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ESPN Bet App Takes in More Money Since Dropping Barstool Brand

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Penn Entertainment Inc. is taking in more wagers from its new ESPN Bet sports-betting app than it did under the jettisoned Barstool brand, according to analysts and data from several states.

In Maryland, mobile wagers on ESPN Bet jumped to $42.4 million in December from $16.4 million under the Barstool name a year ago, according to state results reported last week. That placed Penn third behind industry leaders FanDuel and DraftKings Inc., and ahead of rivals BetMGM and Caesars Entertainment Inc.

In Iowa, Penn generated mobile sports wagers of $18.8 million in December, more than double the $7.2 million in the year-ago period, according to data released by the state last week.

“Preliminary data suggest the book improved on its predecessor’s small market share — and did so during a key seasonal period,” Brian Egger, a senior analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, said.

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While the ESPN Bet app is off to a fast start, Penn is confronting high costs and entrenched rivals in its quest for a bigger foothold in online gaming.

The casino operator based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, originally launched its sports-betting business under the Barstool name, after acquiring the online video and podcast company from sports commentator David Portnoy. After challenges associated with the controversial founder, Penn gave Barstool back to Portnoy and signed a $2 billion deal last year to license Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN brand.

The December numbers follow the strong launch for ESPN Bet on Nov. 14. Penn’s share of sports-betting revenue in November in six states was about 12%, according to Macquarie Group analyst Chad Beynon. That’s up from about 2% for Penn when it used the Barstool name.

“Though still early,” the reports for ESPN Bet are “positive,” Beynon wrote in a Jan. 3 research note. The brand will likely increase betting revenue because it appeals to a wider range of potential customers, including women, he said.

ESPN has been promoting the app on its TV shows, website and other outlets, using the site’s betting odds in stories, for example, rather than other brands.

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Adam Greenblatt

BetMGM Wins Sports Betting Operator and Employer of the Year at EGR North America Awards 2024

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BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, was recognized as Sports Betting Operator of the Year and Employer of the Year at the EGR North America Awards 2024. The EGR North America Awards, hosted in New York City on June 27, celebrate excellence in the North American online gaming industry and are considered the premier gaming awards.

“Winning two EGR North America Awards is a tremendous honor. We have a passionate team at BetMGM dedicated to delivering best-in-class betting experiences which saw exponential leaps in capability this year with unparalleled omnichannel opportunities, enhanced user interface and increased brand visibility. These awards are a tribute to all the hard work and the strong culture that we are building at BetMGM,” Adam Greenblatt, Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM, said.

Sports Betting Operator of the Year is awarded to the operator that brought innovation to the sports betting sector, provided a high-quality player experience and showed evidence of real growth via mobile and web. BetMGM was acknowledged for its ability to innovate and differentiate in a crowded industry, successfully forming strategic partnerships with X and Marriott Bonvoy and capitalizing upon its unique omnichannel advantage in Las Vegas during Super Bowl LVIII. BetMGM parent company Entain’s acquisition of sports pricing and analytics firm Angstrom in 2023 fueled the expansion of BetMGM’s betting library, allowing the operator to produce a broader and more exciting product for the customer.

The Employer of the Year award recognizes the operator or affiliate that demonstrated its commitment to organizational performance improvement through investment in the recruitment, personal and skills development, and motivation of every employee. On the heels of being recognized as a one of this year’s Best Workplaces in New York by Great Place To Work and Fortune, BetMGM once again proved it is building a workplace to attract and retain top talent in the rapidly growing iGaming and sports betting industry. BetMGM prides itself on being an inclusive, value-driven organization that prioritizes true transparency and two-way communication with weekly, virtual all-hands forums and active employee resource groups. In 2023, BetMGM optimized onboarding, enhanced training programs, continued diversity and inclusion learning, and focused on career development and strategic in-sourcing.

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The wins mark the first time that BetMGM received EGR North America Awards for Sports Betting Operator and Employer of the Year. The company was previously awarded Casino Operator of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

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Bragg Gaming Expands in Pennsylvania with BetMGM

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Bragg Gaming Group has announced the launch of its newest games and Remote Game Server (RGS) technology with BetMGM in Pennsylvania.

