In August, the Wall Street Journal reported that ESPN was exploring a potential deal to license its brand to a sports-betting operator such as DraftKings or Caesars Entertainment for as much as $3bn, a report that was dismissed by Caesars CEO Tom Reeg last month at East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City.

“And as we follow the consumer, we necessarily have to seriously consider getting into gambling in bigger way,” he added. “Particularly the younger consumer that will replenish the sports fan over time and their desire to have gambling as part of their sports experience.” “It’s all driven by the consumer,” Chapek said. As of September 30, ESPN Plus had 17.1m subscribers. sports broadcasting network and a unique asset in terms of exploring a broader role in the legal sports-betting market.Ĭhapek told analysts that growth in the number of subscribers to its streaming service, ESPN+, was a key factor in Disney exploring an opportunity in sports betting, as sports presents an enormous opportunity for engagement. “Given our reach and scale, we have the potential to partner with third parties in this space in a very meaningful way.”ĭisney spent millions of dollars three years ago on a successful campaign with fellow Florida juggernaut the Seminole Tribe to pass a state constitutional change which stripped the Florida legislature of its authority to expand commercial casino gaming.īut the company also owns ESPN, the largest U.S. “We do believe that sports betting is a very significant opportunity for the company,” Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek told analysts during an earnings conference call on Wednesday. The CEO of Disney has confirmed the company is looking for a greater presence in the sports-betting business, a reversal from its long-held position of avoiding any association with gambling.

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