Copyright MassLive
Starting Dec. 1, DraftKings will become the official sportsbook and odds provider for ESPN, the sports entertainment brand announced on Thursday. The partnership means DraftKings will be integrated across ESPN’s platforms, providing content for the betting tab within the brand’s app. Once it launches, ESPN users will be able to access DraftKings’ sportsbook, daily fantasy and Pick6. A full rollout of all integrations is expected in 2026. “Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “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.” The announcement follows the mutual agreement between EPSN and Penn Entertainment to end their U.S. sports betting contract on Thursday, also effective Dec. 1, Fox Business wrote. ESPN launched into the sports betting world in August 2023 with Penn Entertainment, which crafted ESPN Bet. The deal was worth $2 billion, the media outlet wrote. “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,” PENN Entertainment President and CEO Jay Snowden said in a statement to Fox Business. “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 new deal gives ESPN access to more than 10 million existing DraftKings’ customers across 28 states, Washington D.C. and Ontario, Canada, according to ESPN’s statement. Both companies said they are planning to “collaborate on a commitment to responsible gaming, including promoting responsible play through ad campaigns and integrations.”
