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ESPN BET App: Legal States, Downloading App, Bonus Bets & More

Bill Speros for Bookies.com

Bill Speros  | 12 mins

ESPN BET App: Legal States, Downloading App, Bonus Bets & More

Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: BOOKIES

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Must be 21+ and present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, or WV. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA VA, WV). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org in MA. Call or text REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

ESPN BET sportsbook represents the long-awaited entry of the Worldwide Leader into the legal, regulated online sports betting space. The PENN Entertainment-owned rebranded book ESPN BET is now live following regulatory approval in the 17 states in which PENN is licensed, and now sports bettors can get an exclusive welcome offer when they download the ESPN Bet app.

Use the ESPN Bet promo code BOOKIES to receive $150 in bonus bets when you bet anything! This means whether your first wager earns you a cash profit or not, you will get a $150 bonus. The Bonus Bet reward will be split into five (5) Bonus Bets valued at $20 each and one (1) Bonus Bet valued at $50.

If you want to claim this welcome offer ensure you are using the ESPN BET promo code BOOKIES when you sign up to claim the full $150 bonus.

ESPN Bet App Latest Promo Terms & Conditions

🖊️ ESPN BET Promo CodeBOOKIES
🎁 ESPN BET Welcome Offer Bet Anything Get $150 Bonus Bets
🎁 Minimum Deposit$10
📲 ESPN BET AppiOS & Android
🌎 Legal StatesAZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, NJ, MD, MI, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV
Verified OnMar 28 2024

Why Download the ESPN BET App?

Downloading the ESPN BET App will put all the features of the desktop site just a click of an ESPN logo away on their mobile device. The ESPN Bet app for Android and iOS is available in all 17 states the ESPN Bet sports betting site is legal in, and there is no more convenient way for sports bettors to use the ESPN Bet sportsbook.

ESPN BET App: Legal States, Downloading App, Bonus Bets & More 1

Like most apps in the sports betting market, the ESPN BET sports betting app is designed to get sports bettors to the best sports betting markets with the minimum of fuss. The main navigation allows you to access the biggest sports, promotions, odds boosts and offers, or in-play markets at the click of a button. 

While the ESPN Bet app home screen loads with the top upcoming sporting events and those already in play. Vital for saving those all-important seconds if you’re heading to the ESPN bet app for some in play sports betting.

The home screen also displays the latest ESPN Bet app promos, so you won’t miss out on any deposit match or bonus bet offers for existing customers once you sign up. Expect odds boosts on the biggest games, same game parlays offers, and any other betting specials to appear here. And don’t think you need to log in to the ESPN Bet app to stay up to date. 

Just like the other best sports betting apps will send out timely notifications, meaning you’ll never miss out on top offers from ESPN Bet when you download the app for Android and iOS from the respective app stores.

Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: BOOKIES

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Used 38 Times Today
Must be 21+ and present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, or WV. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA VA, WV). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org in MA. Call or text REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

ESPN has been in the gambling business since Day 1, given its primacy as the first, major, national sports cable network. Since sports betting was allowed to proliferate nationwide following the Supreme Court’s reversal of PASPA in 2018, point spreads, game totals, and futures odds have been a staple of ESPN programming. 

But the WWL has been happy to take the ad dollars and sponsorship money from the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars Sportsbook. Now, ESPN will be leveraging its own brand, as well. 

Its partnership with Penn Entertainment calls for Penn to pay ESPN $150 million a year for 10 years. Depending on performance, ESPN was also granted up to $500 million in warrants to buy shares of PENN stock. Bookies.com learned that ESPN tried to make a deal with DraftKings and FanDuel but neither operator was willing to meet its asking price of $200 million a year combined in cash and stock. 

Meanwhile, PENN sold Barstool Sports back to its founder, Dave Portnoy, for the nominal fee of $1. PENN paid a total of $551 million for Barstool in separate installments in 2019 and in February of 2023. Portnoy still has his money, and now his company. There are some restrictions, including a non-compete clause when it comes to sports betting.  

There are lots of questions. Let’s answer some for you. 

Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: BOOKIES

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Must be 21+ and present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, or WV. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA VA, WV). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org in MA. Call or text REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

Q: Is ESPN BET Live?

The newly re-branded ESPN BET app is Now Live!

"We are excited to announce that we plan to simultaneously launch ESPN BET across the 17 states in which we operate online sports betting, subject to final approvals. This strategic alliance is expected to further expand our digital ecosystem and drive re-engagement with the millions of customers in our digital and retail databases, leading to compelling cross-sell opportunities," Snowden said earlier.

The was approved by regulators in the 17 states where PENN operates. Those are:

In Massachusetts, PENN submitted 57 pages of house rules for ESPN BET to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to give bettors a hint at what they can expect from the book.

Some states move much quicker than others. One state where you won’t find ESPN BET any time soon is New York. PENN/Barstool never bothered to get licensed in the Empire State because of the 50% tax on net revenues. 

It’s not known if it will see another partner in the states in which PENN is not licensed (this includes ESPN's home state of Connecticut, where a license is up for grabs after BetRivers pulled out its partnership with the CT Lottery). 

