Disney is fiercely protective of its family-friendly image, not typically associated with the world of sports gambling.Īt the time of August’s agreement, ESPN said it will use its platforms “to educate sports fans on responsible gaming” - for instance, by continuing to cover the sports betting industry with “journalistic integrity,” creating a “responsible gaming” committee within the company and developing marketing guidelines that “safeguard” fans. The upcoming launch of ESPN Bet could take Walt Disney Co. In August, Penn said it sold Barstool Sports back to its founder Dave Portnoy. In addition to the $1.5 billion licensing deal, Penn also said it would grant ESPN rights worth about $500 million to purchase shares in Penn.ĮSPN Bet is a rebranding of an existing sports-betting app, Barstool Sportsbook.
Its sports betting app is the most popular of its kind in Canada, surpassing even Walt Disneys ESPN.
Under August’s agreement, Penn’s rights to the ESPN brand will initially run for a decade with the option of extension for another 10 years. When Penn National Gaming (PENN 1.39) announced the acquisition of theScore on Aug. Results from other states where Penn National Gaming, the operator of Plainridge Park Casino, has launched its Barstool Sports-branded sports betting. ESPN Bet was set to go live in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
