ESPN BET App Downloads Heavy on Launch Day
- ESPN BET launched yesterday across 17 states
- The sports betting app was the number-one downloaded app in the App Store
- The very first bet placed on the app ($5) hit for +175
As expected, the ESPN BET app had a big first day.
The newest sports betting operator launched yesterday around 3:30 p.m. EST across 17 states. At the end of the day it found itself as the number-one most downloaded app in the Apple app store.
It’s the beginning of a journey for the partnership between PENN Entertainment and ESPN, taking its first steps towards its stated goal of at least a 20% share of the sports betting market in the country.
Use code DIME when downloading the ESPN BET app. Copy the code in the banner below then click BET NOW:
Top App On Day One
The app downloads for ESPN BET were heavy on Tuesday, Nov. 14, and have continued to hold steady moving into today. Mike Mags, senior project manager for ESPN Fantasy, ESPN BET, and ESPN, noted last night on the social media platform X that ESPN BET was the top downloaded app in Apple app store.
I cannot explain how much joy it gives me to remove Temu from the #1 spot in the App Store.
ESPN BET is the #1 app on Day 1. Here to serve sports fans and sports bettors.
Thank you 🙏
Again, only the start of the marathon… #Onward pic.twitter.com/12hfgrYkWj
— Mike Mags (@itsmikemags) November 15, 2023
As of this morning, ESPN BET still held the top spot in the app store.
ESPN BET still holding as the #1 app in the App Store this morning. pic.twitter.com/IjIgeuA7lv
— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) November 15, 2023
PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden touted the launch as a success. PENN Entertainment and ESPN agreed to the 10-year sports betting partnership this past August, as the company has completely rebranded its Barstool Sportsbook to ESPN BET.
“We’re extremely proud to introduce ESPN BET and look forward to delivering an exceptional customer experience to fans across the U.S.,” said Jay Snowden, CEO & President, PENN Entertainment, in a released statement. “Our successful launch is the culmination of months of hard work across both teams and we could not be more excited to roll out ESPN BET in partnership with ESPN. PENN’s operational excellence paired with ESPN’s unmatched brand and reach is a powerful combination that will drive this compelling new sportsbook.”
PENN secured the exclusive rights in August to the ESPN BET trademark for online sports betting in the U.S. for an initial 10-year term which may be extended for an additional 10 years upon mutual agreement. PENN Entertainment agreed to pay $1.5 billion to ESPN over the initial 10-year term and grant ESPN approximately $500 million of warrants to purchase 31.8 million PENN common shares.
First Wager on ESPN BET Hits
The first bet placed on the sportsbook app was a $5 wager on Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama to combine for over 19.5 rebounds in yesterday’s Thunder vs. Spurs game. The bet hit and paid off at +175 for the user, according to ESPN’s David Payne Purdum.
The first bet placed on the ESPN BET sportsbook was a $5 wager on Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama to combine for over 19.5 rebounds in tonight's Thunder-Spurs game at +175.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) November 15, 2023
ESPN BET is now live in the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
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Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.
