Since its launch in August 2023, ESPN Bet has struggled to gain traction in the competitive sports betting market, capturing just 3% of the market share. The slow start hasn’t been helped by the fact that some of the network’s personalities promoting the app seem out of sync with what ESPN Bet actually offers. A recent example came when ESPN sports betting analyst Erin Kate Dolan gave out four picks for Thursday night’s Chiefs vs. Ravens game—three of which weren’t even available on the ESPN Bet app.
During her segment, Dolan shared her top player prop picks for the game. She started confidently, saying, “In terms of player props, this is what I’m liking. Number one, Isaiah Pacheco, first quarter, over 14.5 rushing yards. Just trust me on that one.”
She followed up with a few more picks, including Xavier Worthy under 45.5 receiving yards, Lamar Jackson under 8.5 rushing attempts, and Patrick Mahomes to throw at least one interception, the latter being a hallmark of Dolan’s betting persona as she jokingly referred to herself as the “interception queen.”
However, the issue wasn’t just about the quality of the picks but their availability. Fans quickly pointed out that some of these prop bets weren’t even listed on ESPN Bet, making it impossible for viewers to place the bets she recommended. This disconnect sparked confusion and criticism from the sports betting community.
In terms of how her picks performed, Dolan had mixed results. She successfully predicted that Mahomes would throw an interception, but her picks on Worthy and Jackson missed the mark. As for the Pacheco bet, it’s difficult to track his stats by quarter, but based on game footage, the majority of his 45 rushing yards appeared to come later in the game, making it likely that the first-quarter prop failed as well.
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Critics on social media quickly pounced on Dolan’s segment, highlighting the mismatch between her recommendations and ESPN Bet’s actual offerings. One viral response took aim at ESPN’s broader business strategy: “ESPN fired 99% of their employees in order to give us ‘Just trust me on that’ bets, with no odds mentioned, that weren’t even available at ESPN’s own sportsbook.”
Another popular post mocked the lack of detail in her analysis: “‘Isiah Pacheco over 14.5 rushing yards in the 1st quarter… just trust me on that one.’ For the numb nuts who blindly tail picks without any analysis, just know that ESPN Bet doesn’t even offer this prop.”
ESPN Bet, which is run by Penn Entertainment after previously operating under the Barstool Sports branding, has faced challenges since its rebranding. The sportsbook’s low market share and stumbles like Dolan’s misalignment with the app’s offerings have raised questions about its future competitiveness in the crowded sports betting landscape.
While Dolan’s betting advice may have been delivered with enthusiasm, the backlash highlights the importance of alignment between analysts and the platforms they represent—especially in a market where accuracy and trust are key to building a loyal customer base.
ESPN Bet’s partnership with Penn Entertainment will need to address these growing pains if they hope to capture a larger share of the sports betting industry.
