ESPN just made a huge play in the sports betting world, cutting ties with its branded sportsbook, Espn Bet, much earlier than planned. Now, the Worldwide Leader is linking up with Draftkings, one of the biggest names in the game.
TL;DR: The Big Plays You Need To Know
- ESPN and Penn Entertainment have ended their 10-year, $1.5 billion (totaling around $2 billion including equity warrants) ESPN Bet partnership after less than two years.
- DraftKings is now ESPN's exclusive official sportsbook and odds provider, integrating directly into ESPN's apps and programming by December 1, 2025.
- ESPN Bet will live on as a content brand (like the ESPN BET Live show), but Penn's sportsbook will rebrand as theScore Bet.
Picture this: you're settling in for your morning sports fix on Get Up, and the hosts are diving deep into parlays and prop bets. For Mark Shapiro, president of TKO Group Holdings and a former ESPN executive, this scene became a "total turnoff." He recently voiced his frustration to Sports Business Journal, hoping ESPN's decision to end its ESPN Bet partnership would mean an end to the "non-stop conversation on every game with props and parlays and over-unders." Turns out, his wish just came true, in a way no one quite expected.
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, ESPN and Penn Entertainment announced they were mutually agreeing to terminate their ambitious 10-year partnership for ESPN Bet. This seismic shift, effective December 1, 2025, comes less than two years after the branded sportsbook's grand launch in November 2023. Simultaneously, ESPN dropped another bombshell: it's signed an exclusive multiyear sponsorship and promotion deal with DraftKings, making it the network's new official sportsbook and odds provider.
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Why the ESPN Bet Partnership Ended Its Game Early
The ESPN Bet project, a reported $1.5 billion cash deal over ten years (with an additional $500 million in equity warrants, bringing the total value to around $2 billion), was supposed to be a game-changer. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro had previously stated the focus was "to serve sports fans," acknowledging their desire for "betting content and the ability to place bets with less friction from within our products." Yet, the execution clearly fumbled.
Penn Entertainment, which operated ESPN Bet, struggled significantly. Just three months after its November 2023 launch, the rollout reportedly lost $334 million, causing Penn's stock to tumble. Despite heavy promotion from ESPN personalities, ESPN Bet never carved out a significant slice of the market, holding only about 3% of the U.S. online sports betting market. To put that in perspective, FanDuel commands roughly 35% and DraftKings 37% outside Nevada, effectively creating a duopoly that ESPN Bet couldn't crack.
Penn's CEO, Jay Snowden, conceded, "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." Penn had tried this play before, buying Barstool Sports and rebranding its sportsbook, only to sell Barstool back to Dave Portnoy for a symbolic $1, reportedly losing over $1 billion in the process. These ventures, based on leveraging a loud media brand, simply didn't convince bettors to switch from their established platforms. Source: [Sportico, "ESPN's Failed Bet Says Everything About Sports Gambling in 2025", November 6, 2025].
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Walking the Ethical Tightrope of Sports Gambling Coverage
Beyond the financial woes, the ESPN Bet partnership created glaring ethical complications that became increasingly hard to ignore. Imagine this: in October 2024, ESPN's Get Up was covering the FBI arrests of NBA player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups on gambling-related charges. While discussing a scandal directly tied to sports betting, an ESPN Bet banner was reportedly displayed on screen. This banner was then quickly erased, highlighting the awkward conflict of interest inherent in promoting a branded sportsbook while covering the very real, often problematic, downsides of gambling. Source: [TheWrap, "Amid a massive NBA gambling scandal, ESPN, one of the league’s top partners, is exiting its own betting arrangement", November 6, 2025].
While ESPN maintains its decision to end the Penn deal was unrelated to the NBA gambling scandal, the optics were undeniably difficult. No longer having its name directly tied to an operating sportsbook might provide some distance from future controversies, allowing ESPN to focus on its reporting without the perceived conflict of financial interest in the betting itself. Source: [Los Angeles Times, "ESPN takes name off betting app and partners with DraftKings", November 6, 2025].
Quote Box: A Former Exec's Frustration
"I just hope that this means we will not have to endure sports betting conversation infiltrating ESPN’s programming in the way it has, especially this football season. It’s just bad programming... In fact, it’s a total turnoff."
