Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and Hollywood Casino York today announced the official opening of their new ESPN BET retail sportsbooks, a significant milestone in the partnership between PENN Entertainment and the premier sports media brand. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will commemorate the grand opening at both locations this Saturday at 1 p.m.

The New Venues Cater to Diverse Types of Visitors

The ESPN BET sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino in Grantville is strategically situated near the valet entrance and high-limit gaming room. Its full-service restaurant and bar features plush seating and an impressive 28-foot video display with over 30 TVs to satisfy all sorts of sports fans and betting aficionados.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood Casino York sportsbook boasts a state-of-the-art high-definition, multi-screen video wall conveniently located next to the table games area. A bar and food service further enhances the entertainment space, ensuring patrons have everything they need. Tony Frabbiele, VP and general manager for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, was excited to bring the excitement of ESPN BET to life.

This partnership combines the trusted ESPN brand with our world-class gaming and entertainment experience, creating a premier destination for sports fans to watch, wager, and win.

Tony Frabbiele, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course VP and general manager

This launch should also significantly benefit ESPN BET as parent company PENN Entertainment further consolidates its retail and online sports betting under the ESPN brand. The partnership should help grow brand recognition and drive foot traffic to the casinos, creating a unified sports betting experience for customers.

PENN Remains Confident in ESPN BET’s Success

Despite this significant milestone, ESPN BET faces a rising challenge in the highly competitive United States sports betting market. With only a 2% market share, it remains way below industry leaders, such as DraftKings, with 26.1%, and FanDuel, the current pack leader, with 27.4%. However, PENN Entertainment has been aggressively investing in the online sports betting market, aiming for accelerated growth in 2025.

PENN Entertainment remains bullish on the digital front, citing the launch of seven retail sportsbooks under the ESPN brand in Q3 as a cornerstone of its strategy for 2025 and beyond. PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden was optimistic that combining ESPN’s established sports media image with PENN’s gaming expertise would allow the company to bolster its market share and build customer loyalty.

We’ve got some momentum in the business right now. ESPN BET has generated meaningful growth as we primarily focus on reactivation and retention efforts.

Jay Snowden, PENN Entertainment CEO

As ESPN BET moves toward solidifying its position within the United States sports betting arena, the opening of these retail sportsbooks represents a critical juncture for the brand. While only time will tell whether the brand can hang with the big boys, the new sportsbooks in Grantville and York are now laying the foundation for an exciting journey ahead.