Penn National Gaming’s second quarter revenue declined 75% year-over-year, but shares jumped 13% yesterday following its earnings report. Enthusiasm for the stock is largely based on the company’s current recovery from the pandemic — 39 of 41 casino properties have reopened — and optimism around the launch of the Barstool Sports betting app.
The $163 million acquisition of 36% of Barstool Sports in January has paid dividends for Penn National, which has seen its stock grow 65% since the start of 2020. This week, the company launched PlayBarstool, which features free-to-play games and subsequently shot up to No. 1 on the App Store. PlayBarstool will help users transition into the Barstool Sports Book app later this year.
An ability to deepen engagement with bettors both digitally and physically has been a major focus for operators, so securing a media platform with a fervent following was a prescient move for Penn National. Barstool has a self-reported 66 million monthly user reach, 62% of whom bet on sports.
![ESPN Bet broadcasts inside the PGA Tour Studios building in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on March 14, 2025. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/USATSI_25668497_168416386_lowres-scaled-e1762454726629.jpg?quality=100&w=1024)
