At arguably the busiest Global Gaming Expo since the Supreme Court's PASPA decision, the impending launch of ESPN BET dominated the conversation at the Las Vegas conference.
In August, PENN Entertainment struck a deal with ESPN to gain exclusive rights to the network's sports betting brand. After essentially swapping Barstool Sportsbook for ESPN BET as the company's online sports wagering platform, PENN remains on track for a mid-November launch.
In recent weeks, opinions have varied on whether ESPN BET will vault into the top three sportsbooks in terms of national market share by 2026 Wayne Kimmel, managing partner of SeventySix Capital, is extremely bullish on the new venture.
“I think they have to get there and I think they will get there,” Kimmel proclaimed, before adding that he eventually expects ESPN to ascend to the top spot.