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DraftKings and ESPN plan a new account linking feature designed to connect bracket picks with sports betting markets ahead of the NCAA basketball tournaments. The feature targets the upcoming men NCAA Tournament and women NCAA Tournament, commonly known as March Madness.
The collaboration adds new interactive betting tools for fans who participate in ESPN bracket contests while also using DraftKings Sportsbook. Both companies confirmed the feature will introduce personalized wagering suggestions tied directly to bracket selections.
Good to Know
Under the new system, users will connect DraftKings accounts with ESPN profiles. Once connected, bracket picks submitted through ESPN will connect with available betting markets at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The feature introduces a new tool called Bet Your Bracket. Bettors who complete a bracket at ESPN will see odds attached to selections within that bracket, allowing wagers tied to the same predictions already entered for the tournament.
DraftKings will also generate suggested betting markets tailored to each bracket. That approach means different users may see different wagers depending on teams chosen during bracket creation.
The goal centers on creating a smoother link between bracket contests and sportsbook betting during March Madness.
Stephanie Sherman, chief marketing officer at DraftKings, described the partnership as a way to improve fan engagement during one of the largest events on the sports calendar. She said:
“DraftKings and ESPN share a deep passion for sports and a commitment to enhancing how fans engage with the moments that matter most – especially during the pinnacle of the college basketball season. As we work toward bringing the full DraftKings sports experience together nationwide through our upcoming Super App, DraftKings Sports & Casino, integrating account linking with ESPN is a natural step in creating a more seamless, connected platform for fans.”
DraftKings confirmed more details will arrive closer to launch. A precise rollout date has not yet been announced.
Personalization sits at the center of the account linking concept. DraftKings plans to adjust suggested bets and odds based on the teams users select in their brackets.
Mike Morrison, vice president of ESPN betting and fantasy, said the system will create a deeper connection between ESPN content and betting activity. He said:
“Account linking creates a level of personalization that no one else in the market can match. The Bet Your Bracket feature during March Madness is just the start. Soon fans will be able to seamlessly track upcoming, live and settled bets within the ESPN app and on ESPN.com, and receive bets and timely promotions based on their favorite sports, teams, players, and fantasy rosters.”
Future updates may also allow users to track wagers through ESPN platforms directly. That capability would allow fans to view active bets alongside sports coverage inside ESPN digital products.
Account linking also unlocks a free one month subscription to ESPN streaming plan ESPN Unlimited.
The new feature extends an existing relationship between DraftKings and ESPN. Cooperation between the two companies increased after a major shift in ESPN betting strategy during late 2025.
ESPN previously operated a sports betting partnership with PENN Entertainment through ESPN BET. That arrangement ended when both companies exited the joint venture. PENN later rebranded the sportsbook platform to theScore Bet.
Following that change, DraftKings became the official odds provider across ESPN platforms beginning in December. Odds and betting data from DraftKings now appear across ESPN digital content.
Account linking represents another step in the evolving collaboration between the sportsbook operator and the sports media network.
DraftKings also introduced another initiative earlier in the same week. The company revealed plans to build a single mobile product combining several forms of wagering.
The upcoming DraftKings Sports and Casino super app will include sports betting, online casino gaming, lottery products, and prediction style markets in jurisdictions where each category remains legal.