by Darren Moore
ESPN ends its short-lived sportsbook venture with Penn Entertainment as DraftKings steps in to power the media giant’s next betting chapter.
The Walt Disney–owned media giant pulled out of its ten-year, $2 billion deal with Penn just two years after launch, citing market performance triggers that allowed either side to withdraw if targets weren’t met.
Penn’s ESPN-branded sportsbook captured only around 3% of the US market — well short of the 10–20% goal originally set out. The platform cost Penn an estimated $150 million annually, prompting a major rethink of its digital strategy.
Under the new agreement, DraftKings will take over ESPN’s betting integration from December 1, powering the mobile app’s betting tab and linking ESPN’s sports coverage directly to DraftKings’ sportsbook, daily fantasy, and Pick6 features. A full rollout is expected in early 2026.
Meanwhile, Penn will rebrand its sportsbook as theScore Bet, shifting focus back to its Canadian and iCasino operations, which the company says align more closely with its long-term omnichannel goals.
Quick facts:
- ESPN–Penn deal originally signed in 2023 for $2 billion over 10 years.
- Penn’s sportsbook reached 3% market share, ranking sixth nationally.
- DraftKings now operates in 28 states with 10 million+ users.
- theScore Bet relaunch planned for December 1 to coincide with Missouri’s sports betting debut.
Darren is an experienced sports writer with decades in the betting industry, having worked with the Racing Post and Ladbrokes on both sides of the counter.
