What Can Bettors Expect from ESPN Bet?

• PENN Entertainment has officially launched a partnership with ESPN to create “ESPN Bet”
• ESPN Bet is currently planning on launching this fall
• What should sports bettors expect from the latest entry into the online sports betting scene?

Now that the dust has settled just a bit surrounding the blockbuster news that PENN Entertainment is creating their own online sports betting service with ESPN, one consistent question has emerged.

What can bettors actually expect from ESPN Bet?

The online sports betting industry is currently dominated by household brands DraftKings and FanDuel, and PENN Entertainment has already failed to take control of the market once with the soon-to-be-discontinued Barstool Sportsbook. The hope for PENN is that ESPN’s massive brand will allow them to carve out a presence in the industry, but a lot of that hinges on the success of ESPN Bet’s actual technology, marketing, and overall accessibility.

Expect to See ESPN Bet Plastered All Over Your TVs

Before even touching on any of the regulatory or technical aspects of ESPN Bet’s upcoming launch, it would be foolish to not mention the extreme power that ESPN’s branding holds.

ESPN College Gameday, for example, is one of the most popular college football programs in the entire United States. One can reasonably expect that show will now push constant mentions of ESPN Bet on their audience.

ESPN’s coverage of professional leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB and others will contain content designed to push viewers into signing up with an ESPN Bet promo as well.

Additionally, ESPN’s recent partnership with Pat McAfee and The Pat McAfee show gives them another outlet to promote their new betting brand. McAfee has a loyal fanbase and he’s never been one to shy away from online sports betting talk.

Needless to say, ESPN will likely spend a great deal of time and energy ensuring that ESPN Bet is thrown at TV watchers as much as humanly possible.

What Will the ESPN Bet App Look Like?

With most bettors preferring to complete their wagers via their phones these days, the ESPN Bet app is of great importance here.

Expect the ESPN Bet app to look very similar to theScore Bet’s app. PENN Entertainment purchased theScore Bet back in late 2021 and have frequently praised the sportsbook’s in-app technology.

PENN will presumably be looking to take theScore Bet’s in-app technology and apply it to the ESPN Bet app.

Promos, special odds boosts, same game parlay bonuses, etc. are all standard in-app betting promotions.

Which States Is ESPN Bet Going to Be Legal In?

ESPN Bet is currently scheduled to go live in the following states:

Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.

Don’t be surprised to see New York or Kentucky potentially join this list soon.

Will There Be an ESPN Bet Welcome Offer?

Now, getting to the juicy stuff — will there be an ESPN Bet welcome offer for new users?

One of the best ways to claim bonus bets while wagering on sports online is with new-user bonuses. These welcome offers are extremely user-friendly and designed to reward new customers with an influx of winnings.

ESPN Bet has yet to announce a welcome offer. However, PENN Entertainment typically offered a $1,000 sign-up bonus to new bettors while they ran Barstool Sportsbook. It’s possible they run something similar with ESPN Bet.