ESPN BET Review | ESPN BET Sportsbook Review 2024

The world’s leading sports network has stepped into the world of online sports wagering with ESPN BET – and I think it delivers exactly the polished, personality-infused experience that you’d expect. The app is quick and easy to navigate, and users get a daily batch of promos, tailored to the sports news of the day. 

Ready to step off the sidelines and get in on the action? Check out my detailed review and see if, like me, you want to add ESPN BET to your sportsbook lineup.

Established 2018

BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus

Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets If Your First Bet Loses
Bonus Code: GAMBLINGCOM

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Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in OH. In partnership with MGM Northfield Park. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Visit BetMGM.com for T&Cs. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

Where is ESPN BET available both on mobile mobile and in person? 

We've collected the online and retail locations for ESPN BET Sportsbooks around the country.

For a guide to the latest legislation moves in each state, check out our legal states tracker.

*The minimum age to use the app for ESPN Bet in Kentucky is 18

**ESPN BET launched in North Carolina as a new betting site in 2024.

Since ESPN took control of the Barstool online sportsbook, the sports betting app is still managed by PENN National Gaming, and ESPN has kept the same loyalty program in place…PENN Play Member Rewards. This is good news for patrons of the Barstool Sportsbook, as all Rewards Points and Tier Points carried over after the transition. 

So what’s the difference between Rewards Points and Tier Points? Well, you earn both for placing bets online or at PENN retail locations. But Rewards Points are what you actually redeem for bonus bets, shopping discounts, travel, event tickets and more. Tier Credits determine what level of the program you’re in, and what extra benefits you have access to. 

Additionally, you can also earn rewards for staying, playing, or dining at any Penn National location, including dozens of casinos and racetracks spread over 20 states. Partnerships with Norwegian Cruise Line®, Choice Hotels, and National Rental Car offer bettors and patrons even more great perks and special offers. 

I’ve redeemed and received PENN Play cash to use in the ESPN BET app (though I haven’t redeemed for any non-gaming extras).  It’s easy to see your bonus balance and any relevant expiration dates, listed in the “My Account” section. 

Here’s a quick look at the different Penn Play tiers and the extras that go with them…

Established 2018

BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus

Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets If Your First Bet Loses
Bonus Code: GAMBLINGCOM

Bet Now

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in OH. In partnership with MGM Northfield Park. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Visit BetMGM.com for T&Cs. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

As the self-described “Worldwide Leader” in sports, it should be no surprise that ESPN’s betting platform offers a wide range of both North American and international sports (though the exact offering does vary state by state). By my count, there are 20 sports to bet on, including playoffs, major competitions, special events, and more. 

I tend to stick to the more popular options like football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer…but I have dabbled in niche markets like darts, beach volleyball, and e-sports competitions. This was often spurred on by one of the app’s many daily bonuses or special offers themed around ESPN shows and personalities. I’ve actually discovered and then wagered on events I found out about through ESPN BET!

• 

  Football

  It’s one of the most popular sports in North America (and increasingly, the world), so it’s no surprise that ESPN has a healthy variety of options for fans of the gridiron. And I don’t just mean the NFL – I’ve placed bets on the CFL, UFL, and NCAA football, too. (Note that betting regulations for NCAA sports can vary greatly, depending on where you’re located.)In addition to the typical money lines, spreads, totals, and futures markets, there are also a lot of division, season, awards, and team-based specials. There are also plenty of pre-picked, boosted same-game parlays every week of the season, along with a promo called the Parlay Club, which rewards bonus bets for wagering a certain amount on qualifying parlays.

• 

  Basketball

  Whether you’re more into the NBA (like me), or you follow the WNBA or any of the higher-level international leagues, you’ll find betting markets on ESPN BET. You can play all of the standard betting lines, spreads, and totals, along with a better-than-average variety of same-game parlay and player prop options.Just like other sports, there are daily parlay specials and boosted bets for basketball, though I would like to see some more offers aimed at hoop fans during both the regular season and the playoffs.

• 

  Baseball

  I’ll start right away by saying that the amount of baseball betting options on ESPN BET is as good or better than any other book I’ve used. Beyond MLB games, you can wager on NCAA, NPB, KBO, PBL, and even minor league games. As you’d expect, betting markets include money lines, spreads (and plenty of alternate spreads), batting props, pitching props, and more. You can also find win total and season result futures for every team in MLB.

• 

  Hockey

  The pro hockey markets on ESPN BET are as solid as a Jacob Trouba bodycheck. Living near a few minor league franchises, I was especially happy to see AHL betting options. I’ve played almost all of the available bet types, including player props, puck lines, spreads, and totals. I also frequently play the hockey specials, which typically involve a few players to all score 1+ points or goals on a given day.

• 

  Soccer

  As someone who’s just getting into the world’s most popular sport (and betting on it), I thInk ESPN BET’s soccer options are a bit of a mixed bag. You’ll find the MLS and all of the top European leagues, including the EPL, Liga, and Bundesliga. You’ll also be able to put wagers on top competitions like the Champions League and Copa America. But you won’t find a very deep variety of player or game props for most matches. And I’ve very rarely seen noteworthy soccer promotions in the app.

• 

  Tennis

  Tennis fans and bettors will be very happy with what they find on ESPN BET. All the Grand Slam, ATP Challenger, and ITF events are available, with live betting markets for individual games. The match stats and scores update frequently to accommodate live betting, and I haven’t run into any lag, loading time, or hiccups.

