Blotter: NBA star Tony Parker signs with BetClic Poker

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker has signed an endorsement contract with the French online poker site BetClic. Parker, whose mother was Dutch and father was American, was born in Belgium and raised in France. He played basketball professionally in France and for the French national team before signing with the Spurs in 2001. Parker's signing marks the first time that an active NBA player has endorsed an online poker site.

Parker's on-court accomplishments include three NBA titles (2003, 2005 and 2007) and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Off the court, he is known as the husband of Eva Longoria, star of television's "Desperate Housewives". The couple often organizes charity no-limit Texas Holdem poker events in San Antonio and Las Vegas during the NBA off-season. Parker took up the game after he moved to the US and has been an avid player ever since.

Parker described the signing as "a great adventure" and hailed BetClic's "big ambitions" to make an impression on the European market. Industry observers expect the passage of new French legislation that will allow more freedoms for online poker companies there, so the signing of Parker, a recognizable sports star, would place BetClic in a prime position to gain new customers in France.

Nicolas Beraud, BetClic's founder, also expressed his enthusiasm at his company's signing of Parker. Beraud said that he was "delighted" to have Parker on board and related how he would be "a great ambassador" for both online poker in general and the BetClic brand in particular.

One aspect of the BetClic site that may cast a shadow over signing is that it also has an online sports book component. Most American pro sports leagues do not allow team members to participate in sports betting in order to prevent undue influence on games.

Two years ago, the NBA fired referee Tim Donaghy due to his association with gamblers. Last December, two members of the NBA's Washington Wizards drew guns on each other over a dispute stemming from gambling debts. NBA Commissioner David Stern has not yet released a statement on the Parker signing.

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