The Walt Disney Company will soon officially enter the world of sports betting, as a launch date for ESPN BET has been announced.
ESPN BET
After years of comments by former CEO Bob Chapek and current CEO Bob Iger, who said sports betting was the “inevitable” future of the business, Disney announced a partnership with PENN Entertainment this summer. PENN Entertainment’s existing sportsbook is being rebranded as ESPN BET.
PENN Entertainment is a Pennsylvania-based company operating in integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming. They operate 43 properties in 20 states, along with online services.
As part of the launch of ESPN BET, ESPN’s Daily Wager will rebrand to ESPN BET Live. Fans will also soon be able to enter a sweepstakes to visit the ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.
Read the press release from The Walt Disney Company, including a TV spot, below.
ESPN BET to Debut with a Planned Launch on November 14
ESPN BET, a newly-branded online sportsbook for fans in the United States, is set to debut with a planned launch on November 14. Subject to final approvals, ESPN BET will go live in 17 states, which include: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Additionally, ESPN is now using official odds provided by ESPN BET across editorial and other content.
ESPN BET Creative: ESPN BET has released a teaser spot featuring SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt. In the spot, Van Pelt receives notifications from both the ESPN and ESPN BET apps, showcasing the cohesiveness between the two brands. The full creative campaign, which will debut around ESPN BET’s launch, will also include SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan.
Daily Wager Rebrand: As part of the overall launch of ESPN BET, ESPN’s Daily Wager program will rebrand to ESPN BET Live, beginning November 10. The show’s final episode as Daily Wager will be on November 6.
ESPN Headquarters Sweepstakes: Ahead of the ESPN BET launch, fans can enter a sweepstakes for the chance to win an exclusive trip to the ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. More details to follow.
For more information and to sign up for updates about ESPN BET, visit ESPNBET.com.
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