Legendary US basketball star Shaquille O’Neal looks set to move into the sports betting industry, filing a trademark application for Shaqpot, via his partnership with Authentic Brands Group.
The NBA All-Star turned-entrepreneur, who won three championships with the LA Lakers and a fourth with Miami Heat, filed the application on October 22nd, indicating that O’Neal’s company ABG-SHAQ intends to use the Shaqpot name in association with gambling services. The application also states that O’Neal will support a website featuring online betting, gaming, gambling and wagering services related to sporting events.
Josh Gerben, Founder of trademark law firm Gerben Intellectual Property, published the video across his social channels reporting that: “Of course over the past year or two legalised sports betting has swept the US and now Shaq, known for his business savviness, appears to be getting into the sports betting business.
“O’Neal filed the application on what is called a 1b basis; this means he has a bona fide intent to use this trademark in association with the services listed in the application, in this case all the betting and gambling services. His attorney even signed a sworn declaration that he has a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce soon.”
Tweeting, Gerban stated: “Shaq, via his partnership with Authentic Brands Group, has filed a trademark for Shaqpot. The filing, made in late October, indicates that Shaq and ABG will launch a website for sports gambling using the trademark.”
Since retiring O’Neal has invested in a wide variety of projects, from fast-food restaurants including a chain of 155 Five Guys properties, to the latest tech gadgets. In an interview for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, the legendary NBA centre reported that he now makes more each year that the $30m salary he picked up while playing professional basketball.
Source:
Gerben Intellectual Property YouTube
