ESPN and DraftKings Inc. announced an agreement, naming DraftKings the exclusive Official Sportsbook and Odds Provider of ESPN, effective December 1, 2025. This agreement, which unites two of the most iconic brands in sports, will deliver fans premium sports betting content and experiences.

Beginning in December 2025, DraftKings entertainment products will be exclusively integrated across ESPN’s ecosystem with a full rollout expected in 2026. Fans will be able to enjoy betting features and access to offerings including DraftKings’ sportsbook, daily fantasy, and DraftKings Pick6 at launch.

Together, DraftKings and ESPN will collaborate to advance their shared commitment to responsible gaming, by dedicating prominent assets to educate, raise customer awareness and promote responsible play through campaigns and integrations.

“Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products. Working with DraftKings, a leader in the space, will allow us to build upon that foundation, continue to super-serve passionate sports fans and grow our ESPN direct-to-consumer business. We are excited about this new collaboration with DraftKings,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN.

DraftKings will also play a major role across ESPN’s digital platforms. DraftKings will power the betting tab within the ESPN app and their customers will receive special promotions for ESPN Unlimited, ESPN’s newly launched direct-to-consumer product.

“ESPN’s unmatched visibility across the world of sports make this collaboration a natural fit. As an innovative leader in digital sports entertainment, DraftKings is uniquely positioned to integrate our technology and products with ESPN’s iconic brand and storytelling power. Together, we’re delivering a seamless, engaging, and responsible experience that elevates how fans connect with live sports,” said Jason Robins, CEO and Co-Founder of DraftKings.

DraftKings operates in 28 states and in Washington D.C. and Ontario, Canada, and has more than 10 million customers across its products, positioning this deal to lead in innovation, engagement and fan access. This expands ESPN’s ability to be the go-to platform for sports fans with access to DraftKings’ products.

ESPN BET will shift to a sports betting content brand with DraftKings Sportsbook integrations, anchored by ESPN’s betting show, ESPN BET Live, which currently airs weekdays at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and dedicated social and digital channels.

DraftKings has introduced credit card deposit ban for US customers. This decision aligns them with other major gambling operators, such as Fanatics Betting & Gaming, Betr, and Sporttrade, which have already banned credit card funding for wagering accounts.

It also comes on the heels of another major announcement by DraftKings. Starting September 1, DraftKings will charge a 50-cent fee for every mobile and online bet placed in Illinois using its Sportsbook platform. This change follows a similar move by FanDuel.

DraftKings CEO, Jason Robins, expressed his disappointment with Illinois policymakers for significantly raising the tax rate. He is worried that this could hurt the legal sports betting industry, while the illegal market continues to operate without paying taxes or providing any consumer protections.

DraftKings has informed its users that any saved credit card information will be disabled.

Moving forward, players will need to utilize alternative payment methods, including:

• Debit Cards

• ACH and wire transfers

• PayPal, Venmo

• Apple Pay

• Gift Cards

Bettors can also use cash at physical locations to fund their accounts.

DraftKings describes this step as a “strategic business decision” aimed at shielding customers from the high interest rates and cash advance fees usually associated with credit card deposits in gambling. Unlike regulatory demands, this decision was internally driven but coincides with growing scrutiny from regulators.

DraftKings has decided to stop accepting credit cards for deposits in the US due to worries about customer safety and more scrutiny from regulators. Recently, the company faced a significant fine in Massachusetts, where it is based. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission fined DraftKings $450,000 for allowing credit card deposits, which goes against state laws.

The gambling sector in New Jersey experienced impressive gains in July, hitting a total gaming revenue of $606.2 million. This figure marks an increase of 10.7% compared to July 2024, highlighting continued expansion within the state’s gaming market.

Online Casinos Set New Records with $247 Million Revenue

Online casino platforms played a key role in driving this growth, generating an unprecedented $247.3 million during the month. This amount represents a more than 25% rise from the same period last year and establishes a new monthly high for internet gaming in New Jersey. So far in 2025, online casinos have accumulated $1.63 billion in revenue, a year-over-year increase exceeding 23%. Major operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM have been instrumental in positioning New Jersey as the leading state for legal online gambling in the US.

FanDuel maintained its position as the top online casino, earning $52 million in July—a 38% increase from the previous year. DraftKings followed with $48.6 million, while BetMGM generated $31.4 million. Additionally, Caesars Palace Online achieved a record $18.7 million, more than 50% above last year’s equivalent month. The fierce competition among these industry leaders has sparked innovation and increased player engagement, contributing to sustained market growth.

Land-based casinos in Atlantic City also experienced a positive month, collectively bringing in $284.1 million, a 4.3% increase compared to July 2024. The Borgata remained the highest-grossing casino with nearly $80 million in revenue, while Ocean Casino Resort recorded the fastest growth at over 18%. Hard Rock Atlantic City also noted gains. However, many of the older casinos continue to lag behind their pre-pandemic results, emphasizing the growing importance of newer venues in the market.

Conversely, sports betting revenue saw a decline. Earnings from bets placed at casinos, racetracks, and online platforms totaled $74.8 million in July, reflecting a 6.6% decrease year-over-year. The total amount wagered reached $664 million for the month, bringing the cumulative sports betting revenue for 2025 to $626.8 million—approximately 4% lower than last year’s figures.

Record-Breaking Year-to-Date Revenue and Tax Contributions

Despite the downturn in sports betting, New Jersey’s overall gambling industry has achieved record-breaking performance during the first seven months of 2025. Combined revenue from all gaming categories reached $3.92 billion, marking the highest year-to-date total on record for the state. In July alone, gambling-related tax revenues amounted to $81.7 million, contributing to a year-to-date total of $446.1 million to New Jersey’s fiscal resources.