Top stories around our network this week
In a perfect world, we’d be able to tell you three days after Tuesday’s launch of ESPN BET just how successful it’s gonna be. But it’s not a perfect world: There are terrorists and daily weather catastrophes and congressmen who fight and lie. Even worse, we learned this week that there are also sideline reporters who lie.
But one thing we can say for certain about the joint online sportsbook venture between PENN Entertainment and ESPN is it got a lot of attention. was Exhibit A for that in outlining customer experiences on the first day, reviewing the quality of the app compared to its predecessor and peers, and assessing its potential for achieving the lofty ambitions of the PENN executives who abandoned Barstool Sports to place a billion-dollar wager on ESPN’s brand.
ESPN, meanwhile, has its own issues to deal with in its new connection to legal wagering, including what lines its employees are not to cross that would question their integrity and raise concerns about impropriety. One thing the Disney-owned company did in advance to demonstrate it has a sense of ethical commitment is donate $200,000 to UNLV’s International Gaming Institute to fund research into responsible gambling.
These stories from the past week were just the start of our coverage of how ESPN BET fares now that it’s in operation. Many more will come as part of commitment to covering all of the key developments in the sports betting business, as other stories linked below from the past week demonstrate.' And for additional gaming industry news, be sure to check out , including its weekly Double Down recap column and podcast.
Mind your own business, please
California tribal executive committee formally opposes sports betting proposals
No pause in Florida
Florida Supreme Court says no to taking Seminoles’ Hard Rock platform offline
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They start so young these days
Wisconsin teen pleads guilty to conspiracy in sports betting hacking case
When in doubt, pivot
Fantasy operators innovate as regulators continue to call current contests illegal
At the top of responsible gambling
NCPG’s new board president a “rock star” with a plan
Mixed news about DraftKings
DraftKings announces “progressive parlay” feature coming soon to online sportsbook
Will a miscommunication cost DraftKings nearly $600,000 in Massachusetts?
Getting ready for the celebrity ban
Ontario regulator, stakeholders begin discussions around new ad guidelines
In North Carolina, it’s just a matter of time
North Carolina Lottery approves first set of mobile betting rules
North Carolina mobile sports wagering to launch after Jan. 8
We don’t want you here – really
Ohio plans to ban former ‘Bama baseball coach over betting scandal