• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 30, 2025

ESPN Nearing New Partnership Deal with DraftKings

  • ESPN reportedly could sign an exclusive deal with DraftKings.
  • The network and sportsbook have been business partners for two years.
DraftKings
DraftKings

The family-oriented Walt Disney Co. has been gradually dipping its toes into sports betting with ESPN. Now it could be diving head-first into the lucrative industry, say sources.

ESPN and sports betting giant DraftKings are close to signing an exclusive deal that would greatly expand the Worldwide Leader’s sports gambling portfolio.

ESPN signed co-exclusive deals with DraftKings and Caesars two years ago. But Darren Rovell of The Action Network reported Thursday night that ESPN and the nation’s No. 2 sportsbook are “on the cusp” of forging an exclusive partnership.

“Specific terms of this deal are unknown, but the deal is a massive, exclusive partnership that will have shows and perhaps odds integrated into game broadcasts,” Rovell wrote.

Front Office Sports first reported in June 2021 that ESPN wanted to go “all-in” on sports betting, and that ESPN was exploring the launch of its own branded sports book.

The Wall Street Journal later reported ESPN wanted to license its famous four-letter brand to DraftKings or Caesars in a deal worth $3 billion over several years.

Disney owns about 5% of DraftKings after purchasing more than 18 million shares of the betting company in 2020, which saw its stock surge nearly 14% in after-hours trading on Thursday. That boosted the value of Disney’s stake in DraftKings to about $340 million.

DraftKings declined to address reports of the potential new deal with ESPN that Bloomberg also reported on Thursday.

“We have a great, long standing relationship with ESPN,” DraftKings said in a statement to FOS. “However, we speak to a variety of companies on a regular basis and don’t comment on the specifics of those conversations.”

Caesars did not return multiple messages left by FOS.

ESPN declined to comment. But Disney chief executive officer Bob Chapek has been telegraphing a belated, but ambitious, move into sports betting on quarterly earnings calls.

Chapek said in August that that company would “have something to announce in the future in terms of a partnership” that would allow for better integration with ESPN.

“We have been in conversations for quite a long time now with a number of different platforms to add some utility to sports betting and take away some friction,” Chapek said on the call. “We have found that basically our sports fans that are under 30 absolutely require this type of utility in the overall portfolio of what ESPN offers.”

There has been immense speculation from within the betting industry on just how ESPN would go about its new sports betting strategy, insiders told FOS. 

One option sources said included Disney exploring an acquisition of an existing sports betting company, although a source with knowledge of Disney’s dealings said there was no interest internally for such a deal. 

One thing ESPN would look to avoid was what Fox has gone through with its partnership with Flutter — the parent company of FanDuel — to create FoxBet. Their legal dispute is currently in arbitration, which has resulted in the stagnation of FoxBet.

“We don’t control it because we’re not allowed to,” Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch told investors in March. “It’s only rolled out in four states, which we’re disappointed in, and we’d like to see it rolled out in many more.”

The sports betting and online casino market in the U.S. generated gross revenue of $7.75 billion in 2021, according to The Action Network, and is on track to hit $24.3 billion by 2026.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

ESPN, MLB Relationship May Not Be Over After All

The parties restart rights talks amid a high-profile divorce in February.
Mar 15, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) celebrates in the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Little Caesars Arena.

Malik Beasley Is Latest Betting-Related Headache for NBA

It’s the third NBA betting scandal in the last year-and-a-half.

Malik Beasley Being Investigated in NBA Gambling Probe

If proven, the claims could lead to Beasley’s lifetime expulsion from the NBA.

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.

Featured Today

Seattle Rough & Tumble

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena
June 22, 2025

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Quincy Taylor

Several Americans Banned in British Basketball Game-Fixing Scandal

Five former Surrey Scorchers players were hit with lengthy gambling suspensions.
A view of the FanDuel Sportsbook betting area at Belterra Park Cincinnati.
exclusive
June 13, 2025

FanDuel, Kalshi Have Discussed a Deal

Could FanDuel take an equity stake in Kalshi?
Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau'Jae Johnson (4) shoots against UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) during the second half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena.
June 17, 2025

Louisiana Sports Betting Set to Aid LSU and Other State Schools

Louisiana lawmakers have been creative in finding state money for NIL.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Fanduel
June 10, 2025

FanDuel, DraftKings Add Illinois Transaction Fee in Response to New Tax

FanDuel will charge 50 cents per bet starting Sept. 1.
May 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; A general overall view as Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers players run across the Clippers logo at midcourt in the first half during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
June 6, 2025

Kalshi’s Momentum Fuels Crypto.com’s Fight Over Sports Markets

Crypto.com cited a recent Kalshi court victory in its own fight against Nevada.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks after giving his annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, in Springfield.
June 2, 2025

Illinois Passes New Sports Betting Tax in Middle of the Night

This is the second straight year Illinois approved a tax increase on sportsbooks.
May 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) looks to shoot against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena.
May 27, 2025

Napheesa Collier Is Odds-On WNBA MVP Favorite After Caitlin Clark Injury

Collier and Clark had been close in the odds.