ESPN Bet Named Chicago Bears Sports Betting Partner

ESPN Bet will now be the official sports betting partner of the Chicago Bears, bolstering the betting brand’s presence in the Illinois market as the 2025 season arrives.

Penn Strikes Deal With Bears

ESPN Bet’s parent company, Penn Entertainment, has reached a multi-year pact with the Chicago Bears, which will see ESPN Bet as the team’s official sports betting partner. It will also align its Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet properties as the Bears’ official casino partners.

The partnership is multifaceted and provides ESPN Bet with branding rights at Soldier Field and on the team’s digital platform. The casinos will also have access to the Bears’ trademark for a bespoke casino game featuring the team’s logo. Customers of ESPN Bet and Penn’s two Illinois casinos will be eligible for Bears-themed entertainment experiences.

“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 Todd George, Executive Vice President, Operations, PENN Entertainment.

“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. Through the partnership, we look forward to engaging a large and passionate audience at Soldier Field as well as across our online products and at the new property in the Chicagoland area.”

Hollywood Casino Opens in Joliet

There is an old saying, “What’s old is new again.” And that might be one way to describe Penn Entertainment’s newest property, replacing its riverboat location just four miles away. The project is estimated to have cost the company $185 million, and it swung open its doors to the public on August 11th.

“We would like to officially welcome players and guests to the all-new Hollywood Casino Joliet,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment. “After approximately 20 months of construction, we are thrilled to open the doors to this land-based entertainment destination. We are proud of our 30-year history in Will County and are committed to continuing our investment in the community by creating new jobs, providing important tax revenue, and serving as a new attraction to bring even more visitors to the area.”

Casino Features and Amenities

The property spans approximately 189,000 square feet, and the casino floor is replete with 43 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and more, coupled with 1,000 state-of-the-art slot machines, a retail ESPN Bet sportsbook, shops, dining, and a 10,000-square-foot entertainment and convention space.

“This opening marks an exciting new era of entertainment in Joliet,” said Todd George, Executive Vice President of Operations for PENN. “We’re grateful for the support from the city of Joliet, the Illinois Gaming Board, and our business and community partners who contributed to the successful development of this new property. We look forward to delivering an elevated experience with world-class dining, entertainment, and gaming options for patrons across the region.”

The arrival of the gleaming new casino has created 600 jobs at the facility and approximately 450 construction positions to build it. The company’s loyalty program, PENN Play, is available at Hollywood Joliet and across 35 other Penn Entertainment casinos throughout the nation.