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Looking for Barstool Sportsbook? You won't find it. The app was completely rebranded to ESPN BET in November 2023 after Penn Entertainment ditched Barstool Sports for ESPN. Here's the full story and what it means for you.
Is Barstool Sportsbook still operating?
No, Barstool Sportsbook was rebranded to ESPN BET in November 2023. Penn Entertainment sold Barstool Sports back to Dave Portnoy and partnered with ESPN instead. All Barstool accounts were migrated to ESPN BET automatically, same platform, new branding.
As of November 14, 2023, Barstool Sportsbook no longer exists. Penn Entertainment rebranded the entire platform to ESPN BET after signing a 10-year, $2 billion partnership with ESPN.
Your account is safe. Barstool users were automatically migrated to ESPN BET with their balance and betting history intact.
Barstool Sportsbook launched in September 2020 as a partnership between Penn Entertainment (then Penn National Gaming) and Barstool Sports. The idea? Leverage Barstool's massive, passionate fanbase (Stoolies) to compete with DraftKings and FanDuel.
For a while, it worked. Dave Portnoy, Big Cat, and other Barstool personalities promoted the sportsbook relentlessly. The app had a unique, irreverent vibe that appealed to younger bettors. Barstool Sportsbook grew to 17 states and became a legitimate player in the market.
In August 2023, Penn Entertainment shocked everyone by selling Barstool Sports back to founder Dave Portnoy for just $1 (yes, one dollar). Three months later, Barstool Sportsbook was gone. What happened?
Dave Portnoy was furious. He publicly criticized Penn's decision, calling it a betrayal. But from Penn's perspective, ESPN BET had more upside than Barstool Sportsbook ever would.
If you had a Barstool Sportsbook account, you were automatically migrated to ESPN BET. Here's what transferred:
Your cash balance, bonus funds, and pending bets transferred to ESPN BET automatically. Nothing was lost in the migration.
Your complete Barstool betting history is accessible in ESPN BET for tax reporting and record-keeping.
Most Barstool users can log into ESPN BET with their original email and password. If not, use the password reset feature.
Can't access your migrated account? Contact ESPN BET support at support@espnbet.com or through their live chat for help recovering your account.
Functionally, ESPN BET is almost identical to Barstool Sportsbook. Same platform, same odds, same betting markets. Here's what actually changed:
Honestly? If you liked Barstool Sportsbook for the betting experience (not the personality), ESPN BET is fine. The app works the same way, the odds are competitive, and the betting markets are comprehensive.
But if you loved Barstool for the irreverent content and Stoolie culture? ESPN BET won't scratch that itch. It's corporate, mainstream sports betting, which is exactly what Penn wanted.
The direct replacement for Barstool Sportsbook. Same platform, ESPN branding. Your account is already here.
Best for serious bettors who want comprehensive markets and competitive odds. Similar vibe to Barstool without the personality.
Market leader with the best NFL betting options. Clean interface and fast payouts make it a favorite among former Barstool users.
No, Barstool Sportsbook was rebranded to ESPN BET in November 2023. Penn Entertainment (Barstool's operator) sold Barstool Sports back to founder Dave Portnoy and partnered with ESPN instead. The Barstool Sportsbook app and brand are gone, replaced entirely by ESPN BET.
Your Barstool Sportsbook account was automatically migrated to ESPN BET. Your balance, betting history, and account information transferred over seamlessly, you didn't lose anything. Most users can log into ESPN BET using their old Barstool credentials. If you have trouble accessing your account, contact ESPN BET customer support for help.
Penn Entertainment decided ESPN's brand had more mainstream appeal than Barstool Sports. In August 2023, Penn sold Barstool back to Dave Portnoy for $1 and signed a 10-year, $2 billion partnership with ESPN. The rebrand gave Penn access to ESPN's massive sports audience and legitimized the sportsbook with a trusted brand. From a business perspective, ESPN BET made more sense than Barstool Sportsbook.
ESPN BET is essentially the same platform with better branding and ESPN integration. The betting markets, odds, and app interface are nearly identical to what Barstool offered. The main improvements are ESPN content integration, more promotional partnerships, and slightly better odds on NFL games. If you liked Barstool Sportsbook, you'll be fine with ESPN BET, it's the same product with a different logo.
Not really. The rebrand severed ties between Barstool Sports and the sportsbook. Barstool personalities (Big Cat, Dan Katz, Dave Portnoy) no longer promote ESPN BET, in fact, they've been openly critical of the rebrand. If you want Barstool Sports content, you'll need to follow them separately. ESPN BET focuses on ESPN's analysts and personalities instead.
Barstool Sports launched their own betting picks and content platform, but they don't operate a licensed sportsbook anymore. If you want to bet based on Barstool picks, you'll need to use a different sportsbook like DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM. Barstool personalities often share their bets on social media and podcasts, but the official Barstool Sportsbook integration is gone forever.
ESPN BET operates in 17 states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This is the same footprint Barstool Sportsbook had before the rebrand. ESPN BET is actively pursuing licenses in more states.
You can't, the Barstool Sportsbook app was removed from app stores when ESPN BET launched in November 2023. Download the ESPN BET app instead (available on iOS and Android). If you already had Barstool installed, it should have automatically updated to ESPN BET. Former Barstool users can log into ESPN BET with their existing credentials.
Barstool Sportsbook is gone, and it's never coming back. Dave Portnoy owns Barstool Sports again, but he's not launching another sportsbook, Penn Entertainment holds the licenses and infrastructure.
If you're a Stoolie who misses the Barstool vibe, I get it. ESPN BET feels corporate and bland by comparison. But functionally, it's the same betting experience you had with Barstool, competitive odds, solid app, decent promos.
For most users, ESPN BET works just fine. You can still follow Barstool Sports for content and picks while betting on ESPN BET (or any other sportsbook). The divorce between Barstool and betting is complete.
If ESPN BET doesn't do it for you, DraftKings and FanDuel are excellent alternatives with better market coverage and more competitive odds. Shop around, you're not locked into ESPN BET just because you were on Barstool.
Bet Responsibly: Sports betting should be entertainment, not income. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit NCPG.org.
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