Barstool Sportsbook's consumer-facing presence changed in 2023 after a corporate transaction and a new partnership. This article explains what happened, why the change occurred, and what it meant for users. You will find a short timeline, practical steps to access migrated accounts, and guidance on when to contact the operator or your state regulator. The aim is to give clear, evidence-based information so you can act calmly and quickly. If you just want to know the immediate action: check whether ESPN BET is authorized in your state and try logging in on that app first. The rest of the piece explains the background and next steps in more detail.

Barstool Sportsbook was replaced by ESPN BET in markets where PENN held betting licenses following an August 2023 deal.

ESPN BET launched on November 14, 2023, and regulators issued state-level transition notices.

If you cannot access migrated accounts, contact operator support and keep records before involving a regulator.

Quick answer: what happened to Barstool Sportsbook?

In short, Barstool Sportsbook stopped operating as PENN Entertainment's consumer-facing betting brand after PENN sold Barstool Sports back to Dave Portnoy and announced an exclusive U.S. betting partnership with ESPN, a change reported in August 2023 CNBC report.

How did Barstool Sportsbook end up being replaced by ESPN BET and what should users do now?

PENN sold Barstool Sports back to its founder and entered a long-term partnership with ESPN, then launched ESPN BET in November 2023; affected users should check state eligibility, try logging into ESPN BET where available, and contact operator support or their state regulator if problems remain.

That partnership led to a rebrand and a new consumer app, ESPN BET, which went live in November 2023 in the initial set of states where PENN held licenses. For most affected customers the practical step was to use the new ESPN BET app in eligible states or contact operator support if they could not access migrated accounts.

How and why the change happened: the PENN-ESPN deal and the Barstool sale

PENN announced two linked moves in August 2023: it sold Barstool back to its founder, Dave Portnoy, and it entered a long-term, exclusive sports-betting partnership with ESPN, signaling that PENN would market its consumer betting business under the ESPN brand rather than Barstool Reuters coverage. Coverage also appeared in Business Insider.

The rationale reported in coverage emphasized commercial scale and distribution: aligning a consumer betting product with ESPN's national media reach and audience made strategic sense for PENN without implying any guaranteed customer outcomes. Coverage framed the moves as business decisions to reposition PENN's retail and digital betting presence under a new, widely recognized media partner.

Timeline: key dates from announcement to launch

August 8, 2023, is the key announcement date when PENN disclosed the sale of Barstool back to Dave Portnoy and the exclusive U.S. partnership with ESPN that set up the rebrand.

November 14, 2023, is the launch date for the new consumer-facing brand, ESPN BET, which started operating in a group of initial states where PENN held licenses; the rollout covered 17 states at launch ESPN press release. Additional contemporaneous coverage appeared in Forbes.

Quick guide to primary documents for the transition

PENN annual report
ESPN press release
Michigan regulator notice

Check these official sources first

PENN's later investor materials continue to present ESPN BET as its sports-betting brand, reflecting the end of Barstool Sportsbook as PENN's consumer-facing name in filings and public investor documents PENN investor materials.

What the replacement meant in practice: ESPN BET replacing Barstool Sportsbook

Where PENN held state betting licenses, ESPN BET effectively replaced Barstool Sportsbook in app stores and in communications to customers, meaning the Barstool-branded consumer app was retired from those markets and the ESPN BET app took its place for active accounts Reuters report.

Minimal Funded Plays timeline showing August 2023 announcement and November 2023 app launch with press release and app download icons for barstool sportsbook

For many users the visible change was the need to install or switch to the ESPN BET app and to follow any migration instructions from the operator. The technical experience varied by state depending on licensing and regulator approvals, and operator notices explained the steps for account holders.

Practical steps for former Barstool users: access, apps, and accounts

If you used Barstool Sportsbook, first check whether ESPN BET is authorized in your state and try signing in with your existing credentials where the operator indicated accounts were migrated; the rebrand required users in eligible states to use the ESPN BET app to continue under the new consumer brand ESPN press release.

Make sure you have any migration emails or account IDs handy before you try to log in. If you cannot access an account or cannot find expected balances, contact the operator's customer support and keep detailed records of your communications.

Funded Plays Challenges

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Remember that state eligibility matters: even if accounts were migrated in some states, customers in states where ESPN BET is not authorized will not be able to use that app until regulatory approval or alternative arrangements are made. See more at Funded Plays.

What regulators said: examples and official guidance

State gaming regulators played a public role during the transition, with some issuing notices that confirmed the replacement of the Barstool Sportsbook app with ESPN BET and explaining any state-specific conditions for the change; Michigan's regulator announced the November 14 replacement ahead of launch Michigan Gaming Control Board notice.

