Disclaimer: ESPN Sportsbook does not exist yet. This review is speculative, and we will update it once ESPN Sportsbook launches in the US.
ESPN is one of the largest names in sports. The media company has developed into an empire across the sports world, with ties in many different areas. With the rise of legal sports betting in a growing number of states, ESPN could end up joining the blossoming industry.
While there isn’t an ESPN sportsbook quite yet, it wouldn’t be totally shocking to see the media company open one at some point. It could do so by obtaining a license in a state where it’s legal and creating its own product or by partnering with another company that already has a license.
If ESPN does make a move into sports betting, you’ll want to be prepared for what it might look like. Read on for a preview of what a potential ESPN sportsbook might look like.
ESPN promo code for June 2023
Most sports betting sites have healthy bonus offers for signing up. Expect ESPN to have a welcome offer using an ESPN promo code in the near future.
| ESPN Sportsbook Bonus Code | Coming Soon |
|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | TBD |
| Launch Date | Nothing scheduled |
| Last Updated | June 2023 |
Terms and conditions apply to all offers. Please see ESPN Sportsbook for details. 21+ Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER+
ESPN Sportsbook sign-up bonuses
Because ESPN does not have a sportsbook yet and thus no proven track record in sports betting, it will likely be aggressive in terms of customer acquisition. Don’t be surprised if ESPN puts a lot of muscle behind a sign-up bonus in an effort to attract players.
Some examples of what the sign-up bonus might look like include a large insured first bet or a significant deposit match. For example, a protected bet for up to $1,000 is a fairly common sportsbook welcome bonus. If ESPN went with this option, it would mean that sports bettors could receive a matching bonus bet if their first wager loses.
A deposit matching bonus, on the other hand, could mean a 100% match on your first deposit for up to $1,000. For example, if you deposited $50, ESPN would add $50 worth of bonus bets to your account.
ESPN loyalty programs
Another way that sportsbooks reward customers is by offering loyalty programs. Depending on the sportsbook, the loyalty program can look very different in terms of how it works and the benefits available.
If ESPN gets involved in sports betting by being affiliated with a sportsbook, it may offer a loyalty program and other bonuses. In general, the gist of it is that the more you bet, the more loyalty points you earn.
ESPN could end up offering some interesting perks because of its position in the sports world, potentially including everything from behind-the-scenes access to exclusive opportunities.
Would an ESPN Sportsbook be legal and safe?
Yes, any ESPN betting site would be legal and safe. ESPN would have to receive a license to open a sportsbook in any state where it wanted to operate. ESPN is far too big of a company to risk opening a non-regulated sportsbook. It’s also unlikely that it would affiliate itself with any sports betting operation that is not 100% regulated and legal.
Picking a legal online sportsbook is a crucial step for any sports bettor. Many bettors are still using “gray market” sportsbooks, potentially without recognizing the difference. Using one of these non-regulated sportsbooks can expose you to a variety of risks, including to your money and personal information.
Keep an eye on this page to see if ESPN receives a license from any of the states where sports betting is legal.
Downloading the ESPN Sportsbook app
While you may already have one or more ESPN apps on your phone, such as the fantasy sports or sports news app, if ESPN releases a sportsbook, there will be another one to get. This will help you access the sportsbook from your phone and make bets on the go.
Sports betting apps allow you to place bets from anywhere, no matter if you’re watching the game at a bar or hanging out with friends at someone’s house. In general, sports bettors don’t have to sacrifice any functionality when using an app compared to the desktop website, as all the same features are often still there.
These apps are usually available on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. This means that no matter if you’re using an iOS or Android device, you will still be able to access the app. An ESPN sport betting app would likely be available on both app stores, keeping with industry standards.
ESPN Sportsbook: Creating a new account
For the most part, creating an account at an online sportsbook takes just a few minutes, and from there, you will be able to start placing bets immediately.
We can get an idea of what an ESPN sportsbook registration process would look like by checking existing sportsbook apps. There is not a ton of variation in this step, as it’s mostly about doing the necessary administrative work.
There will be a variety of fields to complete during this registration process. ESPN will ask you to create account details, provide some personal information, and also set up account security.
After you complete that part of account registration, you may need to confirm your identity. You can do this by providing one of a few different official documents. One thing that ESPN will likely ask for is your Social Security number.
The next step is to add money to your account. After you’ve done that, you’re now ready to start placing bets.
How would an ESPN Sportsbook benefit experienced bettors?
If you’re an experienced sports bettor, there likely are certain aspects in a sportsbook that you care about a lot. You may be less concerned with the promotions and more concerned with the available bets, house rules, and odds.