Q: Will ESPN Be Running Its Own Sportsbook?

A: No. This is basically a naming rights deal. Like you would see for a stadium. PENN is paying ESPN $150 million a year for 10 years to use the ESPN brand on its sportsbooks. Those books are currently using the Barstool Sports brand. PENN is licensed to operate retail and mobile books in 16 states. PENN holds the licenses for those books. 

"We are firmly convinced that we will be getting significant value for our marketing dollars by allocating those funds to the single-best brand and platform in the U.S. to reach sports fans and potential bettors," said PENN CEO Jay Snowden after the deal closed on August 8. 

Q: What Is the ESPN BET Promo Code for New Users?

A: The ESPN Bet Promo Code required for new users is BOOKIES to get up to $150 in bonus bets.

Q: Why Did PENN Rebrand Barstool Sportsbook to ESPN BET?

A: Its deal with Barstool never delivered the market share that PENN wanted. PENN holds less than 5% of the national market. That's just not enough. Snowden says he hopes to have 20% of the betting market by 2027. And he plans to spend aggressively outside the ESPN brand to make that happen.

In Massachusetts, which is Barstool’s home state, the mobile Barstool book has ranked fourth behind DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM in terms of overall handle, market share, and revenue. 

 ESPN delivers a much greater potential reach. ESPN.com had 335.5M visitors last month. Barstoolsports.com had 7 million. Snowden said PENN has 1.5 million more people in its database than it did before the Barstool deal. 

Q: What Are The Details Of The PENN-ESPN BET Deal?

A: PENN has an out after three and seven years if it does not see a certain market share in comparison to some of the larger providers. Those numbers are not known. But PENN has an out in case this doesn’t work. Barstool, meanwhile, is not allowed to return to the sports betting space. If Portnoy sells or monetizes any or all of the company, PENN will be entitled to 50% of that. 

Q: What Happens To My Barstool Account?

Barstool Sportsbook account details will roll over to your ESPN BET account, including money you may have in your wallet. Barstool Sportsbook users will be prompted to download the new ESPN BET app once available and use their Barstool Sportsbook credentials to access their accounts. Account details, pending wagers, and any balances will transition "seamlessly." But customers will have to download the new app themselves. 

Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: BOOKIES

Visit site
Used 71 Times Today
Must be 21+ and present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, or WV. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA VA, WV). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org in MA. Call or text REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

Q: What’s In It For ESPN?

A: $150 million per year for basically nothing. ESPN is being operated as a stand-alone entity by Disney. It has lost about 20% of its cable subscribers since its peak and the Sports Business Journal reported that FOX Sports 1 is now estimated to be in more households with cable than ESPN for the first time ever. 

Streaming doesn’t match the revenue that monthly paid cable subscriptions once did. It needs as many revenue streams as possible. The deal does not prohibit ESPN from selling advertising to PENN’s betting competitors. 

What Is The ESPN BET logo?

A: The new logo was unveiled on October 18. Here's a look: 

Q: What’s Next For Barstool?

“The Pirate Ship Is Back.” That was Portnoy’s first reaction on social media when announcing the news. He is now back in full control of the company, which is no longer in the betting business. Its focus will be “content, content, content,” he said. 

And there will be no one telling them what they can and cannot say. The regulated environment was never a good fit for Barstool. Portnoy and his company were under constant scrutiny by regulators, even before it was licensed in some states. 

"Barstool will now be able to return to what it does best — provide unique and authentic entertainment content to their loyal fan base without the restrictions + guardrails that come from being owned by a publicly traded, licensed regulated gaming company," Snowden said. 

Q: How Will The PENN-ESPN BET Deal Affect The Sports Betting Space?

A: There’s another 800-pound gorilla in the room, along with DraftKings and FanDuel. ESPN immediately becomes a top-tier player because of its size and potential reach. But as we’ve seen in the past with the likes of PointsBet USA and FOX BET, having a network deal doesn’t guarantee success. 

PENN still has to convert ESPN’s audience into betting customers on its betting app, after its competitors have been advertising on the same platform for 5 years. PENN and ESPN must develop a customer-user experience that matches the quality of those two other operators. Snowden said the current Barstool Sports app will be “reskinned.” 

Q: Isn't There A Conflict of Interest For ESPN?

A: Potentially. And this is where public perceptions matter most. Shams Charania and FanDuel got caught in a conflict-of-interest controversy during the NBA Draft. ESPN will not have any of its “insiders,” such as Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski, appearing on any gambling-related shows. But the deal does include "access and endorsement from top ESPN talent," Snowden said. ESPN prohibits the usage of “non-public information” and bars employees from providing inside information to others for betting purposes. Employees are also banned from betting on "games or events you are assigned to work or cover." It bars "Talent designated as Reporters and Insiders are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet on the properties (e.g., NFL, college football, NBA) they regularly cover."

Bet $10, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
Promo Code: BOOKIES

Visit site
Used 5 Times Today
Must be 21+ and present in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, or WV. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA VA, WV). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), Call (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org in MA. Call or text REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

About the Author

Bill Speros for Bookies.com
Bill Speros
Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.