Latest News

PENN Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Barstool Sports

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2023

Barstool Sports Opening a New Office in Chicago

PENN Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN) (“PENN” or the “Company”) today completed its previously announced acquisition of Barstool Sports, Inc. (“Barstool Sports” or “Barstool”) after previously acquiring a 36% stake of Barstool Sports in February 2020. PENN has acquired the remaining interest in Barstool Sports for approximately $388 million.

The closing of the acquisition marks a major milestone for Barstool Sports as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2003 as a free sports and gambling newspaper by Dave Portnoy, Barstool has evolved into a leading digital player in sports, lifestyle, and entertainment. With over 200 million loyal followers, the company creates and delivers unmatched sports and comedic content through its extensive network of over 100 shows and 90+ personalities. Its content offerings span podcasts, video, social media, live events, pay-per-view, and a growing commerce business, solidifying its position as a multimedia powerhouse.

Since partnering with Barstool Sports in 2020, PENN has successfully developed an omnichannel strategy that leverages Barstool’s well-known brand and personalities. Barstool Sportsbook has grown to become a leading online betting platform currently live in 15 states, with PENN also having launched retail branded Barstool Sportsbooks at its properties across the country. PENN and Barstool Sports will continue to innovate and collaborate, including across Barstool’s sports bar footprint, to deliver compelling integrated gaming and entertainment experiences.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Barstool Sports fully into the PENN Entertainment family,” said PENN Entertainment CEO and President, Jay Snowden. “Barstool is a proven, powerful media brand with an authentic voice and vast, loyal audience that provides us with a strong top of funnel for new customer acquisition and organic cross-selling opportunities across our growing interactive division. Barstool, combined with theScore’s reach and highly engaged user base, creates a massive digital footprint and ecosystem that will serve to propel Barstool Sportsbook and our uniquely integrated media and gaming business. Further, the Barstool Sportsbook will greatly benefit from the upcoming migration to our proprietary technology stack, a move that will significantly enhance the overall product offering and deliver meaningful upside.”

“Barstool Sports is bigger than ever and has become more than I ever dreamed of,” said Dave Portnoy, Founder of Barstool Sports. “I’m very thankful to the Barstool team and Stoolies who have been along for the ride. I’m looking forward to this next chapter with PENN.”

“This is a huge moment for Barstool Sports that was made possible by a lot of people and a lot of grit,” said Erika Ayers, CEO of Barstool Sports. “Our focus has always been to create relevant and entertaining content for our fans and to deliver strong results for our partners. It’s exciting to have that vision recognized and to be able to put it to work inside of PENN. We have the best fan base on the planet, and we look forward to doing even more for them with PENN’s support.”

In the past three years since PENN first invested in the company, Barstool Sports has:

Grown its audience 194% and recorded total podcast downloads of 1.6B.
Delivered over 875K videos across social media totaling over 128 billion video views.
Increased ad sales by 160%.
Sold over 5 million units, including apparel, licensed products and accessories, by combining a direct-to-consumer approach and bringing the brand to thousands of retail stores nationwide.
Expanded its live event programming, including producing and broadcasting its first Division I college basketball games (Barstool Sports Invitational) and the Barstool Arizona Bowl college football game.
Launched TwoYay, its proprietary NIL marketplace, connecting athletes to brands and agencies.

PENN and Barstool Sports initially announced an exclusive sports betting and iCasino partnership in January 2020, with PENN acquiring 36% of Barstool Sports on February 20, 2020 for a total consideration of approximately $163 million, comprised of approximately $135 million in cash and $28 million in non-voting convertible preferred stock. The initial agreement included a path for PENN to establish full control and ownership of Barstool Sports.

Up Next

Xtremepush Partners with Chalkline

Don't Miss

Anaxi Announces Strategic Partnership with BetMGM to Deliver Aristocrat Content to North American iGaming Markets

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

Latest News

Casino Kings Knocks Out Partnership with Boxing Powerhouse BoxNation

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

Two titans of entertainment are joining forces! UK-licensed casino and sportsbook, Casino Kings, and the legendary boxing platform, BoxNation, have announced a dynamic new partnership, set to deliver a knockout blow of exclusive content, promotions and responsible betting experiences for fans. Becoming their official boxing betting partner, Casino Kings is stepping into the ring with one of the most respected names in the fight game, promising fans a ringside seat to even better betting.

This isn’t just a bell ringing for another sponsorship deal; it’s a knockout partnership designed to bring you closer to the action than ever before. Casino Kings branding will be engrained into the boxing industry, prominent across BoxNation’s popular YouTube channel through branding and content, where the biggest names and personalities in boxing step into the spotlight for exclusive interviews.

For you savvy fight fans, Casino Kings will be rolling out a series of exclusive offers, adding even more thrill to 2025’s already-explosive boxing schedule. And here’s a great way to kick things off: Casino Kings is welcoming new members with a £35 Free Bet! Just deposit a minimum of £10 and place bets of £10 or more to grab yours. Don’t miss out!

Given BoxNation’s powerful presence in the boxing arena and Casino Kings’ reputation as a premier UK online casino and sports betting platform, this partnership is bound to be a knockout you won’t want to miss.

