ESPN Releases Sports Betting Guidelines for Employees Ahead of ESPN Bet Launch

ESPN Bet is set to go live in several states today. Before the highly-anticipated launch, ESPN made public their guidelines for employees who wish to use the new sportsbook. The announcement has been anticipated since the sports media giant partnered with Penn Entertainment to take over the Barstool sportsbook platform. Barstool landed Penn in trouble in several states thanks to their media presence, which likely prompted ESPN to set firm and public guidelines for their employees.

While the guidelines go into a lot of detail, the general theme is that ESPN employees are not allowed to wager on leagues they cover or have partnerships with. This is meant to avoid any insider information that employees could use to wager with or sell to other bettors.

"Do not place bets on games or events you are assigned to work or cover," the guidelines state. "For example, production personnel or journalists working on-site or off-site at or on a sporting event must abstain from betting on that particular game or event. Talent designated as Reporters and Insiders are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet on the properties (e.g., NFL, college football, NBA) they regularly cover."

The guidelines also prohibit the company’s journalists from using their role in media to intentionally delay or manipulate stories that could impact the sports betting markets.

Questions Remain About ESPN Bet Promotions

While the guidelines give us insight into the rules for employees, they do not address how the company’s media personalities will promote the sportsbooks. Massachusetts, in particular, has had concerns over the issue, thanks to ongoing battles with Barstool. 

The state is still working with Penn Entertainment to get finality to the advertising violations committed by Barstool, and they have publicly expressed frustration with Penn Entertainment over their lack of communication.