Our ESPN BET review takes a look at the sports media giant’s entrance in the world of online betting. See what our experts think of ESPN BET’s platform and why we have given it an 8 out of 10.
ESPN BET Review
- Unique Betting Markets and Same Game Parlays
- Daily Bonuses, Promos and Offers
- Same Game Parlays
- Sleek Mobile App
- Quite Basic Compared to Competitors
- Controversial Parlay Voiding Rule
ESPN is the largest sports network in the world, so it only makes sense that they joined the US sportsbook competition in November 2023. Our ESPN Bet Sportsbook review takes a look at how the company’s betting site and app fare against the giants in the game.
ESPN BET began as a partnership between ESPN and Penn Entertainment in August 2023. With Penn holding sports betting licenses in 16 states from their previous Barstool Sportsbook, the partnership took the huge branding and reach of ESPN and brought it into the world of betting with an established operator.
Which States Can Use the ESPN BET Sportsbook?
The FanDuel sportsbook is currently available to players in 21 states:
- Arizona
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
- Virginia
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- Tennessee
Coming in as a new sportsbook, ESPN BET has included TWO deposit bonuses for all new players. Needing to get new players in means they are aggressively offering new player bonuses, which is great for bettors looking to try out the sportsbook.
ESPN BET Sign Up Bonus
All ESPN BET players have two deposit bonus offers to choose from when registering.
ESPN BET Sign-Up Bonus #1 – $200 in Free Bets
All new players receive $200 in bonus bets when they register and place any sportsbook wager on, on any available market. That’s right, ESPN BET will give you four $50 free bets just for joining and placing any sports bet. Each bet expires seven days from when it reaches your account, so there is no rush to get your bets in.
ESPN BET Sign-Up Bonus #2 – $1,000 Deposit Match
ESPN BET also offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,000 for all players making their first deposit. The bonus works on a cashback system, with a rate of 5% for the sportsbook and 2% for the casino. Essentially, as you make wagers on ESPN BET, you will unlock bonus funds until the amount of your initial deposit is reached.
ESPN BET Sportsbook Daily Promotions
There are ongoing promotions in the ESPN BET sportsbook such as the Parlay Club offering a free $5 bet when you place four parlays in any week and the Primetime Power Hour that boosts “First TD Scorer” markets between 7pm and 8pm ET for all primetime games.
ESPN BET Sportsbook Insurance
ESPN BET offers insurance promotions across a variety of sports, reimbursing losses up to $1,000 if your team loses in overtime or shootouts. For example, NFL Overtime Protection gives you up to $1,000 of your wager back if your NFL bet loses in OT and Shootout Protection which does the same if your NHL bet loses in a shootout.
ESPN BET Casino Bonus
ESPN BET also features a premium online casino that includes 1,500+ slots and live dealer games. All players registering for the ESPN BET casino receive 50 free spins immediately, then 50 additional free spins when wagering at least $0.20 in Eligible Games.
ESPN BET Sportsbook Interface
The ESPN BET interfact is extremely basic, featuring a minimalist and clean display that makes finding bets very simple. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the competitors have, which can be an advantage if you are somebody that just wants to place wagers without distactions.
All the top leagues and events are displayed in the left sidebar, with the sports shown below and at the top of the page. The homepage also includes a few promo banners so you know what is being offered on a daily basis.
Clicking onto a sport gives you the leagues and upcoming games, as well as some “Special” bets such as futures and daily/weekly props. Again, the simplicity of the site makes it easy to navigate to find exactly what you need.
Clicking on an event gives you all the lines, game props, player props, and specials, as well as the Parlay+ which is their version of a same game parlay.
Where ESPN BET’s interface lacks is in the live section. There are no matchtrackers or live stats, making it really difficult to find out what you are betting on once the game has started.
ESPN BET Deposits
ESPN BET includes all the standard deposit options that players need to get their funds in. Deposits are virtually instant, so you will have the money in your account immediately and able to place your bet within minutes.
*Some deposit options are only available in specific states. Visit the “Cashier” page to see deposit options in your state.
Deposit Method | Fee | Process Time | Minimum Deposit |
---|---|---|---|
Visa/Mastercard | Free | Instant | $10 |
Debit Card | Free | Instant | $10 |
Paypal | Free | Instant | $10 |
Online Banking | Free | Instant | $10 |
Skrill | Free | Instant | $10 |
eCheque | Free | Instant | $10 |
Wire Transfer | Free | 24-48 Hours | $10 |
ESPN BET Withdrawals
Featuring the same options as deposit, as well as some other options, ESPN BET’s withdrawals are quite fast. Most of the time, you can expect your money into your bank or PayPal account in 24 hours, with 48 hours being the maximum.
