Printed: November 7, 2025
Because the NBA continues to get rocked by playing scandals, ESPN BET is formally no extra. The NBA is a accomplice with ESPN, and given the proximity of the 2, ESPN might need felt it finest to maneuver on from its personal sportsbook for now. Although it was extensively thought-about one of many much less common sportsbooks, particularly when in comparison with different betting apps, it’s nonetheless a shock to see any motion taken right here after the scandals. Sports activities and playing have turn into fairly intertwined over time, however scandals like those coursing via the NBA have made it a bit more durable for some followers to abdomen that partnership.
ESPN BET shutting down
Although it’s not the one scandal that has rocked the NBA world, the newest playing controversy is a giant one. Terry Rozier was arrested by the FBI after it was found that he allegedly left a sport with an harm after numerous folks took the below on his stats. This occurred in 2023 as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Elsewhere, Portland Path Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was additionally arrested by the FBI after he allegedly ran and helped folks cheat in unlawful poker video games backed by organized crime. This comes after Jontay Porter was banned for all times for betting on NBA video games.
With the heightened scrutiny on the sports activities and playing relationship, it seems as if ESPN wish to distance itself. Many introduced up the truth that sports activities leagues are partnered with completely different sportsbooks and that ESPN has its personal e book, however the latter won’t be true starting on December 1. There was a wierd juxtaposition that sports activities followers observed when the community coated the betting scandal, however had their ESPN BET brand on the display screen. Now, that gained’t be an issue.
The sportsbook itself shouldn’t be going away, although. It simply gained’t be ESPN BET. Within the authentic contract, the worldwide chief of sports activities offered Penn with its identify and trademark, so Penn will now simply rebrand that sportsbook theScore Guess. theScore is one other sports activities information web site, though it’s not as distinguished as ESPN.
The timing is unimaginable to disregard, however nobody is particularly citing the NBA scandal. Per the Hollywood Reporter, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro mentioned in a press release that they’re “now pursuing different media and advertising and marketing alternatives inside this area.” Whereas ESPN is eradicating its identify from a sportsbook, the partnership with sports activities betting shouldn’t be going away.
“Once we first introduced our partnership with ESPN, each side made it clear that we anticipated to compete for a podium place within the area,” Jay Snowden, CEO and president of Penn Leisure, mentioned in a press release. “Though we made vital progress in bettering our product providing and constructing a cohesive ecosystem with ESPN, we have now mutually and amicably agreed to wind down our collaboration. We plan to refocus our digital technique on our rising iCasino enterprise, whereas persevering with to capitalize on our omnichannel benefit because the nation’s main regional retail on line casino operator.”
theScore Guess is aiming to launch on December 1, which coincides with the reported launch of sports activities betting in Missouri, which is topic to regulatory approvals. Pitaro’s assertion continued, “Collectively, ESPN and Penn created a very distinctive providing with unparalleled integrations throughout our varied media belongings. ESPN drove over 2.9 million new customers into the Penn ecosystem, with a powerful uptick in first-time bettors this fall. We recognize the collaboration we had with Penn and are actually pursuing different media and advertising and marketing alternatives inside this area.”
