ESPN BET Arizona Sportsbook Launch Updates September 2023
In a major shake-up to the sports betting industry, PENN Entertainment and ESPN have agreed to a partnership which rebrands Barstool Sportsbook to an ESPN Bet sportsbook.
Although details are sparse at the moment, we'll share everything we know about ESPN BET Arizona, what to expect from this brand-new sportsbook, and when it will join the Arizona sports betting scene.
ESPN Bet Arizona Promo & Launch Updates: September 2023
ESPN Bet Arizona will be the latest sportsbook in Arizona once it goes live. The sports betting app and site, which is a product of ESPN and PENN Entertainment, is a rebrand from Barstool Sportsbook. With the launch of ESPN Bet, expect ESPN to utilize its market-leading Fantasy user database as part of efforts to expand its reach, including a top-tier user experience and what could be some of the top Arizona sports betting promos.
ESPN Bet Arizona Launch Timeline & Updates: September 2023
- 📆 August 22, 2023: Mike Morrison of ESPN tells iGamingBusiness that the deal between PENN, Barstool, and ESPN was a long time coming. He states that ESPN “began to tee up a strategy” for getting into the sports betting industry before PASPA was repealed in 2018, opening the door to legal U.S. sports betting.
- 📆 August 17, 2023: PENN Entertainment says that it will eliminate the Barstool brand no later than February, but hope to do so by November. With that elimination, the ESPN Bet Sportsbook is expected to be live.
- 📆 August 11, 2023: Sports betting analyst Steve Coughlin will be the newest addition to the team of College Gameday, ESPN announces. This move indicates that ESPN has intentions to immediately begin to integrate their media presence with ESPN Bet, leveraging their position to offer unique analysis and integration of the two.
- 📆 August 8, 2023: ESPN and PENN Entertainment officially announce their partnership to bring a new sports betting platform to the U.S. market. The platform, ESPN Bet, will initially begin as a rebrand of Barstool Sportsbook, which is currently run by PENN’s proprietary gaming software.
- 📅 November 1, 2022: The President of ESPN, Jimmy Pitaro, tells reporters that ESPN has not neared a deal with DraftKings, despite rumors to the contrary. He explains that ESPN is actively pursuing a partnership in the sports betting world, and that they have been in conversation with multiple major operators.
- 📅 September 9, 2021: Legal sports betting in Arizona officially launches with an initial 20 sportsbooks live on day one.
- 📅 April 15, 2021: Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signs sports betting bill HB 2772 into law.
- After a period of negotiation with tribal representatives and another period of debate in the state legislature, the proposed sports betting bill (HB 2772) legalizing the activity is passed by a vote of 23-6 in the state senate.
- 📅 2021: The Wall Street Journal releases a report revealing that ESPN has engaged in branding discussions with multiple major U.S. sportsbook operators, including DraftKings and Caesars. According to the report, ESPN is looking to partner with a sportsbook in a licensing deal worth around $3 billion.
- 📆 May 14, 2018 – The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, clearing the way for states like Arizona to legalize sports betting if they wish.
Is ESPN Bet Legal in Arizona?
Yes, ESPN Bet is legal in Arizona and once it launches this fall, it will be available to Arizona bettors. ESPN Bet will initially launch as a rebrand of Barstool Sportsbook, so you can expect a similar platform to start, and all the same rules and regulations will apply.
When Will ESPN Bet Launch in Arizona?
ESPN Bet should launch in Arizona and elsewhere before the end of 2023. We could see the platform launch before Thanksgiving, but no clear timetable has been given yet.
Will There Be an ESPN Bet Retail Sportsbook?
It seems likely that we could see an ESPN Bet retail sportsbook in Arizona, as Barstool has been the exclusive sportsbook partner of Phoenix Raceway, thanks to PENN Entertainment’s partnership with the raceway. There is no official news yet on when the ESPN Bet transition will happen at the raceway.
What is the ESPN BET Arizona Promo Code?
There is no ESPN BET Arizona promo code to use at this point since the online sportsbook has yet to go live. We're still unsure of whether the operator will opt for using bonus codes or simply provide promo links.