Regulatory communications typically cover license transfers, permitted products, and customer protections during a brand change, so official regulator pages are the right place to look for state-level details if you have unresolved account or funds questions.

How the change affected customers’ balances and account migrations

In many cases, operator communications indicated that eligible accounts would be migrated to the ESPN BET platform where license and migration processes allowed, meaning customers could log in to the new app and see their account histories and balances as migrated by the operator.

Some customers reported access problems during migration windows, and operators advised contacting customer support first. If issues remain unresolved, state regulators are the escalation route and often publish guidance on how to raise account disputes or confirm balances Michigan regulator guidance.

See how evaluation and account rules are presented on FundedPlays Challenges

If you cannot access an account or see expected balances, check your migration emails, contact ESPN BET customer support, and keep records of communications before contacting your state regulator.

View challenge rules

What PENN’s investor materials say about the brand now

PENN's subsequent investor reporting identifies ESPN BET as the company's sports-betting brand, which signals that Barstool Sportsbook is no longer presented as PENN's consumer-facing product in public filings and investor materials PENN investor materials.

This public positioning is consistent with the strategic rebrand and indicates how PENN has described its market-facing betting business since the transaction and launch of ESPN BET.

Common user questions and troubleshooting checklist

Before contacting support, check your email for migration notices, try logging in on the ESPN BET app if your state is eligible, and verify your state authorization. These steps will resolve many simple access questions.

Collect account IDs, screenshots of errors, and any migration or account emails so you can supply clear information to customer support or a regulator if escalation is needed. Do not share passwords and always use official support channels.

Minimal 2D vector illustration of a smartphone showing account details with email and customer support icons on a dark Funded Plays style background barstool sportsbook

Common misunderstandings and things to avoid

Do not assume that the brand change automatically produces refunds or guarantees; account and balance questions must be handled through the operator's support process and, if necessary, a state regulator's complaint procedures.

Be wary of unsolicited messages or sites claiming to 'restore' balances; only follow official operator or regulator instructions and do not provide passwords or personal information to unknown parties.

Alternatives and next steps for those who don’t want to use ESPN BET

If you prefer not to use the rebranded app, evaluate other licensed platforms in your state based on licensing, clear regulatory disclosures, customer support responsiveness, and terms covering funds and withdrawals. Assess whether a platform is authorized to operate in your jurisdiction before moving any funds. See the Funded Plays blog for related commentary.

Prioritize platforms that show transparent terms and clear customer protections and remember to follow official withdrawal processes if you choose to move funds away from any operator. Learn more about how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Lessons for users: what this shows about brand and licensing in betting

This change shows that regulated betting products are tied to licensing and commercial partnerships, so brand names can change quickly when operators realign distribution or partner with major media brands Reuters coverage.

For users that means staying informed through official operator notices and state regulator communications is the best way to prepare for possible migrations or service changes.

Short checklist: immediate actions if you used Barstool Sportsbook

1) Try logging in on the ESPN BET app if you are in an eligible state and see if your account was migrated.

2) If login or balance issues persist, contact ESPN BET or PENN customer support and document all communications.

3) If the operator does not resolve an issue, contact your state gaming regulator with documentation of the account and communications; regulator offices provide formal complaint routes and guidance for next steps Regulator guidance.

Closing summary and what to watch next

Barstool Sportsbook was effectively replaced in PENN-operated markets by ESPN BET after PENN sold Barstool and launched the ESPN partnership in 2023, with the new app going live in November 2023 in initial states and PENN's investor materials now referencing ESPN BET as its sports-betting brand ESPN press release. See a recap at Rotowire.

Watch official operator communications and your state gaming regulator for any future changes, and follow the practical steps above if you need to resolve account or balance questions.

Did Barstool Sportsbook shut down entirely?

Barstool Sportsbook ceased as PENN's consumer-facing brand after PENN sold Barstool and partnered with ESPN; markets where PENN held licenses were transitioned to ESPN BET and users should follow operator guidance.

Can I still access my account and balance?

If your account was migrated, try signing in on the ESPN BET app in eligible states and contact customer support if you cannot access expected balances; keep documentation and involve your state regulator if necessary.

Who should I contact if my migrated account shows missing funds?

Start with the operator's customer support, provide documentation, and if the issue is unresolved contact your state gaming regulator for formal guidance and complaint procedures.

This transition is an example of how licensing and commercial partnerships shape which consumer brands appear in regulated betting markets. For account issues, rely on operator and regulator channels and keep good records of communications. Staying aware of official notices from the operator and your state regulator is the best way to protect your access and funds during brand changes.