ESPN announces launch of branded sportsbook with PENN Entertainment

ESPN announced Tuesday afternoon that it has reached an agreement with PENN Entertainment to launch a branded sportsbook for fans in the United States.

The agreement will rebrand PENN’s current sportsbook, Barstool Sports, and relaunch as ESPN BET effective this fall. PENN Entertainment is currently licensed in 16 U.S. states: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WV.

“Our primary focus is always to serve sports fans and we know they want both betting content and the ability to place bets with less friction from within our products,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement Tuesday. “The strategy here is simple: to give fans what they’ve been requesting and expecting from ESPN. PENN Entertainment is the perfect partner to build an unmatched user experience for sports betting with ESPN BET.”

ESPN has entered an agreement with @PENNEntertain to launch ESPN BET, a branded sportsbook in the U.S.

ESPN BET will be available for fans this fall

Details: https://t.co/evaUbfn5Nh pic.twitter.com/UqIkME4Lyk

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) August 8, 2023

In the statement, ESPN vowed that it would use its platform to “educate sports fans on responsible gaming” including the creation of a committee to oversee gambling while also “implementing responsible marketing policies and guidelines to safeguard fans.”

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.