ESPN Bet App: Mobile Betting Review & Download

PENN Gaming took the world by storm with its rebranding of Barstool to ESPN Bet on November 14th, launching a dedicated betting website and mobile app in 17 states. I’ve done the legwork for you and will be providing you with an unbiased review of the new ESPN Bet app. Keep reading to see what types of bets are available, which deposit and withdrawal options you can use, how to download the app, and more.

ESPN Bet App Top Features

Beyond the new color palette and branding, it feels almost like a carbon copy of Barstool under the hood. Upsides include an enhanced in-play feature with more markets and ESPN-powered live streaming. The Penn Play rewards program has been integrated into the app alongside current promotions. One downside I noticed is that I didn't see live chat support and a variety of cashout options.

The ESPN Bet app gave Barstool vibes once I pried through the new branding. Not a bad thing. The app sports tried-and-true features we’ve come to love about Penn Gaming. Think blazing-fast in-play feature with ESPN-backed live streaming.

The bet slip and builder feature blew my expectations. As an avid mobile bettor, I don't rave about such a feature lightly. I've used BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings, and I would rank the ESPN Bet mobile app among the top 3 on this feature alone. I liked it the more, the more I used it.

Not much jumped out at me on the betting front. The betting features are on par with competitors, though it has the upper hand on personalized recommendations. Early cash-out, shareable slips, and casino integration round out the feature list. They all marry well with the simple yet eye-catching interface.

I’ll talk more about 3 features that earn my top praise.

Early Cash Out on ESPN Bet Mobile App – (4.5/5 stars)

ESPN's early cash-out feature works better on the app. It hands more control to the bettor on selected markets – basketball, tennis, hockey, soccer, and NFL.

Receive partial payout before all legs in the wager are settled. Here, odds are slightly higher for early cash out than on BetMGM, but tarries are below BetRivers. Great for cutting losses on parlays with five-minute delays.

It's disappointing not to see an auto cashout feature where Bet365 beats the app. I couldn't set the amount for automatic cash-outs. Of course, this is not particular to ESPN Bet – I ran into the same issue on DraftKings, Caesars, and FanDuel. No lost love there. I was glad to see early cash out on multi-leg, same-game, and straight bets across pre-game and in-play markets.

ESPN sweetens the pot with daily odds boosts that offer enhanced payouts on parlays and SGPs. These boosted bets provide excellent value for deserving matchups.

Live In-Play Betting – (4.0/5 stars)

In-play betting shipped seamlessly into the app. Like the desktop site, the ESPN Bet app sportsbook features a dedicated table for live betting. A horizontal scroll menu shows in-play sports, with active markets grouped into leagues. Real-time odds for money line, total, and spreads are instantly visible.

hat's a nice touch, and they're updated on the fly. Clicking a game unleashes plenty of other live betting options, including parlays, player props, game props, and special bets.

The in-play odds (mostly on hockey, basketball, and football) are slightly higher than competitors. Line updates don't disrupt your betting, although live bet slips take a while to be firmed up.

Last Play commentary, besides the live score, helped improve my betting decisions. It's handy, particularly when you don't have in-game stats and can't live-stream the match.

Most helpful tools, like in-play stats and live streaming, are hidden behind the sign-in wall. Unlike many sportsbooks with a large number of in-play features, ESPN Bet maintains quality across the board. I love that you can quickly scan through available props as the action unfolds in real-time.

Ease of Use: An Intuitive, Use-Friendly Interface – (4.0/5 stars)

The folks who designed the ESPN Bet mobile app deserve a raise. The word ‘stunning' is appropriate from a user experience and interface. This shines through in the bet builder.

I loved how easy it is to put together custom bets, especially prop wagers and parlays. I must admit that it can get a little confusing for rookies.

The interface itself is clutter-free and organized. The same goes for markets and menus. The categories were easily familiar to me. A simple click reveals all the relevant betting options as collapsible markets. I loved the accessible ‘Browse’ search tab – it allows you to search across the ESPN bet app or drill down using filters.

Another upside is the radial in-play indicator. It's universal, allowing bettors to locate active games available for live betting from browsing, home page, and search.

However, there is no heart or icon for favorite markets, games, or events. It helps that the app is well-designed and doesn't hang, freeze, or lag. A world-class sportsbook app with clear categorization and a clean layout to ensure a hassle-free and smooth betting experience.

ESPN BET App How to Download

ESPN Bet offers a lightweight app (which takes about 75 MB in storage space) for both iOS and Android devices. You're in good company if you're wondering ‘The ESPN BET app how to download it'? My experience started on the website. You can download it directly from the site or in app stores.

Either way, it’s a cinch to download ESPN BET app:

Step 1 – Visit the ESPN BET Website or App Store

I located the download links clearly labeled on the footer of the official ESPN BET website. Skip ahead and search ‘espn bet' on your app store. The app is available on the Apple App Store (for iPhones and iPads) and Google Play (for Android devices).

Alternative APK or app aggregators also have legitimate ESPN BET apps. Think APKPure for Android, CNET, and Uptodown.