Being that ESPN already has such a massive reach and engaged customer base, there's no telling what type of value to expect from the industry leader. For what it's worth, there was a "$1,000 Deposit Match Bonus" image visible on the only screenshot of what the ESPN Bet Arizona betting app could look like. Although this was purely for illustrative purposes, it should still be a positive signal for those hoping for an Arizona betting promo from ESPN BET like the BetMGM Arizona bonus code.
No matter what happens, however, you can count on BetArizona to keep you updated throughout the process.
Expected ESPN Bet Arizona Promos & Bonuses
While it is still too early to know exactly what ESPN Bet AZ bonus offers we will see, we know that the platform will want to compete with other major sportsbooks.
We expect ESPN Bet to have great promotions for new sign-ups as well as awesome offers for existing users. When it comes to ESPN Bet promotions, Arizona fans should have plenty of options. Check out the popular promos that we expect to see at ESPN Bet Arizona below:
Bet & Get Promo
One ESPN Bet Sportsbook Arizona promo code that we expect to see is the Bet & Get type of offer. Bet & Get offers are commonly seen as welcome bonuses at various sportsbooks. This type of offer requires that you place a qualifying wager, such as a $5 bet or $10 bet (the “Bet”), to get a reward (the “Get”). The reward usually comes in the form of bonus funds that you can use to wager with and win real money. For example, you might see a “Bet $10, Get $150” welcome offer.
Giveaways
Some sportsbooks are able to offer giveaways as part of their array of promotional offerings. Since ESPN has other products, such as streaming services subscriptions to ESPN+, we could see them leverage this position by offering giveaways for ESPN services as a promotion on ESPN Bet. For example, you might see an ESPN Bet welcome offer that gives you 3 free months of ESPN+ subscription when you deposit $200 or more into your sportsbook account.
Deposit Match
Deposit match bonuses are usually used by sportsbooks as welcome offers. These bonuses will match your initial deposit on the sportsbook with a certain percentage or an equal amount of bonus funds. For example, a 50% deposit match bonus with a value of up to $1000 means that for every dollar you add to your first deposit, you will get $.50 in bonus funds from the sportsbook, with a maximum bonus fund value of $1000.
Odds Boosts
Odds boosts are a very straightforward kind of sportsbook promotion that are also sometimes called ‘profit boosts’. True to their name, odds boosts will increase the odds on certain bets you place, allowing you to win more money if the bet wins. For example, a 50% NFL Sunday odds boost might be offered, allowing you to cash in on 50% more profits for any NFL bet you place on Sunday. While odds boosts don’t increase your chances of winning a bet, they will increase your profits if your bet does win.
Referral Promo
A lot of sportsbooks have referral programs that will give you a reward if you refer a friend to start betting on the book. Usually, your friend will need to use your referral code to sign up for an account, and then deposit money. Once they do, you will receive some bonus funds in your account. It is quite likely that ESPN Bet will have a referral program in Arizona and elsewhere.
ESPN Bet Arizona Betting Site Features
ESPN Bet will merge state-of-the-art gaming software with ESPN’s strong foothold in the world of sports. We are expecting a great platform with some excellent features that help it to stand out amongst plenty of U.S. competition.
Outstanding User Experience
If you’ve ever placed bets on an online sportsbook or app, you know how important the overall user experience is. Excellent user experience comes from fast software, minimal bugs and glitches, and great options for betting and banking.
We are expecting ESPN Bet to hit the ground running in the user experience department, as they will build upon the outstanding proprietary gaming software provided by PENN Entertainment. Expect a fast app and a great user experience.
Early Cash Out
Early cash out is a great feature that lets you pay out your bets early, before the competition has actually ended. This feature is super nice to have because it can help you avoid big losses on bets that aren’t going your way, or secure a sure win on bets that seem to be winning.
