Beer, Wine & Spirits

Molson Coors and DraftKings let fans play for prizes in 'high stakes' Super Bowl ad

Key Points
  • Molson Coors and DraftKings are inviting fans to predict parts of a top-secret Super Bowl ad.
  • The brands said they're offering viewers a piece of a $500,000 prize pool for correctly predicting the contents of the brewer's commercial
  • The collaboration marks Molson Coors' return to advertising during the game after a hiatus of more than 30 years.

In this article

Molson Coors and Draft Kings

Molson Coors is teaming up with online sports betting company DraftKings in a marketing campaign that allows viewers to predict aspects of the beer company's upcoming Super Bowl commercial for prize money, the companies said Monday.

The partnership marks Molson Coors' return to the Super Bowl after a hiatus of 33 years, according to the company. Molson Coors, which makes Coors Light and Miller Lite, said it has been unable to advertise during the game since 1989 due to an exclusivity agreement between parent-company AB InBev and the National Football League. That agreement ended in 2022, and Molson Coors is making a splashy return to the advertising event with an ad campaign specifically leading up to its Super Bowl spot.

Molson Coors and DraftKings said they're offering viewers a piece of a $500,000 prize pool for correctly predicting the contents of the brewer's commercial, dubbed "The High Stakes Beer Ad." It's the largest prize pool of any free-to-play nonsport contest offered in DraftKings' history, according to a Molson press release.

"After being shut out of the big game for more than 30 years, we wanted to do something that had never been done before," said Michelle St. Jacques, Molson Coors' chief marketing officer, in a statement. "By giving people the chance to predict every detail of the ad before it even runs, we're bringing our fans along for the ride and getting them just as excited about our return to the big stage as we are."

According to a new teaser for the ad, fans aged 21 and up will be able to enter their guesses through their DraftKings accounts on multiple-choice questions such as "Which beer is mentioned first?" during the Super Bowl ad. The contest closes at 3:30 p.m. ET on gameday, and winners are expected to be announced the following morning, the company said.

Details of the commercial's outcome are being kept a secret, the brands said. Multiple endings have been filmed, and even Molson Coors' CEO doesn't know how the commercial will end, they said.

For Molson Coors, the partnership capitalizes on the growing popularity of sports betting. Through the first 11 months of 2022, casinos and mobile sports gaming revenue stood at a record $54.93 billion, according to the American Gaming Association.

"This behavior is everywhere," said Sofia Colucci, vice president of global marketing at Miller Family of Brands, in an email to CNBC. "It's a part of culture, and so are our brands. Since we're already celebrating a historic moment by returning after 30 years, we might as well make history twice by introducing the first-ever high stakes ad where people can predict every detail."

Correction: This article has been updated to correct how long Molson Coors has been unable to advertise during the game. A previous version misstated the year. It has also been updated to clarify that viewers will enter free-to-play guesses without wagering money.