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PENN Entertainment Enters DC with Monumental Sports & Entertainment Partnership

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: January 15, 2025 12:35 PM EST • 2 min 8 sec read.

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson acknowledges the crowd as we look at PENN Entertainment's deal with Monumental Sports to enter the DC Sports Betting market.
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson acknowledges the crowd after a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Capital One Arena. Photo by Geoff Burke / Imagn Images.

The last year has been exciting for our best sports betting sites in DC, but there's some new competition on the way.

PENN Entertainment announced it has agreed to a long-term partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) to access the DC sports betting market. The partnership will see PENN Entertainment’s sports betting brand, ESPN BET, become the sports betting partner of Monumental and the company’s teams, including the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA). 

“We are thrilled to join forces with PENN Entertainment and align with ESPN BET, a leading brand across the sports and entertainment landscape,” said Jim Van Stone, President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer at MSE. 

“This partnership furthers our collective commitment to offering fans unique, cutting-edge experiences that reflect the future of sports entertainment, with ESPN BET’s innovative platform adding a new layer of engagement for our fans, both inside and outside the arena.”

ESPN BET will work closely with Monumental to enhance fans' experience on the platform. The platform will provide users with prominent in-arena and media components, such as Capitals and Wizards game broadcasts available on the Monumental Sports Network. It will also continue to offer competition promotions with an ESPN Bet promo code.

In addition, the partnership provides IP rights for MSE, Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics for ESPN BET and Hollywood Casino. This includes in-arena and TV-visible signage, out-of-home advertising, and a commercial schedule across the Monumental Sports Network. ESPN BET and Monumental also plan to collaborate to create unique hospitality experiences in the future. It should help the sportsbook make a name in a state with numerous DC sportsbook promos drawing the attention of others.

“We are proud to partner with Monumental Sports and its teams to unite the energy of D.C. sports with our world-class platform,” said Aaron LaBerge, Chief Technology Officer, PENN Entertainment. 

“This deal expands our footprint in the region, further connecting ESPN BET with one of America’s most passionate sports communities. Our presence alongside the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics positions ESPN BET at the center of the action where sports, technology, and fan experience converge."

ESPN BET expands branded sportsbooks

The partnership between ESPN BET and Monumental Sports & Entertainment follows last week’s announcement from ESPN that it was expanding its ESPN BET sportsbook to ten additional properties across the US. The rebrand focuses on properties operating under PENN’s Hollywood Gaming and Ameristar Casino brands. 

Subject to regulatory approvals, ESPN’s total number of retail sportsbooks will increase to 19 locations throughout the US. The new ESPN BET locations will serve customers in the Pennsylvania sports betting, Colorado sports betting, Ohio sports betting, Indiana sports betting, and West Virginia sports betting markets.

Hollywood Casino will open the ESPN-branded sportsbooks in Pennsylvania at its properties in York and Grantville.

Hollywood Casino VP and GM Tony Frabbiele said, “We’re thrilled to bring the excitement of ESPN BET to life with the launch of our new retail sportsbook. This partnership combines the trusted ESPN brand with our world-class gaming and entertainment experience, creating a premier destination for sports fans to watch, wager and win.”

Other properties set to be rebranded as ESPN BET Sportsbook include Council Bluffs Ameristar Casino Hotel in Iowa, Hollywood Gaming at Daytona Raceway and Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio, Black Hawk Ameristar Casino Resort & Spa in Colorado, Lawrenceburg Hollywood Casino and Hotel and East Chicago Ameristar Casino in Indiana, and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia.

Written By:
Ziv Chen
Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.