ESPN Bet to Cease Operations
The ESPN Bet app will officially shut down on December 1, as announced by ESPN and its operator, Penn Entertainment. The sports network is shifting its focus to a partnership with DraftKings.
Under this new agreement, DraftKings will serve as the official sportsbook for the Disney-owned cable sports network. The partnership will include DraftKings providing betting odds that will be featured during broadcasts, with a comprehensive rollout planned for 2026.
DraftKings will be prominently displayed in the betting section of the ESPN app. Additionally, customers of DraftKings can expect special offers related to ESPN Unlimited, which is the network’s direct-to-consumer streaming service.
The current branding of ESPN Bet, which is associated with Penn Entertainment’s online sportsbook app, will evolve into a content brand that integrates with DraftKings Sportsbook.
The ESPN Bet brand was launched in August 2023 when Penn Entertainment shifted from its previous Barstool Sports affiliation to collaborate with ESPN. This deal was intended to last ten years, involving an annual payment of $150 million from Penn Entertainment to ESPN and stock purchase warrants for the latter. However, both parties had an option to exit after three years.
Starting December 1, Penn Entertainment’s U.S. online sports betting operations will rebrand as theScore Bet, aligning it with their existing online sportsbook brand in Canada. CEO Jay Snowden indicated that this date also aligns with the anticipated launch of legal online sports betting in Missouri.
