ESPN Names DraftKings Its New Sports-Betting Partner After Ending Deal With PENN
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Key Facts
- ESPN ends its U.S. sports-betting partnership with PENN Entertainment and signs a new deal with DraftKings.
- DraftKings will become the official sportsbook and odds provider across ESPN platforms.
- The new partnership starts in December 2025 and includes integration into the ESPN app.
ESPN has selected DraftKings as its new sports-betting partner, marking a major shift in the network’s approach to digital wagering. The deal comes after ESPN and PENN Entertainment agreed to end their 10-year partnership early.
Starting in December, DraftKings’ sportsbook and fantasy contests will be featured across ESPN’s platforms, including its streaming services and mobile app. The integration will introduce a dedicated betting tab inside the ESPN app, where users can access live odds, fantasy games, and promotions.
Under this agreement, ESPN will use the ESPN BET brand for its betting-related content — such as TV segments, online articles, and social media — while DraftKings will handle the actual betting operations.
The earlier PENN deal, signed in 2023, had paid ESPN about $150 million per year in exchange for exclusive branding rights to ESPN BET. That agreement has now ended, with PENN planning to rebrand its platform under theScore Bet by December 1.
Though the financial details of the new DraftKings deal were not disclosed, both companies said the partnership aims to expand betting access, lower transaction fees for players, and strengthen competition in the fast-growing U.S. online sports betting market.
