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.

热门文章
菲律宾博彩技术赛道迎来新变局,B2B 供应模式加速渗透
东南亚资讯
BETFAIR 网络攻击80万用户资料泄露
游戏风向
斯里兰卡博弈产业大转型,官方:剑指南亚拉斯维加斯
游戏风向
亚洲游戏市场观察:15大市场热门游戏与用户趋势
线上游戏
横跨全球6个城市,灰度8场派对邀你共看世界杯,重塑高质量社交新场景
灰度头条
哈萨克斯坦计划对在线赌场促销活动进行处罚
游戏风向
2027 Global Game Connect(GGC)斯里兰卡招商全面开启!业务人脉尽在掌握!
灰度头条
超级PAC筹资4800万美元:体育博彩势力加码
游戏风向
准备好了将你的收益最大化吗?尝试ProPush.me Constructor!
广告营销
英国确认各垂直行业的赌博税税率
游戏风向
越南在线博彩业政策收紧 催生市场新机遇
东南亚资讯
巴西拟将博彩税率提高至24% 税收将用于社保和医疗领域
游戏风向
灰度在iGB L!VE 2026展位T70和你相约7月,一起点燃伦敦的热情!
灰度头条
密西西比州众议院委员会推进提议增加赌场税的法案
游戏风向
GGC Awards 2026 璀璨科伦坡:致敬 iGaming 行业的领航者与创新力量
灰度头条
首页
游戏
合作
发现
我的