Step 2 – Download and Install the App

Click on the “Download” or “Get” button. It should download and install automatically in as little as 60 seconds. Follow on-screen instructions, especially when downloading directly from the site.

Step 3 – Set Up ESPN BET Mobile App

Ensure the location is on for the app to pick up your home state. This will ensure you can place your wagers once you sign up or log in.

Types of Bets to place via the ESPN Bet App

I scoured through all the betting options ESPN Bet offers. The app covers all the bases. It's a hit or miss on the odds quality, but I was impressed by the coverage. Bettors can pick from classic bets like money lines, parlays, and point spreads. The pre-game and in-play rosters also pack a punch with teasers, straight wagers, and props.

Moneylines

The straight's bet-slip section is where money lines do their magic. The bet type is available on 100% of markets the app offers. I found the money-line odds on par with what the big guns (aka DraftKings and FanDuel) offered. However, ESPN fared worse online odds right before the events kicked off. Nothing out of the ordinary, as I found this across most apps

Point Spreads

More than two-thirds of markets on the ESPN Bet app allow point spread betting. It made it easy for me to account for the expected point margin for stronger underdogs. My favorites are the NBA's Raptors and the NFL's LA Chargers. On the odds front, spreads offered by the app were the same as FanDuel and DraftKings. Except for hockey – ESPN beats rivals by far.

Parlays

The parlay bet builder on the ESPN mobile betting app is borderline cliché. The layout and markets allowed to be legged are the same as BetMGM's and FanDuel's. That's totals, money lines, props, and points spread.

One thing that the app allowed me to parlay is the ‘NO' bet on touchdowns for NFL players. That's something I longed for on rivals like DraftKings and Bet365. It also features parlay odds boosts on wagers with three or more legs.

Same Game Parlays

The ESPN Bet mobile app is ready-made for parlays. But same-game parlays sweeten the pot. It allows putting multiple legs from the same event, game, or match into a single wager. It ramps the odds, which worked like a charm on sports I like and know.

A good example was Manchester City vs. Liverpool. I was allowed to wager on 1) Man City's Haaland to score at any time, Liverpool taking 6+ shots on target, and both teams to score.

Futures

This is where the ESPN betting app brings its A-game. It offers futures on players, teams, and leagues. The hotlist includes the winner of the World Series, Super Bowl, UEFA Champions League, Europa Cup, and PGA Tour. The odds aren't shabby, either.

Props

I found oodles of proposition bets on the ESPN Bet app. Numerous game props, player props, or other specific events and outcomes of major games. However, I saw only alternative lines within the total and spread for teams and players.

Teasers

Parlays and Teasers on the ESPN bet wagering app cover all the bases. They are similar to FanDuel's with profit boosts. That's something I really liked. They pay off for the points spread.

The real eye-catchers for me were the parlays and teasers. Cross-sport parlays allowed me to combine legs from different sports into one wager. Same-game parlays are a true god-sent if you know the ins and outs of the match.

Popular Events to bet on with the ESPN App

ESPN Bet app has a year-round roster of evergreen events available for betting. NFL, NBA, and NHL markets appear rightfully up top. The schedule is updated on an ongoing basis, with events from international and national leagues. Collegiate and multi-leg events like ICC cricket and NCAAB aren't left out. I also found betting markets for UFC, boxing, and tennis, as well as obscure leagues like Aussie Rules.

College Sports

All collegiate events populate the ESPN mobile betting app. We’re talking NCAAF, NCAAB, and Division I College Baseball. The app will soon include Steve’s 6-Pack.

It's a program hosted by Steve Coughlin (aka Stanford Steve). It'll cover sought-after college match days games. The College Football playoffs, March Madness, and other college sporting events are on the roster. College football, including bowl season, also provides plenty of betting markets.

Other Events to Bet on with the ESPN App

The ESPN Bet app provides betting opportunities for a vast array of other sporting events, including:

• Formula 1
• Davis Cup
• WTA
• PGA Tour
• WNBA
• Rugby Union
• BKFC Boxing
• Cricket Test Matches
• MMA and UFC

Where is the ESPN Bet App Available?

ESPN BET offers the app for bettors in 17 states. These are the states where PENN Entertainment is licensed to offer an online sportsbook. They include the Big Four sports betting heavyweights:

• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Illinois
• Michigan

Other states where bettors can download the ESPN BET app are Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The first time I loaded the app, I was prompted to switch the location on. This allows the geo-location plugin built into the app to detect your home state.

As with other platforms, the ESPN Bet app sportsbook allows only wagering within the borders of the specific state. I was surprised that the app doesn’t indicate my state anywhere (most others have this on the footer).

The support page varies based on the state. Some features, like responsible gambling tools, also vary. The app blocks off bets that aren't allowed in your states. Although the app allowed me to sign up without location on, I was prompted before playing my first wager.

