Stifel analyst says Penn-ESPN Bet termination is increasingly likely
Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial said Penn Entertainment and ESPN may end their ESPN Bet partnership when their mutual opt-out becomes available in August 2026. He cited ESPN Bet’s declining online sports betting handle share in July–September and modest improvement at the start of football season; Penn is due to report third-quarter results on 6 November.
A possible opt-out could determine whether Penn continues operating ESPN Bet beyond August 2026.