (2025 Edition)

In India, sports and betting have always been intertwined — especially when it comes to cricket, kabaddi, and football. With the growing popularity of online betting platforms, more and more athletes are being approached for brand endorsements — particularly in the grey zone of affiliate marketing, fantasy games, and international casinos.

Here’s a look at the Top 5 Indian athletes who have been publicly or discreetly associated with betting brands, driving massive attention and traffic in the process.

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🎯 1. Dinesh Karthik – “The Calm Face of Fantasy Cricket”

• Sport: Cricket
• Brand Endorsed: IPLwin, Rslot
• Why It Worked: Karthik is known for his calm demeanor, which contrasts with the high-stakes world of betting and fantasy. His presence gave betting-based platforms a sense of reliability.

🗣️ “It’s all about smart picks and understanding the game – fantasy or real.” – DK, Dream11 campaign

Fun Fact: After his retirement, Karthik reportedly signed a backend deal with a crypto-betting startup.

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🔥 2. Hardik Pandya – “The Swagger of Stakes”

• Sport: Cricket
• Brands: 1xBet (via indirect overseas campaign), My11Circle
• Highlight: Pandya’s flamboyant lifestyle and massive social media presence made him the ideal magnet for platforms targeting younger, thrill-seeking users.

Impact: 1xBet’s brand traffic in India reportedly spiked 30% during his campaign buzz in IPL 2023.

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🧠 3. Bhaichung Bhutia – “From Football to Fantasy”

• Sport: Football
• Brands: Stake.com (in global football fantasy promos)
• Why Noteworthy: One of India’s football pioneers, Bhutia’s appearance in a fantasy football betting ad for Stake.com’s global version brought attention to Indian fans.

📢 While no official Indian campaign exists, his image was used in email marketing campaigns targeting Indian football fans via VPN-based access.

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💥 4. KL Rahul – “Silence Speaks Volumes”

• Sport: Cricket
• Alleged Association: T20FUN, BetKing India (rumored affiliate)
• How: While Rahul hasn’t officially endorsed a betting brand, several Telegram & affiliate channels use his image in promotions — hinting at under-the-radar endorsements.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This is based on third-party marketing and unofficial channels. However, the reach was undeniable.

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🛡️ 5. Aakash Chopra – “The Analyst Turned Ambassador”

• Sport: Former Cricketer / Commentator
• Brand: Parimatch News, 4RABET (content partnership)
• Role: Hosted cricket previews sponsored by Parimatch, cleverly branded as “news analysis” rather than direct betting. Smart move!

Result: Parimatch News became one of the top 3 betting info sites in India, thanks to his analytical content on YouTube and Instagram.

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🚨 The Grey Line of Legality

In India, direct promotion of betting is restricted. But here’s the trick:

• Brands use “news”, “fantasy”, or “entertainment” disguises
• Promotions are run via VPN access, Telegram channels, or foreign domains
• Athletes often endorse sister companies (like “.news”, “.live”, “.club”) while real betting runs elsewhere

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💰 Why Betting Brands Love Indian Athletes

• Huge fan base = Huge trust factor
• Athletes bridge the gap between risk and respect
• In markets like India, endorsement = legitimacy, even in grey sectors

📈 Betting brands report up to 60% conversion spike when an athlete is part of the campaign.

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🧠 Final Thoughts

India’s relationship with sports + online betting is evolving. As long as there are cricket matches, IPL thrills, and fantasy games, athletes will remain at the center of attention — knowingly or unknowingly.

Whether it’s through official ambassadorships or clever “news” campaigns, betting brands know one thing:
“In India, sports = emotion. Emotion = engagement. Engagement = money.”