ESPN Bet secures partnership as first major PGA Championship to offer sports betting.
The PGA Championship is the first major golf tournament to announce a partnership with a sportsbook operator.
The PGA of America and Penn Entertainment, which owns Penn Interactive and ESPN Bet, declared a sports betting partnership for the second golf major of the year on Tuesday. The PGA Championship is scheduled for May 16-19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
ESPN Bet will serve as the "Official Sports Betting Sponsor" for the prestigious event. ESPN Bet will have a substantial presence at the esteemed Kentucky course the following week, as well as during ESPN's television coverage of the major championship.
ESPN Bet patrons who attend the PGA Championship in person will receive access to the ESPN Bet Members Lounge adjacent to the 13th hole. This exclusive area will provide a premium hospitality experience with covered seating offering views of the renovated 13th green, beverage service, special ESPN Bet offers, and a VR simulator of the 13th hole.
Three-Year Partnership
ESPN Bet will continue to serve as the "Official Sports Betting Sponsor" for the PGA Championship through the 2026 event.
The championship will take place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte next year and at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia in 2026. Both North Carolina and Pennsylvania are legal sports betting states where ESPN Bet operates.
ESPN is licensed in Kentucky through its retail partnership with Ellis Park, and the book is licensed in North Carolina through a partnership with the PGA Tour and Quail Hollow. ESPN Bet is also licensed in Pennsylvania, where Penn owns several Hollywood-branded brick-and-mortar casinos.
With the PGA Championship taking place in states where ESPN BET operates through 2026, this partnership gives us an excellent opportunity to interact with and engage golf fans," said Jason Birney, vice president of operations at Penn Interactive. "We are eager to tap into highly engaging touchpoints to bring ESPN Bet onto the course and into the PGA Championship broadcast on ESPN."
CBS holds the broadcast rights to Saturday and Sunday's afternoon and evening coverage, but ESPN will air Thursday and Friday's morning broadcast and pre-CBS coverage on weekends until 1 pm ET.
The financial terms of the PGA of America deal were not disclosed, but Penn Entertainment continues to spend heavily on its ESPN Bet marketing initiatives. ESPN Bet is the Pennsylvania-based casino operator's revamped sports betting product after a $1.5 billion deal with Disney's ESPN last year.
Penn shifted to ESPN Bet after abandoning its ownership of Barstool Sports, a costly business move that drained the company of over $500 million.
Odds to Win PGA Championship
When the PGA Championship kicks off next week, all eyes will be on world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the most dominant golfer in the sport currently. Scheffler, who is awaiting the birth of his child with his wife Meredith, will be skipping this week's Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow.
If he plays, Scheffler will undoubtedly be the betting favorite to win the Wanamaker Trophy. The 2022 Masters champion is currently at +350 to win the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy follows at +1200. Jon Rahm sits at +1400. Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, and Ludvig Aberg complete the top five at +1600.
Read also:
- Remaining contenders down to two in DFB's struggle versus Brazil.
- Law enforcement agencies in various metropolises plan expansive measures for May 1.
- Berlin Transport Senator Schreiner Steps Down over Doctorate Issues
- The Next Development in the DAZN/DFL Billion Euro Controversy
Source: www.casino.org