*Some withdrawal options are only available in specific states. Visit the “Cashier” page to see withdrawal options in your state.
Withdrawal Method | Fee | Process Time | Minimum Withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|
PayPal | Free | 1-2 Banking Days | $10 |
eCheck | $10 | 1-3 Banking Days | $10 |
Online Bank Transfer | Free | 1-3 Banking Days | $10 |
Wire Transfer | Free | 1-5 Banking Days | $10 |
Skrill | Free | 1-2 Banking Days | $10 |
Being a relatively new sportsbook, ESPN BET does not have all the same features as a FanDuel or DraftKings. While all the basics are there, as well as same game parlays, there are still quite a few features missing. However, over time the ESPN BET sportsbook should catch up to the competition.
ESPN BET Live Betting
ESPN BET’s live betting is extremely basic compared to our top ranked US sportsbooks. With limited live betting options including a lack of unique markets, players can bet on main markets such as moneyline, spread, over/under and some prop bets, but nothing like some of the top sportsbooks.
The lack of a live match tracker and in-game statistics is another drawback for ESPN BET’s live betting. Not having all the information of the game makes it difficult to make informed decisions on live markets. Hopefully, the live betting gets a facelift going forward as it simply isn’t up to the standard we see from Caesars Sportsbook or FanDuel.
ESPN BET Sportsbook Prop Betting
If you’re looking to bet on NFL, NBA, NHL and other player props, then ESPN BET has you covered. The pre-game prop betting has hundreds of markets for player performance, with many alternative spreads.
This means that you don’t just get a single over/under of points or rebounds for a player, but you have up to 20 different numbers that you can choose from. This makes finding the right bet for you easier, giving you more options than some of the other sportsbooks.
ESPN BET Same Game Parlays
ESPN BET features a Parlay+ option for all major sporting events, giving you the chance at a big payday for predicting exactly what will happen in a game. Available on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer and other sports, the Parlay+ tool includes up to 20 unique lines per player, so you have many options to bet on.
With a simple “click-to-add” design, you can just add as many picks in the event page to get the same game parlay onto your betslip.
ESPN BET Sportsbook Cash Out
ESPN BET features cash out for select events, allowing you to take a profit or cut your losses before your bet is settled. The cash out is available for straight bets and parlays, and all you need to do is find your pending bet and click the “Cash Out” bar to secure your funds.
ESPN BET Special Bets
One of the great features of the sportsbook are the multitude of special bets on offer. From daily special bets on who will get the most points in the NBA to season specials of which team will be in the playoffs as a Wild Card, the platform delivers a variety of unique and interesting bets outside of just moneyline.
ESPN BET Casino
ESPN BET’s online casino offers is in partnership with Hollywood Casino. That means that players can choose from 100+ online slots, live dealer games, RNG table games, and much more.
While the selection in the online casino is far less than some of the top US online casinos out there, players won’t have any issue finding all of the casino classics.
There are also a wide range of casino bonuses for new and existing players, meaning that playing in the ESPN BET casino will keep daily and weekly promotions coming your way.
One of the best aspects of ESPN BET is their excellent customer support. On the site and in the app you can find 24/7 live chat support, accompanied by FAQs that help you solve any basic issues you may be facing.
There is also email support and a callback option for phone service, which goes beyond the typical help we see from US sportsbooks. Finally, a dedicated X (Twitter) account just for ESPN BET sportsbook and casino support is available.
💬 Live Chat: Available 24/7 via the website or mobile app.
📧 Email Support: Players can email directly from the support page.
📱Phone Support: Phone support for players is available at 1 (844) 953-2121.
𝕏 X (Twitter) Support: Players can message @ESPNBetSupport for assistance.
ESPN BET Mobile App
The ESPN BET mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app is very intuitive and makes mobile betting seamless, without having to constantly log in to the website. The app includes all of the same features that can be found on the ESPN BET desktop or website version, as well as having some additional features where players can share their bets directly to social media.
If you plan on making a majority of your bets from your mobile device, then downloading the ESPN BET app from the Apple or Google Play Store is definitely a good decision.
ESPN BET Sportsbook Review Conclusion
Our expert Caesars Sportsbook review gives the platform an overall score of 8.8/10, making it one of our highest rated sportsbooks. Betting on sports at Caesars provides you with an exceptional player experience, a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, 24/7 support, and a wide range of betting features.
While the live betting options could be improved by adding more international events for those who like to bet on sports outside of North America, the site and mobile app offer more than enough for the everyday player.
The $1,000 risk-free welcome bonus and daily promotions means that you will always have something waiting for you when you log in. The addition of the online casino and poker also give you the opportunity to play slots and table games right from your computer or phone when there aren’t any sports to bet on.