“We’re buzzing to partner with BoxNation—this really puts Casino Kings in the heart of the action.” Says Jack Dunn, COO of Casino Kings. “The team have been absolutely brilliant, and we’re excited to get stuck into some top-tier behind-the-scenes boxing content for the fans!”

“BoxNation is delighted to announce our partnership with Casino Kings. Casino Kings has a great reputation for delivering sports and entertainment options for users. We look forward to working together with Casino Kings to create a safe and enjoyable experience for fans.” adds Umar Ahmed, BoxNation Channel Lead.

Want to be the first to know? Follow Casino Kings and BoxNation on social media now for instant updates, special offers, and all the ringside action!

About BoxNation:

BoxNation is a dedicated boxing news and media outlet, providing fans exclusive interviews and behind the content featuring the boxing’s biggest names and personalities. With over 95k YouTube subscribers and 50 million plus views, BoxNation is delivering the best boxing content from all around the world. To find out more about BoxNation, visit: www.youtube.com/@BoxNationOfficial

About Casino Kings:

Casino Kings isn’t just another UK-licensed online casino and sportsbook – it’s a platform that puts player well-being first. Deeply committed to responsible gambling, they offer a secure environment equipped with robust tools to empower users to manage their play effectively. Beyond this dedication, Casino Kings delivers consistently fair and competitive odds across a thrilling selection of sports. Plus, the king casino team consistently provides their players with the best welcome bonuses, weekly promotions, daily offers, and much more!

Let’s keep the fun in the game. Please remember to gamble responsibly. 18+ only. For more information, visit: www.gambleaware.org.

Latest News

Grand View Research: Global Sports Betting Market Size is Estimated to Reach USD 187.39 Billion by 2030

Published

7 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

The global online gambling market size is estimated to reach USD 153.57 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 11.9% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research.

Sports Betting Market Report Highlights:

• The offline segment accounts for a significant revenue share in the sports betting industry in 2024, particularly in regions with a mature gambling infrastructure such as Europe and Australia.

• Based on the sports type football segment dominated the sports betting market, holding the largest share due to its vast international fan base and the continuous presence of domestic and international tournaments.

• Live/In-Play Betting emerged as the leading segment in the sports betting market in 2024, thanks to its real-time and interactive nature.

• Europe sports betting market accounts for the largest revenue share of around 48% in 2024. The sports betting market in Europe is continually evolving, bolstered by established regulations in several countries and increasing digital engagement.

The growth of the global sports betting market is driven by the proliferation of internet infrastructure and evolving regulatory landscape of the entire gambling industry across the world. In addition, the increase in the number of sports events and leagues worldwide such as the NFL, FIFA World Cup, Carabao Cup, and UEFA Europa League has positively influenced the growth of the market. Furthermore, an increase in disposable income and the rising usage of AI and blockchain technologies to improve the prediction algorithms in betting software are likely to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Esports, which is an organized, multiplayer video game competition, played by professional players, individuals, or teams, has gained massive popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and witnessed a surge in the number of events worldwide. Market players are utilizing the increased number of esports events to offer an opportunity for their customers to bet on such esports competitions and earn extra income. The surge in online sports events backed up by a rise in the number of esports tournaments offers stable growth opportunities for the betting industry. For instance, according to the report by the UK Gambling Commission, there was a huge 2922% year-on-year rise in esports betting revenue from March 2019 to March 2020.

Latest News

CANJ Launches “Casinos United Against Hunger” Campaign

Published

7 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

In an effort to address food insecurity in New Jersey, the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) has launched the Casinos United Against Hunger campaign in partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ). Atlantic City casinos collectively are donating more than $170,000 to support CFBNJ’s mission.

“Ending hunger will take all of us stepping up to do more for our neighbors. Atlantic City casinos are coming together to form Casinos United Against Hunger, a new campaign dedicated to strengthening our efforts to combat food insecurity in New Jersey. By supporting important organizations like the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, we will help address hunger by providing meals to families throughout the state,” said Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey.

The donation was presented at CFBNJ’s Night of 300,000 Meals on May 1, 2025, a culinary event that brings together local chefs, restaurants and community members to help provide 300,000 meals for neighbors in need. Chefs from Atlantic City casinos participated in the annual event.

“Atlantic County has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state. We’re grateful to the Casino Association of New Jersey for helping to honor the FoodBank’s 50th anniversary with their generous support and for uniting the Atlantic City casino community to help address hunger. Through this partnership, we can provide more meals to local families in need and make a lasting impact in the area,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, president & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

In addition to the CFBNJ’s 50th anniversary, the partnership between the CANJ and CFBNJ comes at an especially crucial time given the level of food insecurity in New Jersey. Nearly 1 million people in the state, including more than 260,000 children, are at risk of hunger. Atlantic County, home to Atlantic City’s casinos, has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state, with 12.2% of residents and 17.4% of children affected.

The casinos involved in the Casinos United Against Hunger initiative – Bally’s Atlantic City Casino Resort, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City Resorts, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort and Resorts Casino Hotel – are joining a long-standing tradition of support for CFBNJ. Many properties in Atlantic City are longtime supporters of CFBNJ, and this collective effort demonstrates their commitment to addressing this critical issue. Through this partnership, CFBNJ will be able to distribute more meals to families in need, especially in areas that are most impacted. The $170,000 donation is a total of all financial, grant and in-kind contributions from each Atlantic City casino to the CFBNJ this year.