This guide answers a common question for U.S. sports fans: is Barstool connected to DraftKings? It provides a concise answer and then walks through the corporate timeline, explains what "connected" can mean in practice, and gives a checklist you can use the next time you see a betting promotion. The article is written for readers who want a clear, practical explanation rather than speculation. It draws on the public announcements that define the relationship and focuses on what matters for users: who holds accounts, who processes payments, and who provides support.

Barstool is a media brand that promotes sportsbook offers; it does not own DraftKings.

Betting accounts and payments routed from Barstool links are managed by DraftKings under DraftKings’ terms.

References to a Barstool-branded sportsbook are legacy and should be verified against current operator details.

Quick answer and what this article will explain

One-sentence summary

Short answer: Barstool is not owned by DraftKings; the relationship is an exclusive marketing and content partnership that routes betting activity to DraftKings rather than transferring ownership or app control.

What you should learn and why it matters - barstool sportsbook app

This distinction matters because it determines who holds accounts, processes payments, enforces terms, and provides support when you follow a Barstool promotion to place a bet, and it clarifies that any app experience you reach will be the operator's, not Barstool's. For context and the core announcement about the partnership, see the DraftKings news release about the partnership DraftKings news release and related coverage on Yahoo Sports

The rest of this article walks through what "connected" can mean, the corporate timeline from 2023 to 2025, what you will see as a user when following Barstool betting links, and a practical checklist to verify who operates a sportsbook link or app. See related posts on our blog.

What does 'connected' mean: ownership, partnership, and operational control

Definitions: ownership versus exclusive partner

People often use the word connected to mean different things. Ownership means one company legally owns another and controls its assets, while a partnership can be limited to marketing, content, or promotional activities without any transfer of ownership. Operational control covers the running of apps, handling of accounts, payments, and compliance processes. Understanding these differences helps you interpret headlines and promotions correctly.

Operational control: accounts, payments, and app operations

In the Barstool case, the announcement named DraftKings as an exclusive betting partner focused on marketing and content, not as an owner or controller of Barstool's assets, which means the operational control of betting user accounts and transactions sits with the sportsbook operator rather than with Barstool CNBC coverage

That practical separation is important: a marketing partner can promote an operator and link users to its app, but the operator's name on the app or site determines which terms of service and regulatory obligations apply.

Minimalist Funded Plays timeline showing 2023 sale 2023 rebrand to ESPN BET 2024 DraftKings partnership and 2025 PENN ESPN termination on dark background barstool sportsbook app

Short answer: the current corporate and product relationship in practice

What users see when they follow Barstool betting links

When a Barstool article or social post includes a betting promotion or link, users are routed to DraftKings where the betting account is created and managed, and where payments and identity checks occur. Because that flow is run by DraftKings, users interact with DraftKings accounts and systems rather than any Barstool-controlled sportsbook. That routing and operator control is described in the public announcement of the partnership Reuters coverage

Practically this means customer support, withdrawal processing, and account disputes are handled by the operator that hosts the account. If you register after following a Barstool link, look for DraftKings branding, terms, and support contacts on the landing app or website before you deposit funds.

Review operator pages and terms before registering

Before you deposit, check the operator name, the app or site branding, and the destination terms so you know which company will handle your account and support requests.

See FundedPlays Challenges

Legacy mentions of a "Barstool Sportsbook" app reflect past branding and do not change the current experience of being routed to DraftKings for betting activity.

Timeline - 2023: sale back to the founder and the rebrand to ESPN BET

PENN’s 2023 announcements

In 2023 PENN Entertainment announced it sold Barstool Sports back to its founder, David Portnoy, and simultaneously made a deal to partner with ESPN for a rebranded sportsbook. Those corporate events are the foundation for why a Barstool-branded sportsbook under PENN stopped operating that year PENN press release

Funded Plays Challenges

See FundedPlays Challenges

Later in 2023 PENN rebranded its Barstool Sportsbook offering as ESPN BET, so references to a Barstool-branded sportsbook under PENN belong to that earlier corporate arrangement and are not an accurate description of the live app landscape after the rebrand ESPN press release

Those 2023 actions established the separation between Barstool as a media brand and PENN's rebranded sportsbook product, which matters when tracking later partnership announcements and brand routing.

