DraftKings vs ESPN BET
DraftKings is the PA market leader. ESPN BET (operated by PENN Entertainment under Disney/ESPN license) is the newest content-driven challenger. This breakdown shows where each one wins.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
| Category | DraftKings | ESPN BET | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | DraftKings |
| Mobile App | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | DraftKings |
| Markets & Odds | 5/5 | 4.3/5 | DraftKings |
| Live Betting | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 | DraftKings |
| Payments | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 | DraftKings |
| Loyalty Program | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Tie |
Welcome Bonus Comparison
DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $200
Instantly + profit boost.
New customers only. 21+ in PA. Min $5 deposit. $200 issued in eight $25 bonus bets, expiring 7 days from issuance. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable; profits convert to cash.
Promo code: BETPA200
ESPN BET: Bet $10, Get $250
Bonus bets, no playthrough.
New customers only. 21+ in PA. Min $10 deposit and $10 first wager. $250 issued as bonus bets win or lose. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance.
Promo code: PLAYPA
Markets & Sports Coverage
DraftKings Market Depth
DraftKings posts the deepest market menu in PA. NFL games carry full first-half, quarter, and alt-line markets plus 200+ player props. NBA games average 150+ player props. MLB props include strikeouts, hits, total bases, and home-runs for every starter and lineup. Same Game Parlay supports up to 16 legs across most major sports.
ESPN BET Market Depth
Solid full-game markets on every major US league. Player-prop depth is good on NFL/NBA but slimmer on niche sports. Same Game Parlay supports up to 10 legs on NFL.
Live Betting
DraftKings Live Product
Live betting is available on every major league with sub-second pricing on NBA and NFL. Cash-out (full and partial) is offered on virtually all pre-game and live wagers. Pricing latency is well-controlled but can occasionally spike on NFL Sunday afternoons.
ESPN BET Live Product
Live betting available on all major leagues with reasonable latency. Cash-out offered on most markets. Interface is functional but trails BetMGM/bet365 on visual polish.
Loyalty Programs
- DraftKings: Dynasty Rewards — earn Crowns on every bet redeemable for bonus bets, swag, and event experiences.
- ESPN BET: PENN Play — earn mychoice Tier Credits redeemable at PENN Entertainment's 40+ casino properties including all PA Hollywood Casinos.
Mobile App
- DraftKings: 4.9/5 store rating · Industry-defining Same Game Parlay (SGP) and SGPx (parlays across multiple games).
- ESPN BET: 4.3/5 store rating · Bet directly from ESPN.com article cards and scoreboard.
Banking & Payments
- DraftKings: Online Bank Transfer (ACH), PayPal, VIP Preferred, Debit Card, Play+ Prepaid, Wire Transfer, PayNearMe. Withdrawal speed: 24-72 hrs.
- ESPN BET: Online Banking, PayPal, Debit Card, PENN Play+, Wire Transfer, PayNearMe. Withdrawal speed: 24-72 hrs.
When to Choose DraftKings
Pick DraftKings for prop depth, SGP creativity, and welcome-bonus aggressiveness. Best for power users.
- Recreational bettors who want depth and ease of use
- Same Game Parlay players
- DFS crossover users
- Eagles bettors (official PA partner)
Not best for: High-frequency live bettors (use bet365 instead) or players prioritizing loyalty redemption (use BetMGM).
When to Choose ESPN BET
Pick ESPN BET for direct integration with ESPN.com article cards and scoreboard, plus PENN Play loyalty across PA Hollywood Casino properties.
- ESPN content consumers who want one-tap betting
- PENN Play loyalists who visit Hollywood Casino properties
- Free-to-play Pick6 players
- NFL bettors who follow ESPN talent picks
Not best for: Live-betting maximalists (use bet365 or BetMGM) or international-sport fans (smaller European-soccer menu).
The Verdict
DraftKings has the deeper sports-betting product. ESPN BET wins for ESPN content consumers who want one-tap betting from articles. The two complement well as a primary + secondary stack.
Open both DraftKings and ESPN BET
Welcome bonuses stack independently — claim each operator separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did ESPN BET replace theScore Bet?
Yes. PENN Entertainment rebranded theScore Bet to ESPN BET in November 2023 under a 10-year exclusive license with ESPN.
Can I bet from ESPN.com?
Yes — ESPN BET integrates with ESPN article cards and scoreboard so you can launch a bet slip without leaving the article.
Which has more markets?
DraftKings publishes deeper prop menus; ESPN BET is competitive on majors but slimmer on niche sports.
Which loyalty is more valuable?
ESPN BET via PENN Play covers PA Hollywood Casinos and 40+ PENN properties; DraftKings' Dynasty Rewards is sports-betting-focused.
Read More
For the full breakdown of each operator, read our independent DraftKings review and ESPN BET review. For more head-to-head matchups, browse all PA sportsbook comparisons.
Responsible Gambling
Holding multiple sportsbook accounts increases bankroll exposure. Set deposit and time limits inside each app and review our PA responsible gambling resources if needed.