PENN Entertainment and ESPN planned to launch ESPN BET on 14 November, following a partnership formed in August, the companies said. PENN was to pay $150 million annually for the ESPN branding rights; the company said it aimed for a 20% nationwide market share by 2027.
The launch gives operators a new sportsbook competitor backed by ESPN branding.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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DraftKings and ESPN plan to introduce account linking before March Madness, enabling customers to connect the two platforms. ESPN said linked users will receive betting selections informed by their app use, access to a bracket-based betting feature and one free month of ESPN Unlimited.
ESPN plans to rework ESPN Bet Live after temporarily removing the programme from its television schedule following the end of its sports betting partnership with PENN Entertainment. An ESPN spokesperson confirmed the planned changes, but the network has not set a return date; ESPN and PENN announced the partnership’s termination on 5 November.
Penn Entertainment relaunched theScore Bet in the US on 1 December, replacing ESPN Bet after the companies ended their agreement in November 2025. The sportsbook is available in 21 jurisdictions, including Missouri, where sports betting began at the same time. Penn said customers can use their existing ESPN Bet credentials, with account details and open wagers transferred.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said PENN must provide a detailed account of its relationship with ESPN before the rebranded sportsbook can launch in the state. Commission staff said PENN executives indicated they would provide an explanation the following week, and commissioners scheduled an additional meeting for 7 November to discuss the matter.
ESPN and Penn Entertainment agreed to launch ESPN Bet in the US under a 10-year partnership, according to the report. Penn will pay $1.5bn in cash and ESPN will receive warrants worth $500m, with options tied to performance benchmarks. The sportsbook will replace Penn’s Barstool Sportsbook and be available in 16 states, the report said.