ESPN has teamed up with a pair of sports betting companies, which will allow the company to continue to break into the sports betting industry. Both Caesars Entertainment and DraftKings have announced multi-year agreements with ESPN to provide the company with sports and fantasy sports information.
The agreement marks the first time in history a deal of this kind has been reached, as both Caesars and DraftKings will have direct links on both the ESPN.com page and on the ESPN mobile app. Both companies will also receive advertisement rights through ESPN and the family of networks.
ESPN has already had partnerships in place with both DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment, but this agreement will expand both deals. Caesars is now the exclusive odds provider for ESPN, and DraftKings is now the official daily fantasy sports provider.
ESPN hosts the “Daily Wager” betting show at the Linq Hotel in Vegas, which is owned and operated by Caesars. Last week was the first time that the Linq hosted the ESPN show, which symbolized a growing partnership between the two companies.
All of the links on the ESPN.com page will be geo-targeted, and they will be aimed at states which have currently legalized sports betting. Customers will be directed to the login and landing page of the state they are physically located in when clicking on the link.
Disney In on Sports Betting
ESPN is a part of the Walt Disney Company, and it is one of the most successful platforms. Both Disney and leaders at ESPN have been looking to expand more into the sports betting industry, and these new agreements will allow them to do just that.
Disney is hoping to use ESPN as a means to connect more gamblers to the company, and it will also allow them to make more money. Sports betting is now legal in 18 states throughout the country, and Disney will be targeting these areas.
Sports betting has also increased interest for a large population in the United States, and that should generate additional viewership. ESPN hosts a large number of sporting events and competitions, and the continued partnerships should allow them to see a considerable boost in TV ratings.
Disney owns a six percent share of DraftKings as part of their deal to take over 21st Century Fox. The six percent share is non-voting equity, but it is evidence that these two companies have no problem working together to increase revenue and overall company value.
William Hill Gets Boost as Well
Even though it appeared that both Caesars and DraftKings were the two biggest winners in this announcement, William Hill Sportsbook will see a huge boost as well. William Hill has partnered with Caesars Entertainment, and they will also be featured as a part of the ESPN/Caesars deal.
William Hill has created the mobile app for the Caesars Sportsbook, and that app is scheduled to launch in four states in the coming months. The four states set to receive a new Caesars Sportsbook app are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Nevada.
Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill is now a sponsor of the fantasy games that are also offered at ESPN. There will be direct links to the sportsbook on the ESPN.com page and on the ESPN mobile app.
William Hill is a British bookmaker, but it has been able to carve out a path in the United States. William Hill is recognized worldwide as a giant in the sports betting industry, and this new deal will give the company a more substantial presence in the US.