• 

  Golf

  Similar to the tennis offering, ESPN BET has lines for all PGA and LPGA events, including the Champions Tour and each and every Major. ESPN BET is actually the official betting sponsor of the PGA Championship and will be through 2026. Betting options include but certainly aren’t limited to, winner, top 10, top 20, and make-the-cut props. You can also wager on specific round props and specials like top European or top American finishers.

• 

  Boxing & MMA

  Combat sports are well-represented on ESPN BET, and with ESPN as the TV rights holder for UFC, there are frequent UFC-branded promos and offers. There are a surprising amount of betting options for matches, including money lines, method of victory, total rounds, round props, and more. Every marquee boxing tilt and UFC fight will have lines listed.

Established 2018

BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus

Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets If Your First Bet Loses
Bonus Code: GAMBLINGCOM

Bet Now

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in OH. In partnership with MGM Northfield Park. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Visit BetMGM.com for T&Cs. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

Known for their slick, polished production quality, ESPN’s sports betting site offers the kind of fast, reliable, smooth performance that you’d expect. Along with that, promotions and offers are usually based on unique personalities like Pat McAfee, Erin Dolan, and Stephen A. Smith. If you’re a fan of the flagship sports media network, you’ll find plenty of its distinctive feel on ESPN BET, along with some other impressive features…

Parlay+ (Same-Game-Parlays)

If you’re a fan of SGPs, you’ll probably use Parlay+ quite a bit. Through this nifty feature, bettors can quickly add up to 10 legs from different markets, including some you won’t find almost anywhere else. 

Quick Bets for Live Betting

Quick bets are supercharged live bets that are only available for a short amount of time, sometimes just a few seconds. If you’re actively watching a game or match, they can be a great way to play a hunch or back an educated prediction with a little action. 

Shareable Bet Slips

Just like you’d share a photo, video, or article with your friends and family, every bet you place will have a “Share” option at the bottom of the slip. And this doesn’t just make it easy for you to pass along bets, it also makes it so people can copy your bets (if they have the app) with a few taps. 

Daily Specials & Odds Boosts

ESPN BET offers dozens of daily promos. Some are specifically built for the most newsworthy games of the day, but there are quite a few others that have often piqued my interest for competitions I didn’t even know were taking place. The boosts are presented in a fun and entertaining way, typically with no minimum bet amount or wagering requirements. In particular, there are more special deals for futures markets than on any other book I’ve seen.

The high review scores for the app don’t surprise me, as I’ve found ESPN BET to be one of the easiest to navigate and one of the smoothest-running sportsbook apps available. The betting options are solid, the performance is excellent, and the unique personality of ESPN and its hosts comes through in a solid variety of promotions and betting offers. 

1. Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Search for “ESPN BET.”
3. Tap on the app to read reviews, browse the features, and download.

Apple App Store Reviews:

“I love the app. It’s smooth, has the fastest payouts around, and it’s super easy to figure out. I will say this, the fact that I have to leave the app to open the ESPN app, to check the scores or most games is insane to me.”

“The rewards are great, it’s easy to navigate, and has lots of intriguing teaser picks and straight bets. Overall, one of my favorites.”

Google Play Store Reviews: 

“This app doesn't have the performance issues that I experienced with the other big recreational sports betting apps. I was hesitant to sign up, but with the faster app, combined with their competitive lines, I'd have to say that I'm really enjoying my experience so far!”

“Sign-up was a nuisance and I had a lot of issues confirming who I was. After it got cleared up…I've had 0 issues. The app runs smoothly and live bets are easy to place…would 100% recommend this to friends and family.”

I found it very easy to sign up and get started on this app. More so than some other online books, the layout and menu system is very intuitive. And for me, signing up only took a few minutes…

How to Sign Up for ESPN BET

• Download the ESPN BET app or visit the desktop site.
• Fill in personal details for verification purposes.
• Review the terms, and then complete your registration.

How to Build Bets at ESPN BET Sportsbook

Parlay+

1. Look for any game or event marked with a “P+.” 
2. Add at least two eligible bets to start building your betslip.
3. Keep adding events until you have the parlay you want.
4. Review your betslip and enter your bet amount.
5. Place your bet and track its progress in “My Bets.”

Teaser Bet

1. Select any basketball or football game.
2. Choose the main (non-alt) spread or total bet that you want to bet.
3. Check the available lines using the points picker.
4. Choose the amount of points you want to buy to update your odds.
5. Place your bet and track its progress in “My Bets.”

Bet Types at ESPN BET

• Parlay: A bet where you combine more than one predicted result (leg) for higher payouts — all “legs” need to hit for the bet to cash.
• SGP: Short for same-game parlay, similar to parlays, but each leg is from the same game or match. 
• Moneyline: The most classic bet type, involving a wager on which team or competitor will come out with the win. The favorite will have negative odds, while the underdog will have positive odds.  
• Point Spread: The spread equalizes the odds for each side by handicapping the game. Bettors choose a team or competitor to “cover” the assigned spread.
• Futures: Futures are longer-term bets for a team or player to reach certain goals for a season or event. 
• Propositions: Also known as props, these bets are on whether a specific outcome within the event will happen, usually for a player to reach a certain statistical threshold. 
• Live Bets: These are bets placed while an event is happening, so the odds can change quickly. Most of the bet types outlined above will be available as live betting options. 

Banking Methods at ESPN BET

Security

ESPN uses encrypted transactions and state-of-the-art software and technology to protect your account. There’s optional multi-factor authentication, a thorough verification process, and a team of experienced experts dedicated to keeping your information safe.