Derek Stevens, owner of Circa Resort & Casino, just made a very public play for attention. He offered to fly German soccer influencer Freddy to Las Vegas on the property’s private jet. The invitation went viral within hours, racking up 2.2 million views and putting both the influencer and the casino firmly in the spotlight.

From 11,000 to 671,000 Followers in Weeks

Freddy, known on X as @FreddyLA7, has become an unlikely social media sensation. The German soccer enthusiast travelled to the US to cover the World Cup and somehow managed to capture the internet’s attention with his passion for the sport and American culture. His follower count exploded from 11,000 to over 671,000 in just a few weeks. He’s become one of the hottest topics in the soccer community right now.

Stevens spotted the opportunity immediately. He tagged Freddy on X with a direct pitch: no trip to America is complete without Las Vegas. But the Circa boss didn’t stop there. He offered to send the casino’s private jet to pick up Freddy and his friends in Oklahoma City and bring them to a USMNT watch party at the property’s Stadium Swim venue.

Going Viral Before Freddy Even Responds

What’s clever about this move is that Stevens generated massive buzz before Freddy even confirmed interest. The invitation went viral on its own merit, which is exactly what a savvy casino operator would want. The post became Stevens’ “biggest, craziest tweet ever,” according to his own words to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Stevens told the outlet he was genuinely surprised by Freddy’s popularity, saying it felt like “the whole world wants to know about him.” That’s the kind of momentum smart gaming properties look to tap into. Whether Freddy accepts or not, Circa has already won the publicity game here.

The VIP Treatment Waiting

Stevens made it clear the hospitality would be first class. If Freddy reaches out, a limo would be waiting at the private airport. That’s the kind of commitment that turns a viral moment into an actual business opportunity. Freddy’s been posting about American hospitality throughout his US tour, so he’d certainly appreciate the gesture.

As of publication, Freddy hadn’t confirmed his attendance, but with 671,000 followers watching, the pressure’s on him to make a decision. Either way, Circa has positioned itself as the place where influencers actually get looked after in Vegas. That’s worth far more than the cost of a private jet flight.

What the team thinks

Sheena McAllister says:

While Derek Stevens’ private jet gambit certainly generates headlines, what’s genuinely interesting from a compliance perspective is how quickly casino marketing has evolved to leverage influencer partnerships in ways that blur traditional advertising boundaries, raising important questions about whether such high-profile endorsements require clearer disclosures under UKGC guidelines and similar regulatory frameworks globally. The viral mechanics here are undeniably effective, but operators engaging in similar strategies should be mindful that influencer collaborations still fall under responsible gambling obligations, meaning any association with gambling content creators demands the same scrutiny we’d apply to traditional advertising campaigns. It’s a timely reminder that innovation in marketing doesn’t exempt the industry from its regulatory commitments, even when the ROI looks compelling.