Copyright The Hollywood Reporter
Remember when ESPN was exiting the online sports-betting business an hour ago? Not anymore. ESPN has now announced its new betting deal with DraftKings, effective Dec. 1, 2025. The DraftKings products will be “exclusively integrated across ESPN’s ecosystem with a full rollout expected in 2026,” the companies stated on Thursday. The exclusivity is because ESPN Bet, the sports brand’s now-defunct partnership with Penn Entertainment, is over. Sort of. The ESPN Bet brand now be used just for content, like for sports-betting show ESPN Bet Live, which currently airs weekdays at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. “Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman, ESPN. “Working with DraftKings, a leader in the space, will allow us to build upon that foundation, continue to super-serve passionate sports fans and grow our ESPN direct-to-consumer business. We are excited about this new collaboration with DraftKings.” “ESPN’s unmatched visibility across the world of sports make this collaboration a natural fit,” said Jason Robins, CEO and co-founder of DraftKings. “As an innovative leader in digital sports entertainment, DraftKings is uniquely positioned to integrate our technology and products with ESPN’s iconic brand and storytelling power. Together, we’re delivering a seamless, engaging, and responsible experience that elevates how fans connect with live sports.” More to come.
