Here’s Why Media Survey Gave Edge To Fanatics Over ESPN Bet As Industry Disruptor
· 2023-10-26

Here’s Why Media Survey Gave Edge To Fanatics Over ESPN Bet As Industry Disruptor

As sports betting trends across the nation indicate, online market share has largely been concentrated among four major companies since the historic PASPA decision.

When PENN Entertainment’s ESPN BET makes its much-ballyhooed debut next month replacing the operator’s Barstool Sportsbook, the platform will join Fanatics as the second mainstream brand to challenge the entrenched leaders. The impending launch has engendered lively debate on whether the highly capitalized companies can wrestle meaningful market share away from the Big Four — DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook. To that end, Hot Paper Lantern (HPL), a New York-based integrated marketing firm, sought answers.

Ahead of this month’s Global Gaming Expo, Digital Sport by HPL conducted a comprehensive survey about ESPN BET’s and Fanatics Sportsbook’s prospects for disrupting the industry. The survey was completed by approximately 30 leading journalists in the sports betting industry. On a long-term time horizon, roughly 65% of respondents selected Fanatics as the brand that would earn enough market share to shake up the Big Four. The question was posed as a binary proposition: The journalists could select either Fanatics or ESPN BET, they could not choose a tie.

Moreover, 57% of respondents selected Fanatics’ e-commerce loyalty ecosystem system compared with ESPN’s user base as the stronger user tool for acquiring sports bettors.

“It all comes back to how good the product is, how relevant, and how easy the product is,” Hot Paper Lantern CEO Ed Moed told Sports Handle. “Fanatics clearly has the upper hand from the survey with how they’re viewed.”

For both ESPN BET and Fanatics, Moed suggested a key demographic will be the cohort of bettors in their early 20s. Leading sportsbook operators not only have to work assiduously to attract these customers, the books must focus on retaining them deeper into the business cycle. Winning the battle will pay dividends, as the 18-34 demographic continues to consume sports for years to come. Males in two successive demographics, the 35-44 cohort and those ages 45-64, are also among the nation’s most avid sports fans, studies show.

But the demographic containing neophyte bettors may carry more importance to operators such as Fanatics. In Kentucky, where Fanatics debuted its sports betting last month, the company offered new customers a free jersey for placing a single wager of at least $50 (minimum odds of -500). The promotion is a unique offering for an e-commerce giant, which derives its roots from selling licensed sports merchandise.

“People love swag,” Moed said. “It’s a reason why Fanatics is beloved.”

Other findings from the survey:

Over the summer, PENN Entertainment inked a deal with ESPN to receive exclusive rights to the network’s sports betting brand. On a long-term basis, PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden is hopeful that ESPN BET can command a nationwide market share of 20%.

When asked about the likelihood that either Fanatics or ESPN BET will reach that threshold in the next several years, Moed responded that it would be tough to accomplish, but not out of the question. The companies will need to have an enormous marketing budget, create an appealing product, and achieve synergies with other segments, he suggests.

During Week 7 of the NFL regular season, Fanatics garnered 3% of sports betting app downloads nationwide, according to data compiled by JMP Securities. Keep in mind that Fanatics is live in only four states beyond Kentucky: Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee. By comparison, PENN recorded 2% of all app downloads, compared with 4% in the same week a year ago.

Popular articles
UK MPs reopen 2025 gambling inquiry as reform stalls
Regulation
B2B Tech Infrastructure Gains Momentum in Philippine Gaming Sector
Southeast Asia
SBC Summit Canada to Make Player Safety a Key Pillar of 2026 Agenda
Marketing
1spin4win grows its Latin American presence by partnering with Fortuna Juegos
Online Game
PropellerAds Shared a New iGaming Case Study: 97,674 Installs and 12,701 Deposits in 3 Months
Marketing
1spin4win releases unique slot Don Catleone Hold and Win featuring gangster cats
Online Game
Super PAC Raises $48 Million: Sports Betting Forces Ramp Up Political Push
Regulation
Online gambling, crypto pose ongoing money laundering risks in Philippines, analyst says
Southeast Asia
New Jersey July Gambling Revenue Hits $606M, Sweeps Casinos Banned
Regulation
Manila delivers: Highlights from SiGMA Asia 2026 
Southeast Asia
Full House at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 Academic Agenda
Online Game
Are you ready to maximize your earnings? Try ProPush.me Constructor!
Marketing
That’s a Wrap: AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026 Highlights
Online Game
JILI Partners with Cricket Legend AB de Villiers (ABD) to Launch Exclusive Branded Game Series 100% 11
Sports Game
DB Gaming Is One of Asia’s Top-Tier Game Solution Providers, Recognized as a Pioneer in the Asian Gaming Industry.
Marketing
Home
Game
Cooperation
Find
My