While it’s difficult to determine how an ESPN sportsbook would perform in these areas as one is not available at the moment, we can hope that it would be a competitive option. We can assume that the sportsbook would likely offer a variety of bets, including all the major sports and a lot more. Regardless of whether you’re looking to bet on the New York Knicks or English Premier League soccer, there will likely be an option for you.
One thing that experienced sports bettors may be concerned about is that ESPN could attempt to make the sportsbook appeal to as many people as possible. That may mean more focus on ESPN promotions and features for beginning bettors compared to the smaller details. That’s just an assumption, though, and we will need to see exactly what happens.
ESPN odds boosts
The odds boost is one of the most popular promotions in sports betting. Many sportsbooks employ the odds boost as an everyday promotion, and bettors are coming to expect it.
What happens with odds boosts is that the sportsbook will shift the odds of a wager toward the bettor, for example from +125 to +150. The odds boost only applies if you win your bet, but if you were going to make that wager anyway, it’s a great bonus.
Expect any potential ESPN online sportsbook to offer an array of odds boosts to keep its customer base engaged. These odds boosts will likely be available for any major sport that you can think of, from the NBA to the NFL to more exotic options.
Remember that just because an enhanced odds promotion is available, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily a great bet. You should still do your research to make sure the wager is something that you want to accept and that the risk is something you want to take on.
ESPN sportsbook odds
The big question among sports bettors for a potential ESPN sportsbook is likely going to be about the live odds. Experienced sports bettors aren’t concerned with much beyond the odds, and a sportsbook that doesn’t provide competitive odds compared to the rest of the industry is not of much value to them.
Again, this is another area that we cannot determine until a sportsbook is available. At this point, the best we can do is speculate as to what might happen based on the little that we know. As mentioned above, there’s a chance that ESPN will design its sportsbook to be beginner-friendly. This could mean that the odds aren’t super competitive and instead fall somewhere around the industry average or below. However, this is all speculation.
Either way, bettors will have to keep an eye on the odds at an ESPN sportsbook should one go live. No matter what, it would at least be a good idea to sign up so that you can at least compare the odds to other legal sportsbooks.
What’s not available at ESPN Sportsbook
Bettors should be aware that there will likely be limitations as to what they can bet on at a potential ESPN sportsbook. These depend on the state from which you are betting and apply to all sportsbooks that operate in that state, so an ESPN sportsbook would not be special or an exception in any way.
One common restriction is that some states limit how you can bet on college sports. This can include not being able to bet on college events that happen within the state or those that include a college that’s located in the state.
However, this rule isn’t in place for every state. Make sure to check the rules where you plan to bet to see what you can and cannot bet on exactly. An ESPN sportsbook will follow these rules, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with them.
ESPN sports betting options
Nobody likes a sportsbook that has limited options, both in terms of available sports and bets. Luckily, ESPN will likely have a solid selection of sports betting options and offer everything that you could want.
To start with available sports, ESPN will almost certainly offer every sport it can. It already provides coverage on a large variety of sports, and bettors can expect there to be many of the same on any potential sportsbook.
Offering bets on a lot of sports is one way that a sportsbook can differentiate itself from the competition. Within those sports, ESPN will also likely offer multiple leagues and levels of competition.
In terms of bets, you can expect ESPN to have all the classics, including parlays, futures bets, and round robins. Same-game parlays have become a popular option, and any ESPN sportsbook would almost definitely allow you to try your luck with this bet format, as well.
How to deposit and cash out winnings
To start betting on sports, you’re going to need to deposit money into your account. Most sportsbooks will offer plenty of options, and that should be no different at an ESPN online sportsbook.
One thing that you will want to do is make sure that there are at least a few different banking methods that you feel comfortable using. This ensures that you never get stuck in a situation where you cannot move your money in or out of your account.
Some of the methods that you can expect to find will be debit/credit cards, a check in the mail, different online wallets, and other online banking methods such as wire transfers or direct deposits. The majority of the methods that you can use to deposit money will also be available to cash out, as well.
How to contact ESPN customer support
If you run into a problem at an online sportsbook, you may need to reach out for assistance.
There are usually multiple avenues that you can use to contact customer support. That is also likely to be the case at any ESPN sportsbook. These methods may vary in the speed at which they provide an answer and the level of help available.
ESPN might offer an online live chat. It’s a service that lots of sportsbooks provide that offers instant help, though it may only work to solve smaller issues or ask basic questions. Beyond that, sportsbooks can provide assistance via email and phone for more complicated queries.