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A lot changed in the U.S. sports betting market recently, and many bettors are asking what happens next. ESPN BET will close on December 1 after PENN Entertainment and ESPN agreed to end their licensing partnership. The change affects millions of sportsbook users, but PENN plans to keep everyone active through a transition to theScore Bet, a platform the company already owns and operates.
Good to Know
PENN Entertainment entered the ESPN deal in August 2023 with a goal to become a top-three sportsbook brand in the United States. At the time, the company publicly aimed for roughly 20% market share. Reality played out differently. ESPN BET held about 3% nationwide, placing it near seventh in the rankings, while FanDuel and DraftKings continued to hold comfortable leads with more than 30% each.
PENN CEO Jay Snowden said:
“When we first announced our partnership with ESPN, both sides made it clear that we expected to compete for a podium position in the space. Although we made significant progress in improving our product offering and building a cohesive ecosystem with ESPN, we have mutually and amicably agreed to wind down our collaboration.”
The digital gaming division of PENN reported more than $1 billion in adjusted earnings losses over two years. After the partnership announcement ended, Disney entered a new sports betting relationship with DraftKings. The change means ESPN will now link more directly to DraftKings offerings as part of ESPN app integrations.
PENN will return to its in-house sportsbook identity through theScore Bet beginning December 1. The company purchased theScore media and sports betting technology platform in 2021 for $2 billion. In Ontario, theScore Bet gained meaningful traction, supported by the well-known sports media app with millions of U.S. and Canadian users.
ESPN BET users will not need to take any extra steps when the transition occurs. The current ESPN BET app will convert into theScore Bet. Login credentials, account balances, futures wagers, and all user data will carry over without interruption.
PENN also continues to run Hollywood iCasino, which will remain available alongside theScore Bet for players in eligible states.
Snowden highlighted the importance of control moving forward:
“We are in full control of our entire business moving forward. We own our brands, we own our database, we own our tech stack, and we have extremely talented teams.”
PENN is a major operator of regional casinos, but growth among younger online bettors has required experimentation. The company previously acquired Barstool Sports to support its Barstool Sportsbook strategy, using Barstool personalities to attract new sign-ups. That approach captured only low single-digit market share. The brand later returned to founder Dave Portnoy for $1.
The ESPN BET attempt followed, aligning with one of the most recognized sports media brands globally. While the partnership did not produce expected sportsbook traction, PENN walked away with a substantial customer base of 2.9 million accounts to use for future marketing.
Service under the ESPN BET branding will close on December 1.
No. All balances, settings, and account profiles transfer automatically to theScore Bet.
No. The ESPN BET app will change over to theScore Bet on its own.
All bets remain valid and will carry over to theScore Bet without needing action from the user.
Yes. PENN is already offering a 100% parlay boost to users, with additional promotional offers expected before and after the transition.
No. theScore Bet has operated in Canada and previously in four U.S. states.
No. However, DraftKings will supply sports betting odds and product access through the ESPN app.