Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioStephen A. Smith has partnered with Israel-based Papaya, the gaming firm behind popular real-money mobile titles like Solitaire Cash, Bubble Cash, and Bingo Cash. Papaya announced the news on November 3, naming the outspoken ESPN personality, who recently clashed with the FBI Director in the wake of the NBA betting scandal, as the official ambassador for its upcoming World Solitaire Championship, the first global tournament of its kind, featuring the classic one-player card game.
In the press release, Papaya pointed out that Smith went viral on social media during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals, when cameras caught him playing Solitaire on his phone. Now, he’s putting his love of the game front and center as he becomes the face of the first-ever World Solitaire Championship, set to conclude with the finals in Miami next February.
Smith had this to say about his collaboration with Papaya: “When I first heard about the World Solitaire Championship, I was intrigued. They’re taking a classic game and turning it into something bigger, something that celebrates skill and competition, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of.”
First for Smith & Papaya
The deal with Papaya is the first time Smith has ever partnered with a mobile gaming brand. As part of the partnership, he’ll take the lead in promoting Solitaire as a skill-based competition for adults. Speaking about Smith, Papaya described him as “one of the most recognizable voices in sports and culture…known for his unmatched passion, insight, and larger-than-life presence.”
As part of its efforts to promote the Solitaire finals, Papaya has developed an AI-driven advertising campaign, spearheaded by Ariely Original, a creative lab and advertising agency, in collaboration with The Artery, a visual effects and creative studio, and Too Short for Modeling as writers and director.
Speaking about why Smith was viewed as the best choice for Papaya, the company’s Vice President of Marketing, Uri Pearl, said: “When Stephen A. Smith was caught playing Solitaire courtside during the NBA Finals, we knew right away that this was more than a viral moment; it was proof of how timeless and irresistible this game is. Stephen A. embodies the spirit of the World Solitaire Championship, which is about the Power of Play, competition, culture, and personality. Choosing him as our ambassador felt completely natural.”
Players will come together from all over the world to compete for “prizes and recognition” at the World Solitaire Championship, which will take place at Temple House in Miami’s South Beach.
Papaya’s Ongoing Legal Battle with Skillz
As Papaya prepares for the World Solitaire Championship, it’s also in active litigation with its U.S.-based competitor Skillz Platform Inc., which sued Papaya in March 2024 in the Southern District of New York.
In an October 11, 2024, opinion, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote summarized Skillz’s allegations that Papaya engaged in “false advertising and deceptive practices” when it told players that “they would play against other human beings when, in fact, they were playing against robots.”
In May 2024, Papaya filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim, but the court denied the motion in July 2024. Discovery is ongoing.
In an October 27, 2025, opinion, Judge Cote noted that Papaya defended its use of bots by arguing that they are “so ubiquitous in the industry that consumers ‘fully expect’ them to be deployed,” and said its decision not to disclose their use was “in line with industry practice.”
Papaya has denied the accusations and filed counterclaims against “several other game developers.” In the counterclaim, Papaya accused Skillz of engaging in similar conduct, as well as defamation and trademark infringement.
Building Global Skill-Gaming Brand
Papaya isn’t letting its dispute with Skillz slow it down as it moves forward with the World Solitaire Championship and continues to promote what it calls the “power of play for adults.”
The company says its games have been downloaded over 60 million times worldwide. As the World Solitaire Championship approaches, Papaya is positioning itself and its new ambassador at the center of the growing conversation around real-money, skill-based mobile competition.
