When Will We See ESPN Bet?

ESPN logo displayed on a phone screen and a basketball are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via AFP.

ESPN recently made waves by partnering with sports betting giant Penn Entertainment to launch the highly anticipated ESPN Bet brand in licensed jurisdictions across the country, solidifying its position among the top sportsbooks. This move comes just over two months after the announcement.

On August 8, Penn Entertainment revealed its decision to end its partnership with Barstool Underscoreg in order to join forces with ESPN. The company reportedly invested $1.5 billion for the rights to use the ESPN name, but a launch date for ESPN Bet has yet to be announced.

So, what’s the holdup?

Sports betting providers and betting sites thrive during the NFL season, which is their bread-and-butter time. Despite being five weeks into the current campaign, there is still no mention of a launch date for ESPN Bet.

Initially, ESPN Bet had aimed to launch before the NFL season began. Currently, Penn Entertainment is reaping the rewards of its collaboration with Barstool sportsbooks, which ESPN Bet plans to take over.

ESPN Bet has the chance to debut in 16 states where Penn operates.

When already?

Nov. 20 is being considered as a possible launch date for the ESPN Bet brand, timed to coincide with a highly anticipated Monday Night Football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, which is a rematch of the Super Bowl.

Penn executives have held meetings with Massachusetts regulators, indicating that the company may soon enter the strong market that has thrived since its launch. It is worth noting that Massachusetts is where DraftKings, the current market leader, is headquartered.

Expectations for ESPN, now under Disney ownership, are that it will have a significant impact in that state and beyond once it is fully operational.

It is likely that the launch of an ESPN Bet sportsbook in Massachusetts will be followed by several more openings in a short period. Late November and early December are expected to be a busy time for the expansion of the sports betting brand.

Unless ESPN encounters regulatory obstacles, it is anticipated that its partnership with Penn Entertainment, a highly esteemed company in the American legal sports betting sector, will streamline the application procedures.

What’s at stake?

Penn has licenses to run retail and mobile books in 16 states across the United States. While Barstool Underscoreg may not pose a significant threat to DraftKings and FanDuel in these states, the book does have a well-known name and a loyal following.

ESPN is in a league of its own when it comes to media coverage for the everyday sports enthusiast and sports bettor. With an estimated 370 million viewers and 25 million ESPN+ subscribers, Penn National’s offerings will now be easily accessible to a wider audience.

For years, ESPN has been heavily involved in the sports betting industry, with odds being a common feature on every SportsCenter episode. Given its extensive experience in this area, it only makes sense for the sports media giant to further expand into the sports betting game. The potential partnership between ESPN and sports betting appears to be a perfect match on paper.

Jay Snowden, CEO of PENN Entertainment, expressed ambitions of capturing a 20% share of the online sports betting market by 2027, a goal that may be challenging to achieve.

The final challenge is successfully promoting the ESPN Bet brand to the finish line. This is important for everyone, especially those looking forward to accessing an ESPN Bet platform in their states during the NFL season and beyond.

Survey says…

In August, Odds Assist conducted a survey of 1,000 American bettors aged 25 and over, revealing overwhelmingly positive feedback for the ESPN Bet brand. According to the results, 54% of those surveyed expressed intentions to join ESPN Bet once it becomes available in their state. Only 8% of respondents indicated that they were not considering trying out the brand.

Additionally, 46% of respondents think that ESPN Bet will become the leading legal sports betting brand in the United States.

It appears that the launch of ESPN Bet is imminent, possibly on Nov. 20. Those interested in creating an account should keep an eye out for pre-registration options, an ESPN Bet promo code, and the expected bonuses for new sign-ups.

Written By:
Davis Isabela

Davis Isabela is the Editor-in-Chief of Underscoreg Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.