The number of people who downloaded the new sportsbook app, ESPN Bet, in week one broke a record with 70 percent of the share of downloads for the week. The only other digital sportsbook to reach double figures the same week was FanDuel at 20 percent. Raise your hand if you think it’s amazing when the app in question is for ESPN Bet, PENN National’s new online sportsbook.
We didn’t think so. We’re talking ESPN here, a household name. Bettors lined up before the 3 p.m. opening in the app store. PENN opened up the app around 3:40 due to traffic.
During the first six days ending November 20, bettors downloaded ESPN Bet 1.1 million times, according to JMP Securities.
Here’s an amazing statistic: FanDuel reached the same level as ESPN BET in five weeks, DraftKings did it in six weeks and it took 14 weeks for Caesars Sportsbook to accomplish the same feat.
At one point during the first week, app downloads for ESPN Bet topped the App Store chart for 100 consecutive hours, according to Sports Handle. The app beat out Temu, a popular shopping app; Lapse, an app which simulates a disposable camera; ChatGPT; and the king of the digital mountaintop, Google.
PENN Entertainment and ESPN Bet worked on cross-selling products to improve engagement. For example, ESPN, the network ran an ESPN Bet commercial during the Chiefs-Eagles Monday night game.
It should be noted that ESPN Bet also launched in 17 states at once, way different from other sportsbooks, which often went state to state.
Eilers & Krejcik Gaming said to get back to them after six or even nine months when downloads lead to deposits and bettors can opt for early payouts, trending bets, a parlay hub and streaming capabilities. In other words, a veteran organization.
