Disney Owns ESPN and ESPN has a gambling App called ESPN BET.
You might have not noticed this but Disney is now into gambling.
Disney / ESPN isn’t itself running all the betting infrastructure or accepting bets in every state; it’s more like a licensing and promotional partner.
PENN Entertainment is running the App but still Disney is now into legal betting…
It does not bother me but the wholesome Disney brand and now the moral turpitude aspect.
I bet (Nice Pun here) Elias Disney would approve.
Thoughts?
Their radio sports shows all plug the gambling even making recommendations. Next thing will be Cinderella’s Hotel and Casino with scantily dress princesses bringing mixed drinks.
@happyhaunt: I can’t say that that sounds all the off-putting lol
Happy Haunt might be onto or into something.... hahahahaah
But Russel is correct there is way to much access to betting. You can micro bet now during a game - Let's say the first pitch of the Next inning is a slider... And low and behold it is a slider..
There is a Pitcher being investigated for that - a large bet was made for said first pitch slider - two innings in a row....?
RUT ROW....
This is interesting....I installed Penn Entertainment Hollywood Casino on my phone last week and noticed all the transactions are labeled ESPN. The Disney connection didn't click until you pointed this out.
Disney quietly got into gambling ... in August 2023.
I hear they might be closing the Muppetvision movie as well.
The one thing I am pulling for is a bar with an animatronic goose that serves drinks based on uncle Waldo from the aristocats. I would like to see that.
Overall, I find the proliferation of gambling into the general sports landscape repugnant, but sadly it's the way of the world right now. Disney, by way of ESPN, getting in the gambling business is a natural progression. There's money to be made, and in the gambling world, the easier you can make it for people to bet, the more action you can generate. ESPN has the premier sports news and information application, and by integrating betting tools into that app, it allows gamblers the easiest possible way to place bets.
Again, while I hate that gambling has become such an integral part of the sports landscape, I don't begrudge ESPN's (and by extension Disney's) involvement. Frankly they would be stupid not to take advantage of the market and their position as one of the major delivery platforms for sports in the United States. However, I do wish that there was a way to decrease the amount of advertising aimed at the gambling market (I'd say the same for the pharmaceutical market as well), and it makes you realize how much books are making on people throwing their money away if they can afford the millions they spend in advertising.