Jon Hamm has come under fire after appearing in a commercial for sports betting platform BetMGM, which aired during a Boston Red Sox game.
The 55-year-old Mad Men actor has faced criticism from social media users who accused him of “selling out” and promoting gambling despite already having a successful Hollywood career and therefore seemingly not needing the money. Some expressed disappointment in the Emmy winner, while others questioned why he would endorse an activity that can have devastating consequences for people struggling with gambling addiction.
One commentator even brought up the actor’s controversial past while criticizing a separate commercial for the company. Keep reading to find out more…
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Jon Hamm Stars In BetMGM Ad
The Your Friends and Neighbors actor has been a brand ambassador for BetMGM since August 2025, when he was announced as the face of the company's "Make It Legendary" advertising campaign. He has since appeared in several commercials for the sports betting platform, including its latest "It Happens Here" campaign, which launched in August 2026, ahead of the football season.
The campaign featured the Morning Show actor welcoming viewers into the fictional "Legends Lounge," a luxurious setting combining elements of a casino, sportsbook, and exclusive speakeasy. The commercials showcase BetMGM's sports betting and entertainment offerings, with Hamm bringing his signature charm to the campaign.
However, his involvement with the gambling company has been slammed by many people. One YouTube user criticized the commercial after seeing it during a Red Sox-Yankees game, raising concerns about children being exposed to gambling advertisements while watching sports with their families. The user also took issue with the suggestion that placing bets could make watching sports more interesting.
The video was captioned: "Last night during the Red Sox-Yankees game, I saw Jon Hamm for BetMGM say that the way to make sports interesting is to put money on it. Not what you should have to see with your kids when you're just trying to watch baseball as a family. Write to your representatives and senators to ban gambling ads during live sports."
Another YouTube commentator took issue with a separate BetMGM commercial promoting its 'Legendary Thursdays' offers, in which Hamm's character appears to intimidate another man as part of a joke involving darts. The commentator brought up the actor's involvement in a controversial college fraternity hazing case dating back to 1990, questioning why he would agree to appear in an ad that could remind viewers of those past allegations. He described the commercial as a "bad look" overall.
And the criticism didn't stop there, as many social media users also took issue with Hamm's decision to promote the gambling platform. Although some social media users defended the Baby Driver actor for simply doing his job as an actor, many others accused him of using his celebrity status to glamorize gambling and being a bad influence due to the potential consequences of gambling addiction."
Reddit Users Say They're 'Disappointed' With Jon Hamm
"I know the man has to make a living. But it's like watching Sir Lawrence Olivier hawking reverse mortgages or something. It just seems icky," wrote one Reddit user. "I was so disappointed in him!" exclaimed a second, while a third thought he was a "bad influence" for promoting gambling.
"I can't believe he sold out and is an enabler of online gambling. It's really unforgivable," criticized a fourth. "I have to admit it made me sad seeing him promote a gambling app," echoed a fifth. "I'm disappointed with any celebrity doing a commercial for the gambling apps," agreed a sixth.
"He already has loads of money, he doesn't have to steep so low as to profit off of gambling addiction. Any person who has even a lick of moral fibre should steer clear of doing gambling ads. Deplorable behavior," criticized a seventh.
"There's so many betting app ads now with A list celebrities. They do not need the money and it's gross," wrote an eighth, while a ninth described the ad as "sick." "I wonder who else will sell their soul pimping this. What a downer," said a tenth, as an eleventh asked: "He can't possibly need the money, can he?"
"He's already MADE a living. Advertising gambling is a [expletive] move," slammed a twelfth, while a thirteenth concluded: "There's acting and there is shilling for something that has horrible consequences for many people. Gambling might not kill people but it ruins people's lives. Should it be legal? Yes, people are going to do it either way. But it shouldn't be glamorized with Hollywood actors."
Some Fans Defend Jon Hamm: 'It's Literally His Job'
However, not everyone agreed with the criticism, as some Reddit users defended Hamm and pointed out that appearing in commercials is simply part of his job as an actor.
"Good for him. It's literally his job," wrote one Reddit user. "He's an actor. His income is acting. Ads pay actors to do their jobs. Quit putting actors on pedestals," declared a second. "Never blame an actor for a bad performance, or taking a job. It's a paycheck. And the director wins out on what the performance should be," noted a third.
"He's an actor. It's a gig, he's getting paid – they're all for hire, so what?" a fourth chimed in, as a fifth added: "It's the norm for A-list actors and celebrities to be in commercials now. I still cringe but I don't think Hamm is doing anything out of the ordinary for a Hollywood actor nowadays unfortunately."
