ESPN Bet becomes the latest mobile sportsbook to go live in DC
Rollout in the capital means the PENN-run sports betting brand is now available in 20 US jurisdictions
PENN Entertainment has announced the launch of ESPN Bet in Washington DC, just a week after securing a market-access agreement with Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE).
The introduction of the iOS, Android, and web product – described by PENN as a “state-of-the-art” platform – means ESPN Bet is live in 20 jurisdictions across the country.
“We’re thrilled to launch ESPN Bet in our nation’s capital and expand our presence across the Washington metropolitan area,” said Aaron LaBerge, chief technology officer at PENN.
“Along with our partner, ESPN, we’re excited to introduce our deeply integrated media and betting experience and further engage with the DC area’s passionate sports community.”
Like in other states, ESPN Bet boasts account linking, a feature first integrated in October 2024 allowing sports fans to connect their ESPN Bet and ESPN accounts to track upcoming, live, and settled bets in the ESPN app.
Meanwhile, the deal with MSE sees ESPN Bet become a sports betting partner of the sports and venue management company and its teams, the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics.
ESPN Bet joins what is an increasingly crowded market, especially given DC’s adult population of gambling age (21+) is a relatively modest 520,000.
FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics are all present in the capital.
DC was previously an online betting monopoly, as Intralot’s Gambet was the only sportsbook app available to consumers, yet the much-maligned product was shuttered last year.
The local government recently reached a $6.5m settlement with Intralot and a subcontractor, with officials accusing the pair of fraud and deception to win the contract, although both vehemently deny any wrongdoing.
Now in its second full year of operation, ESPN Bet has struggled to achieve meaningful market share since its launch in November 2023; Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) estimated its slice of the US market to be just 1.5% in November 2024.
“The lesson – not for the first time – is that a customer database does not make a successful operator,” EKG pointed out in its weekly newsletter, published on January 3, when discussing the brand’s standing in the US.
PENN announced an online adjusted EBITDA loss of $90m for Q3 2024, and management faces increasing pressure, including public criticism, from influential investors to turn things around.
The Wyomissing, Pennsylvania-based operator ditched Barstool Sportsbook in 2023 and signed a $1.5bn deal over 10 years with Disney-owned ESPN to launch ESPN Bet – the latest attempt by the industry to marry sports betting with a well-known media brand.
ESPN Bet’s DC launch comes after PENN released its standalone igaming app, Hollywood Casino, in Michigan earlier this month. The product was also introduced to Pennsylvania in November.