ESPN reaches gaming deal with DraftKings as exclusive sportsbook, ending partnership with Penn

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ESPN has reached a gaming deal with DraftKings to be its exclusive sportsbook and will end its partnership with Penn on Dec. 1.

“Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Thursday in a statement. “Working with DraftKings, a leader in the space, will allow us to build upon that foundation, continue to super-serve passionate sports fans and grow our ESPN direct-to-consumer business."

The network and Penn announced they mutually agreed to an early termination of their 10-year agreement that began in August 2023.

“When we first announced our partnership with ESPN, both sides made it clear that we expected to compete for a podium position in the space,” Penn Entertainment CEO and President Jay Snowden said. “Although we made significant progress in improving our product offering and building a cohesive ecosystem with ESPN, we have mutually and amicably agreed to wind down our collaboration."

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