Timeline - 2024: DraftKings becomes Barstool’s exclusive sports-betting partner

What the 2024 partnership covers

In February 2024 Barstool and DraftKings announced an exclusive sports-betting partnership focused on content integration and marketing rather than ownership or platform control. The announcement specifies a marketing and content focus, making it clear that Barstool would promote DraftKings products rather than operate them under Barstool ownership DraftKings news release and industry coverage in SportsPro

Is Barstool connected to DraftKings?

Barstool is not owned by DraftKings. The companies have an exclusive marketing and content partnership that routes betting activity to DraftKings, where DraftKings handles accounts, payments, and compliance.

The deal means Barstool content can include DraftKings promos and links that route users into DraftKings’ app or site. It does not, however, transfer regulatory responsibility or app infrastructure to Barstool; those remain with DraftKings as the operator receiving the traffic.

What it does not include

The 2024 partnership does not grant Barstool ownership of DraftKings, nor does it give Barstool operational control over user accounts, payments, or compliance processes. The partnership is promotional and content-focused, which is why routing and operator-level functions remain clearly with DraftKings.

Timeline - 2025: PENN and ESPN termination and the 2026 context

What PENN and ESPN ended in 2025

In November 2025 PENN Entertainment and ESPN mutually agreed to end their U.S. online sports-betting agreement. That termination was a separate corporate move that did not restore a Barstool-branded sportsbook under PENN or affect the existing Barstool marketing partnership with DraftKings PENN press release on termination

Because the PENN-ESPN termination addressed a distinct agreement, it did not change where Barstool routes betting traffic when Barstool content links to sportsbook services. The marketing tie between Barstool and DraftKings remained a separate arrangement.

Verify operator and app before depositing

URL domain
App store operator
Terms of service
Support contact
License info

Check branding and terms on the landing page

From a user perspective in 2026 the key point is stable: Barstool acts as a promoter and content partner while DraftKings services betting traffic under DraftKings’ own terms and regulatory framework.

How the Barstool-DraftKings partnership works in practice for users

User journey from Barstool content to DraftKings

A typical flow starts with a Barstool article, podcast, or social post that includes a betting promotion or link. Clicking that link takes you to DraftKings’ landing page or app where you can create or sign into a DraftKings account, and all account actions happen inside DraftKings’ environment. That routing and operator responsibility is the practical effect of the marketing partnership CNBC coverage

New users will be presented with DraftKings branding, registration forms, and terms of service, and they must complete DraftKings’ verification and agree to its policies before wagering. Existing DraftKings users who follow a Barstool link will typically be routed to their account or see a promotion applied on the DraftKings side.

What terms and support apply

Because the account and payment relationships live with the operator, DraftKings’ terms of service, privacy policy, and customer support channels apply to transactions initiated through Barstool links. If you need help with deposits, withdrawals, or account restrictions, the operator named on the app or site is the right contact for those issues, not the media brand that promoted the link.

Where accounts, payments, app control, and compliance live

Regulatory and account implications

When you use a sportsbook, check the operator shown on the app or website. That operator is responsible for identity checks, age verification, anti-money-laundering compliance, and payout processing. For betting traffic routed from Barstool, DraftKings performs those regulated functions under its licenses and policies, which is why operator identification matters before you deposit funds DraftKings news release

If regulatory or account disputes arise, the operator's published support channels and licensing information are the authoritative sources for resolution, not the media partner that directed traffic.

What operator branding tells you

Operator branding on the landing page or in an app store listing signals who runs the service you are about to use. If the branding matches DraftKings and the terms reference DraftKings, that is the operator you will rely on for support and contractual protections.

Why references to a 'Barstool Sportsbook' app are historical

How brand names and product names change

Companies occasionally change product names and brand alignment after sales or rebranding deals. PENN previously operated a Barstool-branded sportsbook but sold Barstool back to its founder and rebranded the sportsbook to ESPN BET in late 2023, which is why mentions of a Barstool app under PENN are historical rather than current facts ESPN press release

Search results, old articles, screenshots, and cached app store pages are common sources of confusion because they preserve older references even after a rebrand or corporate sale.

