First ESPN BET Retail Sportsbook Has Official Opening Date

ESPN BET is set to open its first retail sportsbook in the country in Detroit later this month. Photo provided by ESPN BET. ESPN BET’s first retail sportsbook will open in Detroit this monthThe inaugural sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Greektown in Detroit will open on Wednesday, April 24The sportsbook opens a day before the NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit

The first ESPN BET retail sportsbook has an official opening date.

PENN Entertainment and ESPN BET representatives previously announced in February that the retail sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Greektown in Detroit would be rebranded to an ESPN BET sportsbook, the first retail sportsbook for the ESPN BET brand, and open sometime in April.

An ESPN BET spokesperson today told Sports Betting Dime that the sportsbook will officially open on Wednesday, April 24, one day prior to Detroit hosting the 2024 NFL draft.

Inaugural ESPN BET Retail Sportsbook

The new sportsbook will be open and operational at the casino in time for the 2024 NFL draft, taking place in Detroit, with its first round set to kickoff on Thursday, April 25.

PENN Entertainment CEO and President Jay Snowden announced the transition of the retail sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Greektown this past February. PENN operators 32 retail sportsbooks across the country.

“We’re thrilled to announce that our market-leading sportsbook Hollywood Casino at Greektown will debut as the first ESPN BET-branded sportsbook in our portfolio,” he said in a press release. “Together with ESPN, we look forward to expanding the ESPN BET brand with our premium retail sportsbooks and creating unique omni-channel experiences at key PENN properties across the country.”

Mike Morrison, Vice President of ESPN BET, said the new sportsbook will help increase the operator’s visibility and market share.

“Growing the ESPN BET brand is essential in increasing our market share and ultimately reaching a podium position. Our commitment to that shows in a variety of ways from new markets to our first retail presence, and we cannot wait to open ESPN BET inside Hollywood Casino at Greektown for fans in Michigan ahead of some key sporting events,” he said in a release.

No official opening time has been announced.

ESPN BET Reports Millions in Online Sports Betting Over Super Bowl

As ESPN BET looks forward to its first retail sportsbook, the operator is still positioning itself as an online sports betting heavyweight throughout the country.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission recently reported $671.1 million in sports betting handle for the month of February. Online sports betting accounted for $657.72 million of the total sports betting handle for the month. The commission reported $67.6 million in taxable revenue for the month.

ESPN BET reported $40.8 million in online sports betting handle in the state for the month, the fifth highest Ohio online sports betting operator. It lagged behind bet365 ($44.6 million), BetMGM ($42.5 million), Draftkings ($221.9 million), and FanDuel ($222.2 million).

ESPN BET fared slightly better in Maryland during February compared with other operators, landing in the top four in terms of online sports betting handle. ESPN BET’s $22.19 million online sports betting handle total only finished behind BetMGM ($37.3 million), Draftkings ($137 million), and FanDuel ($191.3 million) for the month.