The NHL has two new Authorized Gaming Operators on its hands thanks to a new deal with Penn Entertainment. The league signed a deal with the company establishing both ESPN Bet and theScore Bet as official sports betting partners.
“There’s definite excitement in being one of the first leagues to partner with ESPN Bet and Penn Entertainment,” said Jason Jazayeri, NHL Vice President, Business Development. “From day one we’ve said our media rights deal with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company has been a big win for our fans and our league, and this new collaboration is further testament to the value of our partnership. The NHL is younger, faster, and more exciting than ever, and delivers tremendous opportunity for fan engagement and responsible gaming experiences. We’re looking forward to working with ESPN Bet in the U.S. and theScore Bet in Ontario to engage our passionate fan base.”
The deal takes effect immediately and will span the entire season and postseason. As part of the partnership, the two apps will have access to rights and marks of the league and team in addition to marketing integrations on-site and as part of broadcasts.
ESPN Bet is currently live in 17 states while theScore Bet is one of the bigger operators in Ontario. The two join a growing list of partners for the league including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
“The recent launch of ESPN Bet in the US is extremely exciting and we’re thrilled to collaborate with the NHL to help market our new sports betting experience,” added Aubrey Levy, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Content, Penn Interactive. “Becoming an official partner allows us to more broadly engage hockey fans, develop compelling integrations and uniquely leverage NHL programming. This is also a key partnership for theScore Bet in Ontario, where the popularity of hockey is unmatched.”
