ESPNBet Launches Tailored Crossover With ESPN Fantasy App

ESPNBet has recently announced its FanCenter feature, allowing customers to toggle between the sportsbook and their ESPN fantasy lineups, creating a more seamless experience to research information and bet on the players that are currently on their ESPN fantasy roster.

Seamless Integration

Ever since Penn Entertainment struck a deal with ESPN at $2 billion over 10 years to lease their name, integrating with the ESPN platform has been critical to success. It is one thing to have the name but another to use the sports media giant’s digital platform as a way to reach out and expand its audience base.

ESPNBet Struggles to Gain Traction

The integration has been slower than Penn would like, and the struggling ESPNBet has gained very little traction, estimated at 3% of the mobile sports betting marketplace in the United States. However, the integration has begun, and it is positive news for a company beset by challenges, including investor unrest and proxy fights for its board of directors.

The introduction of FanCenter, a new in-app option that navigates seamlessly with the wildly popular ESPN fantasy section, tailors a user’s sports betting preferences around the customer’s favorite teams, players, and ESPN Fantasy Football rosters.

Leveraging ESPN Fantasy’s Massive User Base

Those who play fantasy football are undoubtedly aware of the ESPN FFL feature, which boasted 13 million users last year. Now, customers of ESPNBet will have access to their ESPN FFL rosters, favorite teams, and players, which will allow them to toggle between ESPN and their ESPNBet sportsbook to make wagers on those teams and player props.

The effortless ability to stream from one platform to another is what Penn has been seeking since the deal was struck two years ago, and now the technology has been integrated to make it happen. Once fans create a “For You” page, then the integration is complete.

“FanCenter introduces a completely new level of personalization for ESPN BET players and represents our biggest product leap yet,” said Aaron LaBerge, PENN Entertainment’s chief technology officer and head of interactive. “It taps into our players’ fandom in smart, creative ways while connecting seamlessly with ESPN’s industry-leading fantasy football platform. This is what sets ESPN BET apart, and football season is the perfect time to roll it out.”

Fantasy Bet Builder

The crux of FanCenter is the “Fantasy Bet Builder” that allows users to toggle between the apps to make wagers on their ESPN fantasy roster. Likewise, on the ESPN fantasy app, there will be a “Find a Bet” icon for easy access to making a wager on the ESPNBet app.

“FanCenter is the perfect combination of fandom, fantasy, and personalized betting all wrapped into the ESPN BET betting experience,” said Mike Morrison, vice president of ESPN BET and ESPN Fantasy. “FanCenter showcases how we can serve fans across our platforms in a way that nobody else in the market can because of our industry-leading ESPN Fantasy platform and account-linking capabilities.”

Customers can also access their Mint Club account through FanCenter, which reveals exclusive offers, weekly promotions, and giveaways to its members. Regulatory approval in the 19 states in which ESPNBet is active is expected in time for the NFL and college football seasons.