ESPN and its highest-profile commentators are facing renewed criticism over their relationship with betting-adjacent platforms. Recently, network host Stephen A. Smith’s appointment as ambassador for a cash-prize mobile gaming company raised questions about ethical boundaries.
The controversy centers on Smith’s new role promoting the World Solitaire Championship, a mobile competition organized by Papaya, whose portfolio includes Solitaire Cash, Bingo Cash, and Bubble Cash—apps that allow players to compete for real money.
According to a press release from early November, Smith will front an AI-driven marketing campaign highlighting what the company calls “the power of play for adults” ahead of championship finals scheduled for February 2026 in Miami.
The timing has proven problematic. Smith recently became embroiled in a heated exchange with FBI Director Kash Patel over federal investigations that resulted in arrests of NBA figures including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, and former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Damon Jones.
During an appearance on First Take, Smith suggested political motivations behind the high-profile arrests. “We’ve seen accusations before. We’ve seen athletes get in trouble with the law before. You don’t see the director of the FBI having a press conference. It’s not coincidental. It’s not an accident. It’s a statement, and it’s a warning that more is coming,” Smith said.
He doubled down on those assertions, warning viewers: “This is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s very concerning. We don’t know where this is gonna go. But everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming.”
Patel fired back during an appearance on Fox News, telling host Laura Ingraham: “That may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard from anyone in modern history, and I live most of my time in Washington DC.”
Rather than backing away from his position, Smith defended his commentary on his SiriusXM program. “I still stand by what I said… It’s customary for people to say I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, only to come down the pike weeks, months later and say, ‘Yeah, it was true,'” he declared.
Against this backdrop, Smith’s endorsement of Papaya’s platform has drawn sharp criticism from those who see it as contradictory messaging. While the company describes its offerings as “skill-based mobile games,” the apps openly advertise that players “compete daily for real rewards.” Critics argue that this framework closely resembles casino operations.
The development comes as ESPN exits its partnership with Penn Entertainment, which produced ESPN Bet—a venture that reportedly cost Penn over $1 billion before the sportsbook shuttered. The network has since pivoted to a more limited marketing arrangement with DraftKings.
Gaming regulation specialists have noted that similar cash-prize gaming apps have faced legal scrutiny in multiple states over whether they constitute unlicensed gambling operations, despite marketing themselves as skill-based competitions.
Smith addressed the partnership in Papaya’s announcement, stating: “They’re taking a classic game and turning it into something bigger. Something that celebrates skill and competition—and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of.”
However, social media reactions have been less sympathetic, with critics accusing ESPN of inconsistency in its approach to betting-related content and partnerships. The network’s prominent personalities promoting real-money gaming platforms while covering federal gambling investigations has created what observers describe as a credibility problem.
