In a strategic move, PENN Entertainment has unveiled its highly anticipated ESPN BET retail sportsbook in Detroit, coinciding with the fervor of the National Football League (NFL) draft week. The Hollywood Casino at Greektown, located in the heart of Detroit, is now home to this state-of-the-art betting venue situated less than a mile from where the draft is taking place, creating a synergy between the event and the gambling experience.
The long-awaited launch of the ESPN BET sportsbook marks PENN Entertainment’s entrance into the brick-and-mortar sports gaming market, following their successful inauguration of digital platforms in November of the previous year. Moving on from their association with Barstool Sportsbook, PENN chose this momentous week in sports to present their rebranded retail venue, thereby tapping into the fanfare of the NFL draft.
The Hollywood Casino at Greektown’s General Manager, John Drake, remarked in a press release, “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.”
Strategically located on the casino’s upper floor, the ESPN BET retail space boasts an immersive 4,500 square-foot facility, replete with a staggering 30-foot video wall and numerous large-screen TVs, ensuring bettors don’t miss a moment of the action. Modern betting kiosks and a dedicated dining area form part of the experience, catering to enthusiast gamblers and casual visitors alike within the larger 100,000 square-foot property of the Hollywood Casino.
The NFL draft is set to commence at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, the 25th of April, with the Chicago Bears making the pivotal first selection at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. Detroit’s own Lions hold the No. 29 pick in the draft, which will continue through Saturday. The event schedule will see the finalization of Round 1 on Thursday, Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday starting at 4 p.m., with Rounds 4-7 concluding the event on Saturday from noon.
In terms of broadcasting, ESPN is planning an extensive coverage lineup at the new sportsbook facility, which includes featuring podcasts, radio, and ESPN 2 broadcasts. Additionally, live SportsCenter segments will be shot on location throughout the week, bringing ESPN talent directly to the epicenter of the action and providing viewers with unique, on-the-ground insights.
The Hollywood Casino at Greektown is just one part of PENN’s notable casino portfolio, which includes over 20 Hollywood-branded establishments stretching from Maine to Missouri. On the digital frontier, PENN aims to conquer new territories with plans to introduce their online betting services to New York, the largest legal betting market in the United States, later this year. ESPN BET is also in pursuit of the WynnBET license that has recently become available in New York, promising further growth and expansion.
In this intersection of sports, media, and betting, PENN’s decision to initiate its retail sportsbook component with the ESPN brand is a testament to their continuous adaptation and innovation in the ever-evolving gambling industry. The Hollywood Casino at Greektown not only becomes a hub for sports enthusiasts and bettors alike during one of the NFL’s most anticipated events but also sets a precedent for future endeavors in retail sports betting by merging traditional gambling with immersive sports media experiences.
