ESPN may still not know its sports wagering end game with regard to whether it will have its own sportsbook or partner with one, but the Disney-owned network and multimedia platform is definitely making the commitment to content as betting continues to expand across the United States.
ESPN recently announced an expansion of programming that includes new shows across multiple platforms and expanded roles for on-air talent. The moves, which coincided with the start of the NFL season – the primary driver of sports betting in the U.S. – are designed to keep ESPN front and center in a rapidly changing landscape where content is available at every turn.
“We have been continuing to add to our sports betting content since launching in 2019,” said ESPN Vice President of Fantasy & Sports Betting Content Scott Clark in an email exchange with'. “These additions have been in the works for some time, with eyes on launching right around a popular time such as football season.”
ESPN has separate deals with Caesars and DraftKings when it comes to sports wagering and daily fantasy sports, having signed exclusive link-out deals with the two entities in September 2020. Caesars Sportsbook, which was known as William Hill at the time the deals were announced, is the exclusive odds provider for the network, while DraftKings is its exclusive DFS content provider.