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.

ESPN is reinforcing its commitment to educating and protecting its audience as sports betting becomes more mainstream with the launch of “The Talk,” a new campaign aimed at promoting responsible gaming practices.

The campaign features two creative spots — one starring SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan labeled “Wedding Day,” and the other, starring SportsCenter anchor Gary Striewski. Using humor and inspired by the classic “heart-to-heart” conversations families often have, “The Talk” engages viewers to deliver its message about what it means to play smart.

“At ESPN, we believe it’s our responsibility to help sports fans understand the risks of sports betting and learn what smart betting looks like. When ESPN decided to license its name to a sportsbook, responsible gaming was at the forefront of the discussion. The ESPN BET sportsbook, operated by PENN Entertainment, offers comprehensive responsible gaming resources that encompasses a wide range of protections and tools. However, ESPN’s commitment to responsible gaming extends even further. Because we feature content and advertising on betting, we believe we have a responsibility to help sports fans understand how to bet responsibly. We’re proud to work with industry leaders to find new and different ways to reach these audiences,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship.

The campaign will include the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline and direct viewers to a dedicated landing page, ESPN.com/smartplay, offering additional tools and resources to help fans understand what smart betting looks like and to help them have meaningful conversations about responsible betting.

“‘The Talk’ blends education, humor and actionable resources to capture attention and emphasize the importance of responsible gaming. This campaign encourages fans to reflect on their betting habits and discuss smart practices with family and friends. We want to normalize these conversations and ensure fans understand why responsible betting matters,” Martinez said.

“ESPN is taking an important approach to responsible gambling messaging, supported by behavioral science research. Rather than just focusing on the negative, these spots accentuate the positive by encouraging healthy habits: being a better bettor is not just about knowing when to take risks, it’s also about knowing when not to,” said Brett Abarbanel, Ph.D., Executive Director of International Gaming Institute at UNLV.

ESPN and PENN Entertainment announced that 10 additional retail sportsbooks at key PENN properties will be rebranded to “ESPN BET Sportsbook” in early 2025 (subject to all regulatory approvals), increasing the total number of ESPN BET branded sportsbooks at PENN properties to 19.

The new ESPN BET locations will serve customers across Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and West Virginia under PENN’s popular Hollywood and Ameristar Casino brands.

The list of properties that will be rebranded as “ESPN BET Sportsbook” includes:

Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs – Iowa

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course – Pennsylvania

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway – Ohio

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course – Ohio

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows – Pennsylvania

Hollywood Casino York – Pennsylvania

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk – Colorado

Hollywood Casino and Hotel Lawrenceburg – Indiana

Ameristar Casino East Chicago – Indiana

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races – West Virginia

PENN’s existing ESPN BET retail locations span properties in Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio.

ESPN BET, the official sportsbook of ESPN, combines ESPN’s industry-leading brand and multiplatform reach with PENN’s deep sportsbook operational expertise. ESPN BET is currently available for online sports betting in 19 states.