As the NFL gears up for its draft event in Detroit, Penn Entertainment opened its first brick-and-mortar ESPN Bet sportsbook on Wednesday. Situated at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown, the new location is less than a mile away from the draft site, providing sports and wagering opportunities throughout the week.
Hollywood Casino’s General Manager John Drake said: “This is an exciting week to debut Penn’s first physical ESPN Bet sportsbook as the city of Detroit hosts the NFL draft and its festivities.
“Bringing ESPN Bet to Hollywood Greektown combines Penn’s premier sports media and sports betting offerings to create an amazing atmosphere for fans to watch and bet on sports.“
The new ESPN Bet retail sportsbook, spanning 4,500 square feet on the upper floor of Hollywood Casino’s 100,000-square-foot property, features a 30-foot video wall, big screen TVs, cutting-edge betting kiosks, and a dedicated dining area.
“We’re thrilled to open the first ESPN BET retail location in Detroit and become part of a community of deeply passionate sports fans,” said Mike Morrison, Vice President, ESPN BET and ESPN Fantasy. “We want fans to come embrace a first-class betting experience and we’re excited to showcase the ESPN BET brand in a contemporary space.”
As anticipation mounts for the draft, which commences at 8pm ET on Thursday, April 25th, excitement reverberates throughout Detroit. With the Chicago Bears making the first pick at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, local fans eagerly await the Detroit Lions’ turn, who hold the no. 29 pick.
The draft will unfold over three days, with round one taking place on Thursday, followed by rounds two and three on Friday, and concluding with rounds four to seven on Saturday.
Penn’s press release announcing the opening noted that ESPN will leverage the new sportsbook as a hub for originating podcasts, radio broadcasts, and ESPN 2 programming. Additionally, ESPN talent is slated “to conduct live SportsCenter hits from the property” during the week.
ESPN Bet went live in November 2023, after Penn cut ties with its former partner Barstool Sportsbook. The new platform is live in 18 US states. Detroit’s new sportsbook is the first ESPN BET branded retail location to open across Penn’s portfolio of properties.
Penn Entertainment, known for its Hollywood-branded casino network spanning from Maine to Missouri, is also expanding its presence in the digital realm. The company is seeking to enter the New York market later this year, with plans to launch its ESPN Bet brand as it applies for the vacated WynnBET license in the Empire State.