August 9th, 2023

ESPN Bet Sportsbook & Betting App Review | September 2023

Jay Sanin

ATS.io Quick Take On ESPN Bet

By replacing Barstool Sportsbook, ESPN Bet has already improved the legitimacy and integrity of the American sports betting landscape. We will have more information on ESPN Bet in the near future, but the fact that ESPN is getting into the sports betting game is certainly an interesting prospect for bettors who have seen other operators attempt to integrate sports media into their products.

About ESPN Bet

In August 2023, ESPN Bet was announced as a joint venture between Penn and ESPN, with Penn divesting from the ghastly Barstool Sports brand to pave the way for this sportsbook brand. This sportsbook will use the same technology as theScore Bet, which means bettors can expect virtually the same experience, wrapped in ESPN’s packaging.

Continue reading for our thoughts on the future at ESPN’s new sportsbook, as we will update this page with more information when it comes available.

The Good & Bad at ESPN Bet

The biggest positive when it comes to ESPN’s new sportsbook venture is the fact that the legitimacy of the ESPN brand is involved. Going from the circus at Barstool to the more buttoned up ESPN will mean fewer regulatory concerns surrounding so-called “can’t lose parlays” and merchandise promotions and more focus on sports betting.

Of course, this does not mean that ESPN Bet will be perfect, as there will be questions about the ability of Penn to handle a larger market share than they had with Barstool. But we will see how ESPN answers those questions when they are up and running.

ESPN Bet Sportsbook Promotions

Sportsbook promotions will be something to keep a close eye on at ESPN, as they have the opportunity to be more generous due to the money-printing machine that is Disney. There is no reason to expect that to happen, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. When we know more about the ESPN Bet welcome bonus, we will let you know what it is all about.

Along with a new player promo, any other promotions that ESPN offers will be listed here as well. Most sportsbooks are relying heavily on parlay profit boosts these days, and it would be nice to see ESPN Bet reward those who do not wish to throw their funds into parlay wagers.

ESPN Sportsbook Rewards Program

Whether or not there is an ESPN sportsbook rewards program will be fascinating, as ESPN has the potential to do some very cool things with a loyalty program. Much like Fanatics, who can reward bettors with the potential for discounted merchandise, ESPN can use all of their other businesses to reward players for using their sportsbook. Nothing is set in stone just yet, though, and we will keep you posted once rewards program terms are announced.

What Kind of Bets Can I Make at ESPN?

ESPN is known as the Worldwide Leader in Sports, and one would expect them to offer a ton of sports to wager on accordingly. Bettors will have access to mainstream sports like football and basketball along with smaller sports. One question worth asking here is whether smaller sports that air on ESPN will be available for wagering, such as collegiate events in track and field or lacrosse, or even the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Does ESPN Sportsbook Have Teasers?

ESPN Bet will have teasers in sports like football and basketball for those who want them. Teasers lack value in basketball, so bettors should be careful with those, but football teasers can be used effectively in some cases to boost a player’s bankroll. Exact teaser payouts at ESPN Bet are to be determined, but there is no reason to believe that they will be much different than what can be found elsewhere.

Does ESPN Bet Have Parlays?

Parlay betting has become the most popular form of sports betting in the United States, even if it is not the most mathematically sound way to bet. There is likely to be a massive amount of parlay options at ESPN Bet, from traditional parlays to Same Game Parlays. Many of these parlay options will likely be tied to ESPN personalities, which could be just as annoying as it is when done with media personalities at DraftKings and FanDuel, but that remains to be seen.

Benefits Of Using ESPN Bet

There may not be a bigger potential benefit of using ESPN Bet than the potential to watch sporting events on ESPN while being able to bet on it in the same place. If that extends to small sporting events on streaming platforms like ESPN+, ESPN Bet could be an incredibly convenient place to place a wager.

Another potential benefit of betting at ESPN Bet will be the presence of ESPN personalities that people enjoy within their sportsbook. Fox Bet tried this with little success already, but people tend to like personalities like Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee more than they do Terry Bradshaw, so this idea could have a chance with ESPN.

From a betting perspective, the variety of sports and betting markets that could be available at ESPN Bet could make them a leader in the marketplace. Gaining market share on the big boys in the industry will not be easy, but the ESPN brand name could help this sportsbook make some inroads in that department.

What Makes ESPN’s Sportsbook Unique?

What makes ESPN Bet unique is the partnership between a popular sports media company and a successful name in the gambling industry. The distinction of a popular media company is important here, as Fox Sports doesn’t have nearly the same viewership and opportunities to promote a sportsbook as ESPN does. Sky Bet has made a partnership like this work in Europe, so there is a blueprint there for ESPN to have success.

While we don’t know just which deposit and withdrawal options are available at ESPN Bet just yet, we have an idea of what will be available based on what theScore Bet has for users. Here is a quick look at the deposit and withdrawal options we are likely to see at ESPN.

Deposit Options

Instant Bank Transfer
Debit Card
Credit Card
theScore Bet Play+

Withdrawal Options

VISA Debit Card
Online Banking via Trustly
PayPal
Electronic Funds Transfer

ESPN Sportsbook Legal States

By working with Penn, ESPN already has access to a large number of states in which they can operate, which used to be the states Barstool Sportsbook was operational. Below is a list of those states where ESPN is expected to offer its sports betting services.

Customer Service Information For ESPN Bet

Customer service is something that ESPN should do well with its sports betting site, as they have customer service operations already built for he rest of the ESPN empire. For now, we do not have the specifics on what customer service options there are, but this post will be updated when those options are confirmed.

ESPN Bet FAQs

Is ESPN Bet legal?

Yes, ESPN Bet is set to be legal, as they have partnered with Penn Gaming to operate legally in many US states.

Where can I use ESPN Sportsbook?

Bettors are expected to have access to ESPN Bet in the states where Barstool Sportsbook was active. A full list of those states can be found above.

When WIll ESPN Bet Launch?

There are no details on the launch date for ESPN’s sportsbook available just yet, but we will update this post when that information is available.

Is ESPN Bet Better Than Barstool Sportsbook?

Yes, ESPN’s new sportsbook will be better than Barstool Sportsbook, as this sportsbook should be palatable for a wider group of sports fans.