PENN Entertainment to Rebrand 10 More Sportsbooks as ESPN BET

PENN Entertainment has announced plans to rebrand an additional 10 retail sportsbooks under the “ESPN BET Sportsbook” name by early 2025. This move, subject to regulatory approvals, will bring the total number of ESPN BET-branded locations at PENN properties to 19. The expanded partnership strengthens ESPN’s influence in the sports betting market and showcases PENN’s operational expertise.

Expanding Across Six States

The new ESPN BET locations will span properties in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and West Virginia. These sportsbooks are situated within PENN’s popular Hollywood and Ameristar Casino brands, catering to customers across diverse regions.

The 10 properties set for rebranding include:

• Iowa: Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs
• Pennsylvania: Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Hollywood Casino York, and Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
• Ohio: Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course
• Colorado: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk
• Indiana: Hollywood Casino and Hotel Lawrenceburg and Ameristar Casino East Chicago
• West Virginia: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

These additions existing ESPN BET retail sportsbooks already operating in Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio, reflecting the brand’s nationwide reach.

The ESPN BET Advantage

The rebranded sportsbooks leverage ESPN’s iconic brand recognition and media influence alongside PENN Entertainment’s deep experience in sportsbook management. Currently, ESPN BET operates online sports betting across 19 states, offering a seamless integration of digital and physical betting experiences.

Despite its expansion, PENN Entertainment has faced regulatory hurdles. Recently, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) fined Penn Sports Interactive $10,000 for accepting illegal bets on non-Division I NCAA basketball games. Investigations revealed that 249 bets totaling over $12,000 were placed on 27 games featuring non-Division I teams in 2024.

This incident prompted the MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau to examine how ESPN BET handled illegal wagers. These challenges have raised concerns among investors, with a Deutsche Bank analyst suggesting that the issues could hinder PENN’s progress.

The partnership between ESPN and PENN Entertainment reflects a bold strategy to combine media influence with operational expertise in the sports betting industry. By rebranding these 10 additional sportsbooks, the companies aim to enhance their presence and drive customer engagement in a highly competitive market.

As ESPN BET continues to grow, addressing regulatory compliance and investor concerns will remain critical to sustaining long-term success.

Source:

”ESPN and PENN Entertainment Expand ESPN BET Sportsbook Brand”, espnpressroom.com, January 09, 2025.