ESPN Ends Deal with PENN Entertainment
Just minutes after mutually terminating its exclusive U.S. online sports-betting agreement with PENN Entertainment, ESPN announced a new partnership with DraftKings.
New Multiyear Agreement with DraftKings
ESPN revealed that DraftKings will become its Official Sportsbook and Odds Provider under a multiyear deal. The ESPN BET app will be discontinued on December 1, 2025. Afterward, “ESPN BET” will transition into a sports-betting content brand featuring DraftKings Sportsbook integrations across the ESPN ecosystem. The full rollout is planned for 2026.
ESPN's Strategy and Collaboration
“Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “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.”
DraftKings’ Role in ESPN Platforms
- Power betting tab within the ESPN app
- Offer betting features like sportsbook, daily fantasy, and DraftKings Pick6
- Provide special promotions for ESPN Unlimited, ESPN's newly launched direct-to-consumer product
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between ESPN and DraftKings aims to enhance the sports-betting experience and expand ESPN’s direct-to-consumer business moving into 2026.
Author's summary: ESPN ended its partnership with PENN Entertainment and launched a new multiyear deal with DraftKings to power its sports-betting products and expand fan engagement across platforms.