On Dec. 4, 2025, NBA star James Harden (a guard for the Los Angeles Clippers) announced a new partnership with MyPrize, a U.S.-facing sweepstakes-style social casino platform. The company says Harden will be its first Premier Creator, bringing livestreams, multiplayer sessions, and special in-app events to fans.
The news also lands during a time of tighter review for sweepstakes casinos, including a new California ban that is set to start Jan. 1, 2026.
What Harden Will Do on MyPrize
MyPrize says Harden’s role is built around content and community, not the kind of sportsbook ads you might see during a game. The company says he will host exclusive livestreams, play in real-time “rooms,” and run interactive sessions where fans can join, chat, and play while the stream is live. The goal, MyPrize says, is to let fans take part instead of just watching.
The company also says Harden will help create new games and special fan events that fit MyPrize’s “play together” format. In a social post quoted by industry news sites, MyPrize promoted what it called its biggest giveaway yet, tied to joining Harden’s room, with “100K” in prizes. Full details like eligibility, entry rules, and deadlines are generally handled through MyPrize’s official terms and event pages.
How MyPrize Works as a Sweepstakes Casino
MyPrize sits in the sweepstakes casino category, which is different from a regulated U.S. real-money online casino. Instead of placing direct cash bets, users play with virtual currencies on the website or app. MyPrize’s help center describes two main coin types: Gold Coins and Sweeps Cash.
MyPrize says Gold Coins are for entertainment only and have no cash value. Sweeps Cash is the currency used in sweepstakes-style play. Players can use Sweeps Cash to play games for a chance to win more Sweeps Cash, and then request prize redemptions under the platform’s rules. In sweepstakes terms, the company frames this as a promotional system where entry can be free.
The platform lists several ways users can get Sweeps Cash, including daily reloads and bonuses tied to leveling up. MyPrize also states “no purchase necessary” and says users must be 18+ to register. Like many sweepstakes platforms, availability can depend on where a player lives, and “void where prohibited” language may apply.
Why This Deal Matters in the U.S. Sweepstakes Space
A major NBA name joining a sweepstakes brand could bring new attention to a category that has often leaned on online creators and streamers. Industry reporting describes Harden as the third active NBA player tied to a gambling-related partnership in recent years, after deals involving LeBron James and Lonzo Ball. Those earlier deals were framed around broad brand promotion and entertainment content, not betting on NBA games.
That approach matches the NBA’s rules. Reporting notes that active players may take part in gaming promotions, but with clear limits meant to protect the sport, including restrictions on deals linked to wagering on NBA games or outcomes.
The timing is important, too. Sweepstakes casinos have faced growing pressure in some states. In California, AB 831 was signed into law and is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, which would ban online social gaming with sweepstakes-style promotions. For MyPrize, adding a star like Harden may help it stand out, but it also puts the company in a category that is being watched more closely.
For readers, the takeaway is simple: Harden’s partnership looks more like a creator collaboration than a traditional betting endorsement. Still, as sweepstakes platforms grow and sign bigger names, the questions about how they should be regulated are likely to keep coming.
