Online poker platform 7K Poker has signed goalkeeper Hugo Souza, who plays for Corinthians and Brazil's national team, as its new brand ambassador.
The initiative comes as the brand aims to strengthen ties between poker and football to reach new audiences.
Under the contract, Souza will take part in institutional campaigns, community-focused initiatives for players, fan activations, and social media content production.
"Hugo represents exactly the profile we look for at 7K Poker: an athlete who lives high performance and understands that preparation, strategy and emotional balance make a difference in any competition," said Ana Gaming Holding Marketing Director Antonio Guerardi said Souza.
The company's approach draws a direct parallel between the demands of elite sport and the skills poker requires, including reading opponents, concentration, quick decision-making and emotional control.
Souza echoed that framing: "In football, I learned that concentration, strategy and emotional control make a difference in every play, and I found those same qualities when I got to know the game better."
7K Poker is managed by Grupo Ana, which also owns betting operator 7K, formerly known as Bet7K, making the two brands indirectly linked despite operating as separate platforms. Poker itself isn't classified as betting or gambling in Brazil, instead falling under so-called "mind sports" alongside chess.
Recently, Ana Gaming CEO Marco Tulio Oliveira said Brazil's regulated betting sector continues to face institutional prejudice, revealing he was asked to remove his investments from a major bank's private banking division after becoming CEO of the group.
Ana Gaming's parent group, RNGX, has recently acquired platforms Donald Bet and Bet Ponto Bet
