One of the leading online sports betting platforms in the USA, ESPN Bet, will be shutting down as the NBA is involved in a gambling scandal that has affected the provider.
The NBA betting scandal involves federal investigations into illegal sports betting and game manipulation. Current and former NBA players, including Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups, were indicted for using insider information to place bets on games and allegedly influencing game outcomes to win bets.
Players reportedly took themselves out of games or leaked nonpublic information for betting purposes, violating NBA rules and contracts that prohibit betting and tipping confidential information. The scandal also involves rigged poker games linked to some players.
In the wake of this scandal, ESPN and its partner Penn Entertainment have mutually agreed to terminate ESPN Bet, their online sportsbook, earlier than planned, with the platform to close on December 1, 2025.
ESPN Bet will be rebranded as theScore Bet by Penn. Although ESPN Bet’s official reason for closure cited market share issues, the timing coincides with the NBA gambling scandal, and ESPN is shifting its sports betting partnership to DraftKings. They will cease receiving payments related to the previous deal but will continue their advertising relationship with Penn.
“Looking ahead, we plan to rebrand our OSB offering in the U.S. to theScore Bet, with a target date of December 1, 2025 to coincide with the expected launch of sports betting in Missouri, subject to regulatory approvals.”
Jay Snowden, CEO and President of Penn Entertainment
This change will affect bettors in the following US States and territories:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri*
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Washington D.C.
*Sports betting in MO will debut on December 1, 2025
The deal originally had a 10-year term that would have lasted through August 2033.
The shutdown of ESPN Bet marks a significant setback in the turbulent relationship between professional sports and gambling. As investigations continue, regulators and leagues face renewed pressure to tighten oversight and restore public trust.
The scandal underscores the risks of integrating sports betting so closely with major leagues, especially when player integrity and fair play are called into question.
Penn Entertainment’s pivot to theScore Bet reflects a strategic attempt to safeguard its market presence amid uncertainty. Meanwhile, ESPN’s alignment with DraftKings signals its determination to remain a key player in the rapidly evolving sports wagering industry.