ESPN and DraftKings to Offer Account Link for March Madness

March Madness fans submitting their brackets through ESPN will have far more options in 2026.

DraftKings Sportsbook has announced that a new account linking feature with the sports media giant will be available for this year’s NCAA Tournament. Customers can link their accounts by visiting the “bet my bracket” page on the sportsbook. This will offer bettors a quick way to cash in on their brackets.

“Account linking creates a level of personalization that no one else in the market can match,” ESPN VP of Betting and Fantasy said of the new feature. “Soon fans will be able to track upcoming, live seamlessly, and settled bets within the ESPN app and on ESPN.com, and receive bets and timely promotions based on their favorite sports, teams, players, and fantasy rosters.”

The new feature was promised when Disney and DraftKings announced a partnership late last year. It was announced quickly after the former ended its deal with Penn Entertainment to operate ESPN Bet. The sportsbook's closure paved the way for DraftKings to become ESPN’s official betting partner.

Customers who link their accounts will receive one free month of ESPN Unlimited. The streaming platform allows fans to watch all ESPN networks, as well as NHL and NCAA games.

While the Super Bowl remains the bet on game in the US, March Madness remains the most wagered-on event. 

Linking Gives DraftKings a Massive Edge

DraftKings has been battling FanDuel for the title of “America’s Favorite Sportsbook” for years, but has a chance to deliver a massive blow thanks to account linking.

ESPN is one of the largest March Madness bracket sites in the country, rivaling the popular CBS and Yahoo platforms. With those customers now able to link their accounts, DraftKings hopes that those using rival platforms will switch. 

With DraftKings preparing to debut a new “super app,” new customers acquired through ESPN account linking will be able to access the operator’s sportsbooks, prediction platform, online casino, and lottery games where available. That means gamblers will have betting options from anywhere in the US.