For example, let’s say you placed a $10 moneyline bet with +400 odds for the Cardinals to win their game this Sunday. At halftime, they’re up 14 and you have the option to cash out for $28. Although you will win more if the Cardinals hang on and secure the win, it’s great to be able to simply hit the cash out button and make a certain profit on your wager.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is a premium feature that only a few sportsbooks are currently offering in a very limited capacity. The appeal of live streaming on a sportsbook app or website is clear, as this feature pairs great with live betting and just makes it a seamless experience to watch games you bet on.
ESPN is a sports media giant that owns broadcasting rights to some of the biggest games across virtually all sports. We fully expect that ESPN Bet will look to roll out an integrated live streaming feature. If they do, this is one of the features that will have the potential to set the sportsbook apart from the competition.
ESPN Bet Arizona App
The ESPN Bet Arizona app should be up there with the very best sportsbook apps in the country. The app will look a lot like the highly-rated Barstool Sportsbook app to begin with since it shares the same software, but over time ESPN will look to add its own distinct set of features.
Will the ESPN Bet Arizona App Be the Same as Barstool Sportsbook?
ESPN Bet is coming to fruition as the result of a partnership between PENN Entertainment and ESPN. PENN just completed its acquisition of theScore, and rolled out its proprietary new gaming software, the PENN Interactive Gaming Platform.
This new software has been launched already at Barstool Sportsbook, and the results have been excellent. Now that ESPN is taking over the branding of the PENN platform, we can expect a similar user experience to Barstool, but with upgrades coming over time.
ESPN Bet Arizona App Technical Information
PENN’s integration of its proprietary gaming software with the existing Barstool Sportsbook platform seems to have gone very well. Barstool holds a 4.0 and 4.7-star rating on Android and Apple devices, respectively.
Features that we expect to see on ESPN Bet include live betting (with possible live streaming integration), early cash out, two-factor authentication, same game parlay betting, and more. While it is too early to know exactly how ESPN will want to update and change the betting platform, we do know that PENN’s gaming software is top-of-the-line.
ESPN Bet Banking Options
We still can’t be sure what banking options will be offered once the ESPN Bet transition is complete, especially because banking options do vary from state to state. However, looking at the options currently offered by Barstool Sportsbook, we can get a pretty good idea of the methods that will be available to Arizona bettors for making deposits and withdrawals on ESPN Bet. All of the following could be available banking options on ESPN Bet:
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- PayNearMe
- Apple Pay
- Online Banking
- PayPal
- ACH/eCheck
- Play+ prepaid card
- Wire Transfer
ESPN Bet Arizona: Final Thoughts
The news that ESPN will finally be breaking into the sports betting world is certainly exciting. It appears that all the right pieces are in play for ESPN Bet to become a major competitor, on par or even better than household names like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Arizona, and others.
The potential for integration between ESPN media operations and the sportsbook is exciting and definitely something to keep an eye on. Arizona bettors have a lot to look forward to with the coming launch of ESPN Bet. Be sure to check back to this page as the launch date draws closer for additional updates.
ESPN Bet Arizona FAQs
ESPN BET Arizona will be legal once the sportsbook goes through the regulatory process and legalities are figured out. Being that PENN Entertainment owned Barstool Sports, this should go smoothly and we can expect ESPN BET AZ to be available in the coming months.
There is no set ESPN BET Arizona launch date at this time, although both PENN Entertainment and ESPN have said they expect to be ready this fall, potentially by Thanksgiving.
Yes, there will be an ESPN BET Arizona sportsbook app. What used to be Barstool Sportsbook is being rebranded to an ESPN sportsbook, so there will also be a mobile website to bet from.
We expect ESPN BET Arizona will have a promo once it is live in the state. The type of promo and value of the bonus yet is still up in the air, but Arizona bettors should see a new user promo from ESPN BET.
There are no details available yet for an expected ESPN BET Arizona Sportsbook promo, although most sports betting promos in the state range between $100 and $1,000. We suspect the ESPN Arizona Sportsbook promo value will be competitive with others in the state.
Author
Adam Wernham has over eight years of professional copywriting experience. Growing up in the Bay Area, Adam developed strong ties to local teams including the Giants, Warriors, and 49ers. His passion for sports and writing make him a strong voice on all things sports betting and a great asset to the BetArizona staff.
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