PENN Entertainment gains North Carolina market access through Quail Hollow deal
Partnership makes ESPN BET exclusive official betting operator of Wells Fargo Championship
PENN Entertainment has reached a market access agreement with Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, paving the way for the online gaming operator to roll out its ESPN BET sportsbook platform in the state in 2024.
As part of the long-term partnership, ESPN BET becomes the exclusive official betting operator of the Wells Fargo Championship, a Signature PGA TOUR event held annually at Quail Hollow.
“We are thrilled to partner with Quail Hollow Club and the Wells Fargo Championship as we prepare to bring our new online sports betting brand, ESPN BET, to North Carolina,” said head of Penn Interactive Benjie Levy. “Along with market access, we’re excited to sponsor the popular Wells Fargo Championship and look forward to working together with our new partners to create unique fan activations.”
As Levy alluded to, golf fans can expect a host of Wells Fargo-centered marketing integrations with ESPN BET, both on-site during the tournament as well as across the digital properties of the two brands.
Online sports betting in North Carolina is on track to launch sometime in the first quarter of 2024 – license applications are due by December 27 and will be followed by a 90-day approval process – which figures to be in advance of the start to the Wells Fargo Championship on May 9, according to the current timeline.
“We welcome the upcoming launch of regulated online sports wagering in North Carolina and are extremely pleased to partner with a leading gaming and entertainment operator in PENN Entertainment,” said Quail Hollow president Johnny Harris. “PENN’s compelling online sports betting brand ESPN BET, cutting-edge technology and extensive operational expertise make them an ideal long-term partner for this industry.”
ESPN BET, which PENN recently rebranded from Barstool Sportsbook as part of a 10-year partnership with the Disney-owned worldwide leader in sports, is currently live in 17 states.
PENN has a similar deal with a different PGA TOUR event – the RBC Canadian Open – through its Ontario-based brand, theScore Bet.