About This Guide
ESPN Bet launched in late 2023 via Penn Entertainment. Here's how it stacks up for US basketball bettors against FanDuel and DraftKings.
ESPN Bet arrived in the US market in late 2023 through Penn Entertainment's partnership with ESPN, and it's been one of the more talked-about newcomers since. The brand recognition is enormous — pretty much every basketball fan already has ESPN in their DNA — but brand recognition and a sharp betting product aren't always the same thing. So where does ESPN Bet actually land for basketball bettors, and is it worth making room for on your phone alongside the heavyweights?
Which states is ESPN Bet available in?
ESPN Bet launched across several legal states via Penn Entertainment, though its footprint isn't as wide as the most established operators. FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars are all licensed and live in states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Colorado, and Arizona, meaning they cover most of the biggest betting markets. ESPN Bet's availability is more limited by comparison, so the first thing you should do is confirm whether your state is supported before going through registration. Legality always depends on where you're physically located when you place a wager — not where you live or where the sportsbook is headquartered.
How does ESPN Bet compare to FanDuel and DraftKings for basketball?
For NBA and college basketball betting, FanDuel and DraftKings have years of market-making experience, deep prop menus, and robust live-betting interfaces. ESPN Bet leans hard into its media integration — you can follow scores and stats in the same ecosystem — which is genuinely useful during a busy NBA slate when you're tracking multiple games. Whether that integration translates into better odds or more creative markets is something worth evaluating on a game-by-game basis rather than assuming the brand delivers a premium product by default. For a deeper side-by-side breakdown, see our FanDuel vs DraftKings: Which Is Better for Basketball Bets? guide, which covers odds, props, and live-betting features in detail.
| Operator | Launched via | Notable Legal States | NBA Live Betting |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN Bet | Penn Entertainment | Several; verify per state | Yes |
| FanDuel | Flutter Entertainment | NJ, PA, MI, NY, CO, AZ, TN+ | Yes |
| DraftKings | DraftKings Inc. | NJ, PA, MI, NY, CO, AZ, TN+ | Yes |
| BetMGM | MGM Resorts | NJ, PA, MI, NY, CO+ | Yes |
| Caesars | Caesars Entertainment | NJ, PA, NY, AZ+ | Yes |
What about ESPN Bet's bonuses and promos for basketball?
Welcome offers and ongoing promos are a standard part of any new sportsbook launch, and ESPN Bet is no different. That said, we won't publish specific bonus figures here because promo terms change frequently and an outdated number is worse than no number — it's a waste of your time at best and misleading at worst. Always pull the current offer directly from ESPN Bet's promotions page and read the full terms before opting in. Availability of any promo also varies by state, so what's on offer in Pennsylvania may not be the same as what you see in Colorado. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Should I use ESPN Bet as my only basketball betting app?
Honestly, most serious basketball bettors run two or three accounts so they can line-shop — comparing the spread or total at ESPN Bet against what FanDuel or DraftKings is posting and taking the best number. Even a half-point difference on a spread matters over a full season. If ESPN Bet is available in your state and the interface clicks for you, it's a reasonable addition to your rotation, but we'd stop short of calling it a standalone replacement for the more established books given their wider market depth right now. Check our Best Sportsbooks for Betting on Basketball in 2026 roundup for a full ranking of where ESPN Bet sits against the field.
How do I get started on ESPN Bet?
The sign-up flow follows the same pattern as other licensed US sportsbooks — you'll need to verify your identity and confirm you're physically located in a legal state when you register and when you place bets. Geolocation is enforced, so a VPN won't help and will likely get your account flagged. Walk through the full process in our How to Create a Sportsbook Account for Basketball Betting guide if you're setting up your first account. Once you're in, funding is the next step — debit cards, PayPal, ACH, and Play+ are common options across Penn-operated books, but you'll want to confirm current methods and any minimums on ESPN Bet's banking page directly. Our Depositing Funds on a Basketball Betting App: Every Method Explained page covers every major payment method in detail.