ESPN Bet Review
ESPN Bet is expected to launch in the coming months ushering fear among competing sportsbooks and excitement among bettors. The birth of the ESPN Bet sportsbook is down to the collaboration of Penn Entertainment and ESPN. Penn brings the knowledge and technology after it's purchase of Score Media and Gaming Inc back in 2021 and thus will piggyback off the household name of ESPN. This partnership is hoping to attain up to 20% market share across 16 states.
As the ESPN Bet platform has not yet set a launch date, we will explore all that is predicted from the ESPN Bet Sportsbook. Our analysis will be based on the success of the Barstool Sportsbook, Penn's acquisitions and strategy and an understanding of the ESPN brand.
The Deal: ESPN & Penn Entertainment
Penn Entertainment had a respectable run with Barstool Sports attempting to funnel traffic from Dave Portnoy's audience to the Barstool sportsbook. Penn however underestimated the destain of many regulators of Barstool founder leading to many a hiccup. Having their eyes set on a larger slice of the market, Penn cut ties with Barstool inevitably losing them hundreds of millions. Now moving their cash to EPSN they secured a deal of 1.5 billion in investments over a 10-year period.
For ESPN this deal came at the perfect time, as the move into the online sports betting world has become a must for media giants. Utilising Penn's market knowledge and technology will ensure that ESPN Bet hits the ground running!
Betting Markets
As a sports-first brand, we anticipate ESPN Bet to cover sports betting markets extensively. All of the usual suspects from Major League Sports, College Basketball and Football to The Olympic Games and the Tour de France. Sports bettors can also expect a range of wager types including Parlays, Live Betting, Spread, Over/Under Totals, Futures, and Parlay Builders.
Available Sports at ESPN Bet
Here is a glimpse at the options available for online sports betting within the ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
Bonuses & Promotions
ESPN Bet welcome bonus will most likely be a deposit match bonus of between 100-200%. This enticing bonus offer lets sports fans double their initial deposit at the ESPN Sportsbook. For instance, if you deposit $100 with an ESPN Bet Bonus of 100%, the sportsbook will match your deposit leaving you with $200 to use on your online betting ventures.
Check on the ESPN Sports Betting App before registration as the bonus may differ. Downloading the betting app will give you access to all bonuses and promotions from anywhere you bet.
Weekly promotional offers such as no deposit bonuses, free bets, second chance bonus bets, and referral bonus offers will also be up for grabs on both the ESPN Bet sportsbook app for bettors on desktop.
Note: ESPN Bet will launch with a specific "ESPN Bet promo code" for new members. This review will be updated upon the launch date with all promo codes.
How to Register an Account at ESPN Bet
All new customers will need to register an ESPN Bet account in order to avail of the platform. The process of registration will be like that of any other sportsbook. Follow this step-by-step guide while setting up your account.
Banking Methods: Deposits & Withdrawals
Based upon Penn Entertainments' previous venture with the Barstool sportsbook, there will be up to 11 payment options. Each can be set up on the app allowing you to top up your ESPN Bet account instantly. Here is a list of the banking options that will be available on the ESPN Sportsbook:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Discover
- PayNearMe
- Maestro
- Wire Transfer
- PayPal
- Bank Transfer
- Echeck
- Play+
- Online Banking
The deposit and withdrawal procedures will be similar to that of all the top sportsbooks. Topping up your account will be instant and withdrawals can take between 1-3 business days (depending on the payment provider).
ESPN Bet App
The anticipation for the ESPN Bet Mobile App is irrefutable! Rumours of features and improvements are spreading with the Barstool Sportsbook App rebrand. Live betting will be effortless with competitive odds all available from your pocket device.
Customer Service
ESPN Bet will provide 24/7 customer support with a live chat available to all registered users. All queries will be answered promptly ensuring your online sports betting experience is smooth. For more serious concerns mobile/email will be available upon launch allowing you to formulate more in-depth concerns or questions on the ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
With general queries, ESPN Bet will have a dedicated frequently asked questions section. This gives you the opportunity to squash any basic worries such as the minimum deposit amount, bonus expiry dates, or ID verification troubles.
ESPN Bet State Licenses
Upon the ESPN Bet launch date, online sports betting fanatics will be able to utilise the platform within 16 states. As Penn Entertainment continues acquiring licenses, the ESPN Bet Sportsbook will be available within more states. Currently, the sports betting states will be as follows:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Virginia
Responsible Gambling
As the sports betting industry grows rapidly, sports bettors have easier access than ever to wager. ESPN Sportsbook offers self-exclusion, links to resources, and betting caps for players who wish to control their online sports betting. For additional information, the ESPN Bet live chat agents can guide you through the process.
Conclusion
The anticipated sports betting partnership is one that will rock the landscape of betting for the better. These two giants in their domain have all the tools at their expense to create an online sportsbook like no other. Competitive odds, lucrative promotional offers, and variety in sports betting markets will be at the forefront of the ESPN Bet brand. Check back in on our ESPN Bet review as we add the latest updates along the way!