Let’s break down the ESPN Bet legal states by region:

• Northeast: Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
• South: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia
• Midwest: Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio
• West: Colorado, Arizona
• Pacific: n/a

Safety and Security Features on ESPN BET App

The first thing I noticed is that this is a security-first app. ESPN Bet is licensed and regulated in 17 states. It uses geolocation and proof of identity verification to ensure you’re 21+ (18 and over in Kentucky) and physically within an allowed state. All tabs and elements appear to be behind encryption tech.

I found a range of features that make this app secure and safe:

• Multi-Factor Authentication – Use 2-factor authentication, along with biometric login, for an extra layer of security when placing bets.
• Data Encryption – Encrypts sensitive data to prevent unauthorized access.
• Regular Security Audits – Conduct periodic security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
• Regulated – The app is regulated and audited by the following regulators: Arizona Department of Gaming, Colorado Division of Gaming, Illinois Gaming Board, Indiana Gaming Commission, Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Maryland Lottery and Gaming, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Michigan Gaming Control Board, New Jersey (DGE), Ohio Casino Control Commission, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council, Virginia Lottery, and West Virginia Lottery Commission.

Banking Payments Options on the ESPN Sportsbook App

The variety and size of banking choice featured on the ESPN BET app is passable. Credit cards, bank wire, ACHs, and online banking take the cake. However, the real surprise is PayPal. Fewer sportsbook apps are offered in this e-wallet. Mobile wallets like Venmo are also well-represented. It's more exciting that the app allows casino cage deposits and withdrawals in certain states.

Deposits at ESPN Bet

The app offers close to a dozen payment options for depositing. The minimum deposit required is $10, almost across the board. Plus, all deposits are free of any extra charges. Most are instant, meaning within 2 minutes.

• Debit/Credit Cards – MasterCard, Amex, Discover, and VISA are covered
• Trustly
• PayPal
• Skrill
• Venmo
• PayNearMe
• ACH Preferred eCheck
• Apple Pay
• Casino Cage withdrawals at some Hollywood Casinos
• Wire Transfers – Bank wires take up to 3 business days to reflect on your ESPN Bet account

I found the deposit process to be easy. The Cashier section on the app sits under your account. It even reminded me to input any promo code.

ESPN Bet App Withdrawals

The payment method list for cashing out on the app needs to be bigger. It doesn't help that funds take up to 5 business days to clear for most options. The fastest method I found was PayPal, which took around 12 hours to post on my wallet. Still, the process is straightforward and seamless with desktop withdrawals.

• Online Banking
• Check
• Cash at the casino cage
• Play+
• Wire Transfer
• PayPal

Another upside is the $10 minimum withdrawal. ESPN Bet doesn’t cap monthly withdrawals, except for states where Hollywood Casino is included.

ESPN BET App vs Competitors

The odds and markets this app offers are almost a carbon copy of what FanDuel, DraftKings, and other rivals offer. However, its integration with the ESPN brand is a big plus. In-game stats are accurate and deep. The Green List of weekly parlays is another thing worth writing home about. The odds for props, points spread, and futures are also higher than those offered by rivals.

Player Feedback – What Bettors Say About ESPN BET App

Early reviews from players are a mixed bag. Most bettors love the depth of betting markets on offer.

“I'm really impressed with the variety of betting markets offered on ESPN Bet. As a long-time ESPN fan, it's great to have all my sports and wagering needs in one convenient place.“

– John D., New Jersey

Users also rave about the tools for customizing the interface and bets. I loved that it’s easy to toggle between light and dark mode. And Travis Spencer agrees:

“Great betting app. Very easy to make your picks and I love that you can change the spread to your liking. I wish it had a setting to toggle dark mode on and off. Other than that, I love it.”

On the flip side, some users have an issue with live betting. This is especially true when the odds change as you try to place your live wager.

“It's a really good app!!! The only issue is making live bets because it makes you place the bet over and over because odds change just like every other gambling app but this one is basically impossible to make multiple live picks,”

– Nick Follis

Some users have reported a negative experience trying to cash out. It seems ESPN BET doesn’t foot the processing fees associated with cashing out to a credit or debit card:

“It's impossible to withdraw…. When you go to link your actual bank account it just freezes and disconnects. Seems like they're not paying for credit card transaction fees so it makes the whole process a lot harder. Plus, their software doesn't even connect to the bank properly,”

– J.

Customer Support on the App

Finding support on the app is an icon away. After the first trial, I had to reach support for help setting up geo-location.

My first port of call was the live chat feature, hidden behind the Help page and a bot. But it was fine, as I could get a quick response on Twitter. The Direct Message was read in 15 minutes, and my question was answered in two passes. Other support channels I could use are email and callback at (844) 953-2121.

ESPN BET App Review: The Verdict

We've covered the topic of ‘ESPN BET app how to download,' but the real question is whether you should get it in the first place. Thankfully, the app delivers an enjoyable and trustworthy sports betting experience thanks to its intuitive design, generous odds boost, and coverage of all major sports.

If you're looking for a well-rounded mobile sportsbook backed by a reputable brand, ESPN Bet deserves your consideration. Download it today and see what all the excitement is about.