— Mark Shapiro, President, TKO Group Holdings and Former ESPN Executive
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A New Chapter: DraftKings Steps Up to the Plate for ESPN
So, what's next for ESPN's foray into the booming online sports gambling industry? Beginning December 1, 2025, DraftKings will become ESPN's exclusive official sportsbook and odds provider. This new agreement means DraftKings will be seamlessly integrated into ESPN's betting tab, app, and programming. Expect to see ESPN's on-air talent using DraftKings' odds, and ESPN Unlimited subscribers might even get some sweet special promotions.
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins called this new collaboration a "natural fit," emphasizing the opportunity to "integrate our technology and products with ESPN's iconic brand and storytelling power." This move signals ESPN's renewed commitment to providing betting content, but in a different, arguably less direct, capacity. While the ESPN Bet app is shutting down, the "ESPN BET" name will continue as a content brand, anchored by shows like ESPN BET Live, airing weekdays at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, along with social and digital channels.
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Addressing the Unresolved Questions About Sports Betting Content
One lingering question, echoed by critics like Mark Shapiro, is whether this new DraftKings arrangement will actually dial back the constant gambling talk that some viewers find off-putting. While ESPN no longer has its name directly on a struggling sportsbook, DraftKings now has exclusive access to the network's vast platforms and audiences. This could lead to a different flavor of integration, but the core presence of betting content will undoubtedly remain. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has been clear: it would be "very hard for ESPN today to serve the sports fan without providing substantial, meaningful betting content."
Example: The Fan's New Reality
Imagine Sarah, a casual sports fan who mainly uses the ESPN app for scores and highlights. For the past year, she'd noticed the prominent ESPN Bet branding and the constant mentions on TV. She never felt compelled to sign up, finding the barrage of odds a bit much. Now, come December, she'll see "DraftKings" integrated into her ESPN app's betting tab and hear their odds discussed. While the name on the betting app changes, the underlying presence of sports gambling content, driven by ESPN's desire to serve its audience, will still be a significant part of her sports media experience. The hope is that the integration feels more natural and less like a direct sales pitch.
Another crucial point is ESPN and DraftKings' shared commitment to responsible gaming. They plan to "collaborate to advance their shared commitment to responsible gaming, by dedicating prominent assets to educate, raise customer awareness and promote responsible play through campaigns and integrations." This is a significant consideration given the increasing scrutiny on the impact of sports betting.
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Practical Takeaways for Every Sports Fan
- Prepare for a Name Change: If you used the ESPN Bet app, it will cease to exist. Penn Entertainment plans to rebrand its sportsbook as theScore Bet.
- DraftKings is Now Your Go-To: Expect DraftKings to be the primary betting partner featured across all ESPN platforms, from TV to apps.
- Betting Content Isn't Going Away: While the type of integration might change, ESPN will continue to heavily feature sports betting discussions and odds as part of its programming.
- Look for New Promotions: If you're an ESPN Unlimited subscriber, keep an eye out for special promotions tied to the new DraftKings partnership.
Sources
- First Take, "Mark Shapiro hopes ESPN ends constant sports betting conversation after Penn breakup", Sam Neumann, November 6, 2025
- CNBC, "ESPN, Penn Entertainment ending sports betting partnership; ESPN signs deal with DraftKings", November 6, 2025
- The Spun, "ESPN Officially Ends Massive Sports Betting Partnership", Chris Rosvoglou, November 6, 2025
- Business Insider, "ESPN's failed bet says everything about sports gambling in 2025", Peter Kafka, November 6, 2025
- Los Angeles Times, "ESPN takes name off betting app and partners with DraftKings", Stephen Battaglio, November 6, 2025
- TheWrap, "Amid a massive NBA gambling scandal, ESPN, one of the league’s top partners, is exiting its own betting arrangement", Tony Maglio, November 6, 2025
- Huddle Up, "Penn Entertainment’s $1.5 Billion Gamble on ESPN Bet Ends In Disaster", Joe Pompliano, November 6, 2025
- Sportico, "ESPN Bet Ends: Penn Pivots to iGaming, ESPN to DraftKings", Eben Novy-Williams, November 6, 2025