All eyes are on as the rebranded sportsbook from PENN Entertainment is set to launch across 17 states on Nov. 14.
With the US legal sports betting landscape maturing rapidly, ESPN BET will face an uphill battle to compete with the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Still, there s plenty of reason to be optimistic for the newest sportsbook in town, as ESPN BET will have plenty going for it.
Here are five biggest reasons why ESPN BET will succeed.
1) ESPN App Integration
Make no mistake, ESPN BET can t simply rely on its powerful name in hopes of catapulting to the top of the sportsbook market.
Having said that, the powerful resources and media integrations that come along with the Worldwide Leader in Sports will set them apart from other platforms. The ESPN media app draws in 20 million monthly active users, and these users can expect to see a lot of ESPN BET content moving forward.
First integration I ve seen of the soon to be launched ESPN Bet and the existing ESPN App.
Chris Lynch (@ChrisLynchNJ)
PENN Entertainment revealed plans for ESPN app integration during their recent Q3 earnings call. ESPN BET will have a presence across ESPN linear and digital platforms, acting as the exclusive odds provider with six-pack odds integration within the ESPN app.
More information is coming soon on other features like personalized bet modules and content, ESPN Fantasy integrations, and customized bet tracking with push notifications through the ESPN app.
2) PENN Entertainment Industry Expertise
This isn t the first rodeo for PENN Entertainment, as the gaming giant has a history with running other successful sportsbooks. That s good news for ESPN, who accepted a bid of $1.5 billion in cash over 10 years, as well as $500 million in stock warrants to ink a deal with PENN.
PENN Entertainment s CEO Jay Snowden kicks off PENN s Q3 Earning report.
Snowden officially announces the ESPN BET launch for Tuesday, Nov. 14.
RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl)
PENN noted their success with theScore Bet sportsbook in Canada during their Q3 earnings report. Employing a similar integration strategy between theScore media app and theScore Bet sportsbook, PENN touted 73% of their total handle came from what they call ecosystem users.
After moving over to a proprietary tech stack on other platforms, PENN saw a 21% year-over-year increase in monthly active sports bettors, and ESPN BET will likely rely on the same in-house technology.
ESPN BET has an experienced gaming operator in their corner, which only helps their chances of success.
3) Quality Features That Sports Bettors Love
While details surrounding ESPN BET app features are still emerging, we caught a first glimpse of product details during the Q3 PENN earnings call.
Four notable highlights were revealed, and they re all features that sports bettors will love:
Parlay+ (Same-Game Parlays)
Quick Bets (Live Betting)
Featured Bets With Notable ESPN Personalities
Shareable Bet Slips for Social Media
More premier features will be revealed for ESPN BET in the coming days, and thanks to PENN s previous history in the sports betting industry, bettors can expect a world class wagering experience from this new platform.
4) Unique Personalities Backing Valuable Promos
ESPN has a stable of unforgettable personalities across their various products, and there s no doubt they ll be leaning on these figures heavily to push ESPN BET and the promotions they start to offer.
Scott Van Pelt and Elle Duncan have already been tapped to lead the initial marketing efforts for ESPN BET. Other personalities like Erin Dolan, who often appears on the Daily Wager (soon to be renamed ESPN BET Live), and possibly even Pat McAfee or Stephen A. Smith could be called upon to help push ESPN BET promotional efforts.
ESPN BET plans to launch Nov. 14
🗒️ Daily Wager to rebrand as ESPN BET Live Nov. 10
🗒️ Nov. 6 will be the final show as Daily Wager
🗒️ SportsCenter anchor will join in upcoming creative campaign
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John R. Manzo (@JohnRManzo)
While details on an for new users are currently unknown, we re keeping a close eye out for the latest news on what the bonus will be and any personalities that could be backing it.
5) Launching in 17 States With More to Come
Finally, ESPN BET will have a massive reach when they first go live, as PENN Entertainment has access to 17 legal sports betting markets in the US.
The 17 states ESPN BET will launch in on Tuesday, Nov. 14 include the following:
Arizona
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Jersey
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
The importance of launching in numerous US sports betting markets at once cannot be understated. ESPN is a household name across the country, and having millions of potential customers will give ESPN BET a massive boost right out of the gate.
With other markets like the scene launching in 2024, ESPN BET will also look to expand to new states as they become available.
If they play their cards right, ESPN BET could become one of the biggest and most popular sportsbooks in the country.
