Jonah Texeira is serious about becoming a professional golfer, a dream made possible thanks to his mother’s sacrifice. Aged nine, Jonah was determined to attend the David Leadbetter Academy, but there was just one problem: the $31,000 cost of annual tuition. Fortunately for Jonah, his mother was prepared to do anything to make his dream come true.
Jonah at the age of 12
Terri has five kids, an expensive undertaking in itself, but went ahead and made the ultimate sacrifice for Jonah. Having heard that an online gambling concern, GoldenPalace, paid large sums of money for oddball publicity stunts, she decided to try her luck. So her idea was born, to help bankroll her son’s ambition, she would auction herself on eBay and legally change her name in exchange for the highest bid. GoldenPalace didn’t disappoint.
The online casino came in with the highest offer, $15,199, and she legally changed her name to GoldenPalace.com.
“That little incident jump-started our family financially so that we were able to send him to all these places,” she said on Tuesday, citing his junior golf travels. “It’s been quite a ride.”
Terri a.k.a. GoldernPalace.com
Sometimes there is no limit to what a mother will do for her Children. Her son now attends the University of Southern California, and just made the semifinal of the U.S. Amateur, so you could say her sacrifice was worth it.
GoldenPalace – “The King of Guerrilla Advertising”
At its peak in the mid-2000s, Canadian-operated GoldenPalace was one of the three most profitable gambling sites in the world. It boasted 2.4 million active users, more than $80 million a year in revenue. Their weird and wacky marketing campaigns would grab headlines everywhere.
Here are some of their most famous:
A boxing match between Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins and Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad
Filmed in Madison Square Garden, it would be one of the most-watched sporting events of the year. Spotting an opportunity to circumvent the strict laws against online casino advertisements, GoldenPalace paid Hopkins to wear a temporary tattoo during the fight. It created serious publicity and even prompted The Nevada Athletic commission to outlaw such tattoos on boxers.
Not satisfied, GoldenPalace took them to court…and won. The ban was found to be an infringement of free speech under the First Amendment.
“It’s a victory for free speech, really. It’s a victory for boxers. Now they can make money for themselves with their own bodies. It also rewards companies like ours that come up with unique ways to advertise.”
GoldenPalace.
GoldenPalace and the world’s only professional streaker
Mark Roberts is a legendary streaker who featured in one of golf’s most iconic images. Spotting an opportunity, GoldenPalace.com forged a relationship with the Englishman.
The highlight came during one of the most famous streaks in sporting history, as detailed by Zachary Crockett for Priceonomics:
“In February 2004, GoldenPalace successfully pulled off their biggest marketing stunt to date. Just before the second half of Superbowl XXXVIII (and right after the infamous half-time show that made “Janet Jackson” the most searched-for term in Internet history), Mark Roberts sprinted out onto the field and proceeded to tear off his clothing.”
“For a full half-minute, he pranced before a television audience of 144.4 million — the biggest viewership in Super Bowl history at that point. The average 30-second spot that year was $2.2 million; GoldenPalace received the same exposure for less than $10,000 — and was discussed for weeks afterward on popular programs like Late Show with David Letterman.”
Remember the Virgin Mary toastie?
Diana Duyser, a 52-year-old from Hollywood, Florida, was making a toasted sandwich when she spotted a visage of the Virgin Mary. She immediately encased it in plastic. She was so convinced by its untouched by natural selection, she took her toast to eBay. And who do you think was there to gobble it up? You guessed it, GoldenPalace for the not so paltry sum of $28,000.
I remember this story hitting the news. I also remember thinking that this purchase was tantamount to throwing poo around a padded room. But then again, it serves to remind us that the orthodoxy of modern-day marketing is a fiction. People have been doing this type of dumb shit for years. As for Terri Texeira I remove my hat.
Start the discussion
Login to comment