Detroit city has now become a part of a monumental event in the world of sports betting. The first brick-and-mortar ESPN Bet Sportsbook was inaugurated at Penn Entertainment’s Hollywood Casino at Greektown in the pulsating heart of downtown Detroit on Wednesday. It marks a new epoch in the annals of sports betting history. This debut is a significant step in Penn’s journey, which began in November last year, leveraging ESPN’s illustrious brand on its mobile sports betting platform.
An agreement inked last year with Walt Disney for a sumptuous $1.5 billion was the harbinger of this exciting development. This marked the advent of the ESPN Bet brand in Michigan, making it one of the eighteen states where residents can avail ESPN Bet services.
The ESPN BET sportsbook and restaurant promise a matchless experience to patrons. A sprawling structure of around 4,500 square feet awaits guests with a plethora of betting and dining options. Cutting-edge wagering kiosks, mammoth big-screen TVs, a prodigious 30-foot video wall ensure an unparalleled sports viewing experience replete with high-quality bar food and drink. The restaurant is a part of the extensive range of premier dining options at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
Prior to obtaining the approval to utilize the august ESPN brand, Penn’s casino operations were under the aegis of the Barstool Sports brand. While ESPN or Penn hasn’t furnished any insight into a potential inauguration of another ESPN Bet sportsbook at any of Penn’s regional casinos, there are signs that such a development is in the pipeline.
Penn operates 43 gaming establishments across 20 diverse states, a majority of which have legalized either mobile or retail sports betting, sometimes both. This provides a robust platform for Penn to tap into the potential of its partnership with ESPN.
In spite of retail sportsbooks traditionally being either low-profit generators or even loss-bearing endeavors for casino businesses, the marriage of ESPN’s influential brand and Detroit’s fervor for sports could spell astonishingly good results for Greektown. Five years ago, Penn procured Greektown, an entertainment venue worth $300 million from JACK Entertainment.
The Hollywood Casino at Greektown offers over 100,000 square feet of dining, gaming, and entertainment options in addition to 400 guest rooms.
The opening of the ESPN Bet sportsbook at Greektown could not have been more timely. Detroit is eagerly preparing to host the NFL Draft, set to start its first round on Thursday night. Expected to last until the weekend, this much-anticipated event is expected to bring scores of visitors to the city along with potentially increasing traffic for local casinos.
ESPN is going to dominate the scene at the Hollywood Casino throughout the week, extending into the weekend. The First Draft podcast is set to engage audiences with discussions from Field Yates, Domonique Foxworth, Mina Kimes, and Matt Miller on Wednesday night. An array of ESPN programs will be broadcast including the Unsportsmanlike morning show with Evan Cohen, Chris Canty, and Michelle Smallmon and the Greeny Show. The week also has ESPN BET live shows scheduled from the ESPN BET sportsbook on Thursday and Friday. Live hits from ESPN’s Sportscenter will be conducted at the property throughout the week.