In a hilarious twist, BetMGM's Super Bowl ad takes a playful jab at football icon Tom Brady, suggesting that even he can't wager on their sports betting app. In a sneak peek of the commercial, exclusively released by PEOPLE, actor Vince Vaughn informs Brady that BetMGM is for everyone except him.
In the ad, Vaughn deadpans, 'BetMGM is for everyone that loves sports betting, everyone, but Tom Brady.' An incredulous Brady responds, 'Wait, what did I do?' To which Vaughn retorts, 'The truth is, you've won too much, Tom. You let others have their turn.'
The commercial features a montage of prospective gamblers, including a tailgater, a woman who finds Brady cute, and even Brady's former babysitter, all asking Vaughn if they can use BetMGM, to which he enthusiastically approves. 'As long as you're not Tom Brady, you're in,' he declares.
Amidst the humor, even Brady's attempt to disguise himself as 'Tim Birdie, seven-time pool champion' doesn't fool Vaughn. Sitting at a table with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who is allowed to partake in the app, Vaughn playfully calls out Brady's ruse, exclaiming, 'You already know the answer, why you puttin' us through it?'
For the creators of the ad, the opportunity to work with Tom Brady was an easy decision. According to Alex Zamiar, group creative director at ad agency Highdive, the core idea revolved around the fact that BetMGM is for everyone of legal age. Zamiar wanted to tap into Brady's legacy and personality to tell a fresh story that had never been explored before. They found the concept of Brady not being able to win on the app incredibly funny, and fortunately, Brady was willing to make fun of himself, making the collaboration a success.
The creative team also saw an opportunity to raise the stakes by including another legendary athlete in the commercial – Wayne Gretzky. Highdive's Johnathan Richman explained that since the Super Bowl is all about surprising and subverting expectations, excluding Brady from betting with BetMGM and allowing another living legend to cameo added an extra comedic element.
One particular scene in the ad stands out as a metaphor for the commercial itself – Brady appearing as a pool shark. Zamiar shared that during the shoot, Brady effortlessly sunk almost every shot. It showcased his remarkable skills in yet another arena, further emphasizing the relatability of the commercial for the rest of us who can find solace in the fact that Brady doesn't excel at everything.
In this amusing and light-hearted Super Bowl ad, BetMGM pokes fun at the extraordinary successes of Tom Brady while highlighting the accessibility and enjoyment of their sports betting app for everyone else. With the combination of Vince Vaughn's comedic timing, Brady's willingness to laugh at himself, and the surprise cameo by Wayne Gretzky, this commercial is sure to entertain viewers during the big game.
