Saturday, April 11, 2026

Barstool Now a Pillar for Penn National Gaming

  • Penn National Gaming CEO encouraged by early payoffs from investment in Barstool Sports.
  • Penn National’s first-quarter revenue declined year-over-year $166.5 million.
Barstool flag
Photo Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn National Gaming reported its first quarter revenue declined $166.5 million to $1.2 billion on a year-to-year basis. While the company cited COVID-19 effects on its operations, executives remain bullish on Penn National’s long-term outlook, thanks in part to Barstool Sports. 

CEO Jay Snowden said the Barstool Sportsbook betting app is still on track for release in the third quarter of this year. Recent weeks have “reinforced our investment thesis in Barstool Sports,” Snowden said on an earnings call. Penn bought a 36% stake in Barstool for $163 million in January.

Snowden said Barstool’s blog traffic increased over 20% in April, while video views rose over 50% and social media accounts saw meaningful growth.

“Barstool’s highly diverse and engaging content is proving to be more relevant than ever in the key demographics we will be targeting, and we continue to believe Barstool’s growing, loyal audience will lead to meaningful reductions in customer acquisition and promotional costs for our sports betting product,” he said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Pile of Famous Athletes Quietly Invested in Kalshi Months Ago

WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart are among the group.
Jan 14, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., delivers remarks during a Senate Armed Services committee hearing on the expected nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Washington, DC.

‘Astonishing and Appalling’: Senator Blasts MLB-Polymarket Deal

A Connecticut senator says prediction markets are part of an “addiction conspiracy.”

Bettors Target ‘Microbets’ With Suits Against FanDuel, DraftKings

Plaintiffs’ losses range from $170,000 to more than $1.8 million.

The Political Backlash to Prediction Markets Has Arrived

Lawmakers are lining up to oppose sports markets and combat insider trading.

Featured Today

Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
April 8, 2026

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The product is scheduled to launch on Thursday.
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) and center Tomislav Ivisic (13) react in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center.
April 4, 2026

Loopholes Enable Int’l College Basketball Players to Cash In

Schools have scrambled to find a way to compensate international players.

NFL Warns Prediction Markets Operators Over Vulnerable Bets

Ongoing litigation in the burgeoning industry has muddied the waters.
Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) reacts with third baseman Max Muncy (13) after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the eleventh inning for game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre.
March 23, 2026

Bipartisan Bill Wants Sports Banned on Prediction Markets

It’s the latest indicator that prediction markets have gone mainstream.
The March Madness logo is pictured during a second-round game in the NCAA men's basketball tournament between Nebraska Cornhuskers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday March 21, 2026.
March 23, 2026

Coinbase Takes Heat for Pushing March Madness Markets

Viral posts showed that users feel pummeled by sports event contract promotion.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
March 20, 2026

NCAA Sues DraftKings Over March Madness Trademark Infringement

NCAA president Charlie Baker has also gone after prediction markets.
In this photo illustration, a mobile device displays the Kalshi logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the prediction market platform in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto)
March 20, 2026

Judge Temporarily Blocks Kalshi’s Sports Markets in Nevada

Nevada previously won a similar ruling in its case against Polymarket.
Oct 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred before game three of the 2025 MLB World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium
exclusive
March 19, 2026

MLB Makes Multiyear Prediction-Market Deal With Polymarket

The league’s stance on prediction markets has rapidly evolved.
[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 18, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Fan with a Morocco flag inside the stadium before a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
March 18, 2026

Sportsbooks, Prediction Markets Split on AFCON Payouts

CAF named Morocco as champions after the controversial Senegalese victory in January.