Where confusion typically comes from

Confusion often comes from mixing promotional partnerships with prior branding. A promotional link placed by Barstool to DraftKings is not the same thing as an app that used to carry the Barstool name under a different operator. Verifying the operator on the landing page resolves the ambiguity.

Decision criteria: how to tell who operates a sportsbook link or app

Checklist for verifying operator and terms

Use this quick checklist before you register or deposit: check the URL domain to see the operator's name, confirm the app store listing shows the operator as the publisher, read the landing page terms of service, find the support contact and licensing details, and ensure payment flows are processed by the operator named on the site. For a related walkthrough see our post on how evaluations work.

Quick red flags

Red flags include mismatched branding between the ad and the landing page, missing operator name in the app store listing, requests to deposit via off-platform channels, or a landing page that lacks clear licensing information. If you see these signs, pause and verify before proceeding.

Common mistakes and misconceptions to avoid

Mistaking marketing links for ownership

A frequent error is assuming that an exclusive marketing or content partnership equals ownership of the operator. That is not the case here: Barstool promotes and routes traffic but does not own DraftKings or its platform, and assuming otherwise can lead to incorrect expectations about who processes payments and handles disputes DraftKings news release

Another misconception is believing the media brand will provide account-level support; instead, contact the operator shown on the app or site for account issues.

Assuming support will come from the media brand

Even when a media brand runs promotions or exclusive offers, the operator rules and promotions terms usually live on the operator's platform. Treat media content as a pointer to an operator's service rather than as the platform that will resolve account problems.

Practical scenarios: what happens when you click a Barstool betting promotion

Scenario A: new user follows a Barstool link

Step 1: Click a link in Barstool content and arrive at a DraftKings landing page that shows DraftKings branding and registration prompts. Step 2: Create a DraftKings account and complete verification per DraftKings’ requirements. Step 3: Deposit funds using DraftKings’ payment methods and review DraftKings’ terms on the deposit page. This flow is consistent with the content partnership that routes users to the operator rather than to a Barstool-owned sportsbook CNBC coverage

Scenario B: existing DraftKings user follows promotion

Existing DraftKings customers will typically be recognized by the site or prompted to sign in and then see any applicable promotion applied within their DraftKings account, with all account controls and customer support handled by DraftKings.

Scenario C: encountering old 'Barstool Sportsbook' references

If you find mentions of a Barstool Sportsbook app in older articles or screenshots, verify the operator on the current landing page. Do not assume the old app name reflects the present operator or the experience you will encounter.

Final takeaways and practical next steps for readers

Key takeaway: Barstool is a media brand, not the owner of DraftKings, and the Barstool partnership with DraftKings is marketing and content focused rather than an ownership transfer DraftKings news release

Practical next steps: before you deposit, check the operator branding on the landing page or app store listing, read the operator’s terms and policies, and use the operator’s support channels for account or payment questions. If you see legacy references to a Barstool-branded sportsbook, treat those as historical and confirm the current operator details. For general resources visit Funded Plays.

A final reminder: marketing partnerships can make it look like a media brand and an operator are tightly linked, but regulatory, account, and payment control is determined by the operator actually running the app or site.

Is Barstool owned by DraftKings?

No. Barstool is not owned by DraftKings; the two have an exclusive marketing and content partnership that routes betting activity to DraftKings.

If I click a Barstool betting link where do my funds and account live?

When you follow a Barstool betting link, the account, payments, and compliance processes live with the operator you land on, which in this partnership is DraftKings.

Does a mention of "Barstool Sportsbook" mean the app is active today?

No. References to a Barstool-branded sportsbook are historical following the 2023 sale and rebrand; verify the current operator on the landing page or app store.

If you want to act on a promotion or sign up after following a media link, pause and confirm the operator on the landing page. Read the operator’s terms, verify licensing information where available, and use the operator’s official support channels for account questions. Understanding the difference between a media partner and a sportsbook operator helps you avoid confusion and know where to turn if an account or payment issue arises.