This marks the third state in which Bragg content is live with BetMGM, following earlier launches including in Michigan in 2022 and New Jersey in 2023 respectively. BetMGM players in Pennsylvania can now enjoy popular titles such as “Egyptian Magic” and “Fairy Dust” from Bragg’s Atomic Slot Lab proprietary content studio with further titles set to follow.

Players will soon gain access to content from Bragg’s Las Vegas-based proprietary content studio Wild Streak Gaming, as well as titles from multiple exclusive content partners under the Powered By Bragg program including King Show Games and Sega Sammy Creation.

This expansion underscores Bragg’s commitment to delivering innovative and engaging content to players across North America. All online casino games delivered on Bragg’s new RGS technology come with the Company’s Fuze promotional tools, which offer player engagement features on games such as free rounds, tournaments, and quests.

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H2 Gambling Capital projects Gross Win of over $2.5 billion for the regulated online casino market in Pennsylvania in 2024, illustrating the tremendous growth potential in the region.

Garrick Morris, Senior Vice President, Commercial for the US and Canada, at Bragg Gaming Group commented: “We’re delighted to strengthen our existing collaboration with BetMGM to a third U.S. state, as part of our ongoing drive to provide the highest quality content to players in the U.S. iGaming market.

In developing high-quality engaging content, we want to contribute to the long-term success of our partners, and importantly provide a gaming experience which is exceptional for players.”

Oliver Bartlett, Vice President, Gaming, Product & Casino at BetMGM commented: “Bragg has been a great partner for BetMGM in Michigan and New Jersey, and it’s exciting to now be able to expand that relationship to Pennsylvania.

We’re confident that players in Pennsylvania will embrace this new online casino content which has proven to be popular in other regulated markets, with players already familiar with these titles from the land-based sector.”

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BetMGM Announces Exclusive Partnership with Brian Christopher Slots

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BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, announced an exclusive partnership with Brian Christopher Slots that will make Brian Christopher, the top social media influencer for slots and casinos, a BetMGM brand ambassador. BetMGM will showcase Brian Christopher in live streams across social media channels featuring its online casino platforms as well as in future marketing campaigns.

“Brian Christopher Slots’ influence extends far beyond captivating videos. This partnership allows Brian to showcase his personality and enthusiasm for our industry while engaging interested players into BetMGM’s wide variety of casino games,” Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming Product & Content at BetMGM, said.

“BetMGM is the ultimate real money gaming destination for us true slots lovers. Partnering with the King of Casinos means I get to bring the top platform with the newest and greatest games to the BCSlots universe. I cannot wait for our fans and players to see what we are building together,” Brian Christopher said.

The partnership between Brian Christopher Slots and BetMGM highlights the strength of both brands. The partnership elements are scheduled to include:

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  • Live streams: Streams across both @BCSlots and @BCSlots2 on YouTube, as well as @BCSlots on Facebook and Kick, will showcase Brian Christopher’s signature style along with BetMGM.
  • Exclusive experiences: Brian Christopher will interact with players and offer insightful commentary across a variety of platforms including live streams, social media, slot tours, in-person meet-and-greets, virtual player events, and more.
  • Responsible Gaming commitment: BetMGM and Brian Christopher believe gambling should be a fun activity and enjoyed as a form of entertainment.
  • Brian Christopher will highlight BetMGM’s various responsible gaming tools and resources, while continuing to drive messages about setting limits and playing within a budget.

Brian Christopher Slots’ award-winning content boasts a loyal following through brands such as BCSlots.com, BCSlots YouTube channel, FlipTheSwitch.com, BCSlots Cruises, and Rudies Fan Club. Brian Christopher Slots’ social media channels reach 8 million monthly unique viewers, 1.8 million subscribers, and recently set a new casino gaming record of 1 billion video views. In 2023, Brian Christopher Slots was named Streamer of the Year and Slot Collaboration of the Year at the CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards presented by SBC.

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