At Penn Entertainment's Hollywood Casino at Greektown in downtown Detroit, the first brick-and-mortar sportsbook under the ESPN Bet brand opened its doors on Wednesday.
Following the completion of a 10-year, $1.5 billion agreement with Walt Disney in August of last year, Penn has been using the ESPN brand on its mobile sports wagering platform since last November. Michigan is among the eighteen states where ESPN Bet is accessible.
"The ESPN BET sportsbook and restaurant offers guests approximately 4,500 square-feet of betting and dining space, with high-tech wagering kiosks, big-screen TVs, a 30’ video wall for the ultimate sports viewing experience and elevated bar food and drink. The restaurant is one of the many premium dining options available throughout Hollywood Casino at Greektown,” according to a statement issued by Connecticut-based ESPN.
The casino operator's physical sportsbooks were known as Barstool Sports before Penn and the sports network came to an arrangement.
There may be plans to open more ESPN Bet sportsbooks.
When a new retail sportsbook bearing the name of the major sports media company would open at one of the operator's regional casinos remained unsaid, although it's quite likely that Penn and ESPN are working on it.
Penn has 43 gambling establishments in 20 states, the majority of which allow mobile, retail, or both forms of sports betting, including Hollywood Casino at Greektown. There exists a potential path for Penn to leverage its agreement with ESPN.
While retail sportsbooks frequently result in losses for casino owners or just modest profits, Greektown may be able to capitalize on Detroit's passion for sports and the ESPN brand. About five years ago, Penn paid $300 million to JACK Entertainment to purchase the casino venue.
There are 400 bedrooms and over 100,000 square feet of dining, entertainment, and gaming area at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
Perhaps This Is the Right Time for Greektown Sportsbook
The NFL Draft is being held in Detroit, with the first round beginning on Thursday night. This could work to the operator's advantage, given that the ESPN Bet sportsbook at the Greektown casino is opening at this time. This festival, which continues through Saturday, is anticipated to draw large crowds of people to the city, which could increase business for nearby casinos. This week, ESPN has been heavily present at the Hollywood Casino, and they will be there all weekend.
“With the NFL Draft taking place less than a mile from the property, Hollywood Casino at Greektown is hosting a variety of ESPN programming this week, including the First Draft podcast with Field Yates, Domonique Foxworth, Mina Kimes, and Matt Miller on Wednesday night,” the network added in the press release. “On Thursday and Friday, ESPN Radio will broadcast the Unsportsmanlike morning show with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty, and Michelle Smallmon, and the Greeny Show. Additionally, ESPN BET Live, the daily sports betting show on ESPN2, will be live from the ESPN BET sportsbook on Thursday and Friday. ESPN talent will also conduct live SportsCenter hits from the property during the week.”