A founding member of the NFL is partnering with one of America’s largest gaming and entertainment companies.
The Chicago Bears and PENN Entertainment announced on Wednesday a partnership making the gaming giant an official casino and sports betting partner. The multiyear deal makes PENN’s Chicagoland brick-and-mortar casinos official partners of the NFL franchise. The facilities featured in the partnership include Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet. Hollywood Casino’s Joliet location gained a new partner after opening a new location earlier this month, replacing its previous riverboat operations.
Hollywood Casino Aurora is also building a new location that is expected to open in 2026.
The new facility is part of a commercial and residential development and will provide visitors with roughly 1,000 slots and over 40 live table games to choose from. Hollywood Casino Aurora’s new location will also house a retail sportsbook powered by ESPN Bet.
“We’re thrilled to announce this partnership in connection with the opening of our new state-of-the-art Joliet property and on the precipice of football season,” said PENN Executive Vice President of Operations Todd George. “Teaming up with one of the premier franchises in the NFL creates exciting new omnichannel marketing opportunities for our ESPN BET and Hollywood Casino brands.”
The partnership also extends to PENN’s sports betting operations offered via ESPN Bet.
As part of the deal, EPSN Bet is an official sports betting partner of the Bears. PENN’s Chicagoland casinos and ESPN Bet have also gained access to IP rights, digital media integrations and in-stadium marketing at Soldier Field, the Bears’ home field since 1971. PENN and the Bears will also be collaborating to provide fans with unique experiences.
Recent changes for ESPN Bet
The sports betting operator acquired a new partner after making operational changes.
Earlier this month, ESPN Bet announced the debut of FanCenter, a personalized hub inside its app that provides users with betting markets based on their favorite teams and players. The new feature supports account linking offered by the ESPN Bet and ESPN apps.
FanCenter adds to recent efforts by ESPN Bet to bolster its product, including the launch of its Mint Club that offers rewards and promos. The sportsbook is poised for growth as ESPN prepares to launch its direct-to-consumer streaming service later this week. PENN CEO Jay Snowden confirmed ESPN Bet will have a major presence across the DTC service with “deep integrations” expected for the operator.
ESPN Bet raises minimum bet amount in Illinois
ESPN Bet also made changes to its house rules for wagering in Illinois due to the state’s new per-wager tax for sports betting. ESPN Bet raised its minimum bet amount in the Land of Lincoln from 10 cents to $1. The increase is due to the new tax requirement that charges online operators at least 25 cents per wager. The figure jumps to 50 cents after the first 20 million bets in a year. BetMGM, BetRivers and Hard Rock also raised their minimums.
DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel responded by implementing transaction fees.
