Penn Entertainment plans to launch ESPN Bet-branded sportsbooks at 10 more venues across the USA. The locations include casinos in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia, according to the report.
Penn plans ESPN Bet-branded sportsbooks at 10 additional venues across seven states.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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The NBA has issued sportsbook partners new guidance restricting certain bet types, including same-player parlays. The outlet said it confirmed the guidance with the league, DraftKings and FanDuel after ESPN’s initial report.
Illinois Representative Daniel Didech filed HB5143 to end the state’s per-bet sportsbook fee from 1 July 2026, according to the report. The bill would amend the fee’s scheduled duration; operators currently pay $0.25 on the first 20 million bets and $0.50 on additional wagers. It would need to pass before the change takes effect.
Illinois lawmakers approved a budget on 31 May that adds a fee to online sports bets, according to the report; Governor J.B. Pritzker said he would sign it. Operators would pay $0.25 for each of their first 20 million online bets annually and $0.50 for each bet beyond that, with the fee estimated to raise $36m a year. The charge would apply alongside the state’s existing progressive tax on sportsbook revenue.
New Jersey sportsbooks generated more than $100m in revenue in April, reportedly. The statewide hold was 10.9%, while gross gaming revenue rose 12.8% year on year.
US gambling operators spent $520m on celebrity and athlete endorsements in 2025 and $60m on responsible gambling communications, an 8.7-to-1 ratio, according to a 5W audit. The audit reviewed spending and regulator engagement by 30 operators over 24 months. In 11 of the 38 states with legal sports betting, regulators said they hear proactively from fewer than three operators a year on responsible gambling outside mandatory filings.