On this page
Overview
ESPN BET is operated by Penn Entertainment under a long-term licensing agreement with ESPN, combining Penn's sportsbook infrastructure (built from its earlier Barstool Sportsbook operation) with ESPN's media reach and brand recognition. It ranks #6 on this list - a genuinely solid, well-built sportsbook that doesn't yet match the pricing sharpness of the top five, but that carries a real advantage for a specific kind of bettor: anyone who already checks ESPN daily for scores and highlights and would rather not open a separate app entirely disconnected from that habit.
This review reflects a real funded account, used to place bets across NFL, NBA, and college football markets over several weeks.
Background & licensing
Penn Entertainment entered a long-term deal with ESPN in 2023 to rebrand its existing sportsbook technology under the ESPN BET name, holding individual state licenses across most states with legal online betting. The underlying technology platform is Penn's own, built over several years of operating its previous branded sportsbook, so despite the relatively recent ESPN branding, the infrastructure itself isn't brand new.
Sign-up walkthrough
Registration followed the standard process - name, date of birth, address, email, phone, SSN last four digits - taking about four minutes in our test. An existing ESPN account can be linked during sign-up, and the app is closely integrated with ESPN's broader content ecosystem from the first screen. Funding options included debit card, PayPal, and ACH transfer.
Current welcome offer, in detail
ESPN BET's new-user offer has generally followed the bonus-bet-on-qualifying-wager structure common across the industry, with specific dollar figures shifting by state and promotional period - we won't quote a number here that could be outdated. The mechanics worth checking before opting in are the same as at every other operator: issuance timing (typically within a day or two of your qualifying bet settling), the expiration window on issued credit, and whether a winning bonus bet returns the stake or only the profit.
Odds & hold, tested
Across our tracked basket of NFL and NBA lines, ESPN BET's pricing ran moderately wider than the top five books on this list - commonly a few cents worse than DraftKings or FanDuel on comparable markets in our testing window. It's not dramatically uncompetitive, but a bettor prioritizing pure odds quality above all else will generally find a sharper price elsewhere on this list.
Bet variety & market depth
ESPN BET covers all major U.S. leagues plus college sports (a notable strength, leveraging ESPN's deep college sports content relationships), soccer, tennis, golf, and combat sports. Player prop coverage is solid for NFL and NBA, if not as extensive as DraftKings' or FanDuel's menus. Same-game parlay tools are functional and straightforward.
ESPN app integration
This is ESPN BET's real differentiator. Odds are surfaced directly within the main ESPN app alongside scores, stats, and highlights for bettors who've linked their accounts - meaning you can check a score and see the current live odds on the same screen without switching apps. For a casual bettor whose primary relationship with sports content is already through ESPN, this integration removes real friction that every other book on this list requires you to accept (a fully separate app with its own habit to build).
Deposits & withdrawals
Debit card and PayPal deposits were instant in our testing. PayPal withdrawals took roughly a day to a day and a half to complete; ACH transfers took two to three business days - in the middle of the pack among books on this list, a step behind the fastest operators.
Customer support
Live chat connected to an agent in about four minutes in our test and resolved a straightforward account question without needing escalation. Phone support is available; email is the slowest channel, consistent with the rest of the industry.
Pros and cons
Pros
Seamless integration with the main ESPN app for scores and odds together · strong college sports coverage · straightforward, easy-to-learn interface · solid customer support.
Cons
Odds run moderately wider than the top five books on this list · prop-market depth trails DraftKings/FanDuel · withdrawals a step slower than the fastest operators.
Verdict
ESPN BET is a well-built, easy-to-use sportsbook that trades some pricing sharpness for genuine convenience if you're already an ESPN app user - the odds-alongside-scores integration is a real, tangible benefit for casual bettors specifically. Bettors who prioritize the tightest possible pricing above all else will do better with a top-five book on this list, ideally paired with ESPN BET as a secondary account for the integration convenience.
FAQ
Is ESPN BET the same as the old Barstool Sportsbook?
It runs on the same underlying Penn Entertainment technology platform that previously powered Barstool Sportsbook, rebranded under a long-term licensing deal with ESPN.
Can I see ESPN BET odds inside the regular ESPN app?
Yes, for bettors who link their accounts - odds appear directly alongside scores and highlights in ESPN's main app, which is ESPN BET's clearest differentiator from every other book on this list.
Is ESPN BET's pricing competitive?
It's usable but ran moderately wider than the top five books in our testing - worth knowing if raw odds quality is your top priority.