Updated April 3, 2025
If you're trying to find out where ESPN BET is legal, there's one important update to know first. ESPN BET no longer operates as a U.S. sportsbook after the partnership between ESPN and PENN Entertainment ended in late 2025.
Before shutting down, ESPN BET was available in multiple regulated sports betting states across the country. Below, we'll look back at where the sportsbook operated and how its rollout expanded over time.
PENN Entertainment and ESPN announce plans to rebrand 10 additional retail sportsbooks as ESPN BET across six states, bringing the total to 19.
ESPN BET launches in New York after a soft rollout, becoming the 19th state for its online sportsbook operations.
First retail ESPN BET Sportsbook opens at Hollywood Casino Greektown in Detroit, Michigan, marking its entry into in-person betting.
ESPN BET goes live in North Carolina, aligning with the state’s sports betting launch, expanding to 18 states.
ESPN BET officially launches online in 17 states, replacing Barstool Sportsbook, with a mobile app and website.
ESPN’s ‘Daily Wager’ show rebrands to ‘ESPN BET Live’ ahead of the sportsbook’s launch, integrating betting content.
ESPN unveils the ESPN BET logo, signaling progress toward its November launch with PENN Entertainment.
ESPN and PENN Entertainment announce a $2 billion, 10-year deal to launch ESPN BET, rebranding Barstool Sportsbook.
PENN Entertainment and ESPN mutually agree to end their online sports betting partnership nearly eight years early. Both companies announce that ESPN BET will transition to theScore Bet on December 1, 2025.
ESPN BET officially ceases operations. Existing customer accounts, balances, and wagers are transferred to theScore Bet, which launches across 21 U.S. jurisdictions, including Missouri.
ESPN shifts its sports betting strategy away from operating a branded sportsbook. Instead, the company partners with DraftKings as its exclusive sportsbook and odds provider across ESPN's digital platforms, while ESPN BET continues only as a betting content brand.
Before shutting down in December 2025, ESPN BET operated in 19 U.S. states with legal online sports betting. During its two-year run, the sportsbook expanded from 17 launch states to include North Carolina and New York, while also opening several retail sportsbook locations at PENN Entertainment casinos.
ESPN BET was available in:
State | ESPN BET Available? | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
Arizona | ✅ | November 2023 |
Colorado | ✅ | November 2023 |
Illinois | ✅ | November 2023 |
Indiana | ✅ | November 2023 |
Iowa | ✅ | November 2023 |
Kansas | ✅ | November 2023 |
Kentucky | ✅ | November 2023 |
Louisiana | ✅ | November 2023 |
Maryland | ✅ | November 2023 |
Massachusetts | ✅ | November 2023 |
Michigan | ✅ | November 2023 |
New Jersey | ✅ | November 2023 |
New York | ✅ | September 2024 |
North Carolina | ✅ | March 2024 |
Ohio | ✅ | November 2023 |
Pennsylvania | ✅ | November 2023 |
Tennessee | ✅ | November 2023 |
Virginia | ✅ | November 2023 |
West Virginia | ✅ | November 2023 |
On December 1, 2025, ESPN BET officially rebranded to theScore Bet after PENN Entertainment and ESPN ended their partnership ahead of schedule. Existing customer accounts, balances, rewards, and open bets were transferred automatically, allowing players to continue using the sportsbook without creating a new account.
Although the ESPN BET brand is gone, sports betting remains fully legal in all of the states listed above. Today, players in those markets can choose from established sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, bet365, and, where available, theScore Bet. ESPN itself also remains active in the sports betting space through its partnership with DraftKings, which became ESPN's exclusive sportsbook and odds provider following the end of the PENN agreement.
Updated April 3, 2025