By: Joe Cardoso
The sports gambling industry is a billion-dollar business and is still growing. People who never thought about jumping into it are doing just that. Last week I decided to get in the game and got myself a Drafts Kings account, it has been super fun. Last night I was one Scottie Barnes layup away from winning $400. Having some skin in the game has added to the excitement and I am just getting started. From parlays to prop bets everyone wants a piece of the pie and looking to gain the lead in this new wave of money and excitement. The two big dogs are FanDuel and Draft Kings both of which have their good and bad, later this week Mark Wilson will talk much more about them both. As some of the litter companies fight for the leftovers a new player starts today and it is a name, we know very well ESPN. We all remember that Penn Entertainment paid $1.5 billion to lead this new effort and 16 states will be part of it. As the launch day of ESPN BET is here let’s see what it has to offer and if it is worth your time and money.
Where Can You Play?
ESPN BET will be available in 17 states where PENN Entertainment holds licenses already: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The number one reason people change sportsbooks is for the promos whether that be bonus bets, or make a deposit and get a bet(s) on the house. At the time of this writing the app is not available for download so what promo and features will come is still to be seen. They have to know that those offers will be a big part of how much of an impact they have on the overall landscape. As someone who just started dabbling in sportsbooks this week, I chose DraftKings because of all the offers they gave me at the start and still do.
How Will ESPN Work This Into Its Content?
We already have the bottom line showing the odds for every game and the show Daily Wager will become ESPN BET LIVE. The hope will be that the name alone will get some buzz going and people will want to see what it’s all about. I would expect SportsCenter anchors to make mention of the new adventure early and often. This will be the one advantage they will have to make a dent in the industry that FanDuel and Draft Kings own and we have to remember that ESPN can opt out of the deal after 3 years if the numbers are not what both parties agreed on.
I would expect a promo code unlike any we have seen from any of the other brands who are fighting to be seen in an industry that is 70% controlled by the big two, who show no signs of losing their grip. I will be signing up for BET ESPN and checking out what the service has to offer. I will have a follow-up article to let you know the good, the bad, and the ugly.
This is a big gamble for both brands as we have seen some of ESPN’s numbers fall and PENN is still cleaning the egg off its face after the failed partnership with those folks at the Stool. A household name and a hopefully well-put-together interface will be big to getting off to a strong start. Are you going to give ESPN BET a try? Why, or why not? Either way, more choices are always a good thing. Until next time may the odds forever be in your favor.
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