Launched in September 2020, the Barstool Online Sportsbook is the result of a partnership between PENN National Gaming and the Dave Portnoy-led Barstool media empire. The Barstool Sportsbook app offers plenty of betting options, bonus bets and exclusive features β so let's take a closer look.
Top features:
Barstool Sports will soon see big changes as it rebrands to ESPN BET. A complex bit of corporate restructuring means that Dave Portney has bought back Barstool from PENN Entertainment. Meanwhile PENN Entertainment has struck a huge partnership deal with ESPN.
The new brand will launch in the Fall after the appropriate regulatory approvals are in place. Jay Snowden, Chief Executive Officer and President, PENN Entertainment said:
βThis agreement with ESPN and collaboration on ESPN BET allows us to take another step forward as an industry leader. Together, we can utilize each otherβs strengths to create the type of experience that existing and new bettors will expect from both companies, and we canβt wait to get started.β
ESPNβs long term intention is to find ways to integrate betting into its fan experience so that you donβt have to leave ESPN in order to place your sports bets. Expect new technology and some fantastic new ESPN BET promotions as these two companies pour marketing money into making the business a success.
Until the re-brand Barstool has paused all new player promotions. Meanwhile we suggest you try BetMGM Pennsylvania which offers a superb sportsbook and casino offer. Check out our BetMGM Pennsylvania Sportsbook review here or click on the banner adds on this page to get straight into the action!
Until the re-brand Barstool has paused all new player promotions. Meanwhile we suggest you try BetMGM Sportbook Pennsylvania which offers a superb sportsbook welcome offer.
Barstool has no new customer offers available until it rebrands as ESPN BET in the Fall of 2023.
Everyone likes bonus bets and special offers, but Barstool has plenty of other great features, too. Here are a few of our top reasons to make it one of your go-to online sportsbooks.
Dave Portnoy, Big Cat and the gang provide daily specials that you can't find anywhere else. This includes exclusive parlays and odds boosts custom-built for Barstool bettors. And the best part? You get a new slate of offers every day.
For any given bet slip, there's a good chance that Barstool will have close to, if not the best odds you'll find. The juice is fairly low, making the sportsbook an excellent option if you're shopping around for the most player-friendly odds and lines.
As mentioned, Barstool just unveiled a new type of bonus called Eligible Cashback. In a nutshell, you can convert bonus bucks into real cash with every bet you place, but check the section above for details. For now, the new cashback is limited to the welcome offer, but we're excited to see what existing player promos might feature it in the near future.
As we alluded to early on, the Barstool Sportsbook app and site just got a pretty major makeover, with a fresh new look, faster service from customer support and (from what we could tell in the first few days of the upgrade) smooth, bug-free performance. There's barely any loading time, navigating the different betting markets is a breeze and all your options are laid out in a clean, clear fashion. Online sports betting veterans and rookies alike will have no problem jumping right in and using the player-friendly platform.
The Barstool Sportsbook mobile app and site give you plenty of ways to fund your account and take money out of it. Most of the typical payment options are available, but refer to the sections below for more specific information.
Not only does the Barstool Sportsbook have an app, but the app was also recently given a major update to improve performance and add new betting options. The fast, smooth app is easy to use and offers all of the betting and account options as the also-updated website.
You can download the app to nearly any Apple or Android device, just by visiting the App or Play Store and searching for the Barstool Sportsbook app. Note: There isn't a specific Pennsylvania betting app, so you don't need to go hunting for that.
π£"This app is the best sportsbook app, it is very easy to navigate. All sports are easy to access. They also have daily boosted odds on a variety of games...this app is very fun to use and provides a unique experience."
π£"The speed of the app is unmatched. Betting and live betting is very easy and the app updates frequently, so you can hit a live bet when you want."
π£"The app is constantly freezing and takes forever to load. I find myself constantly having to close the app and reopen it and sign in all over again." (Posted prior to update)
π£"The layout is great. Easy to find the wagers you want, and lots of options. Fantastic sportsbook."
π£"Easy to use, and it has an awesome help section to assist you! No problems with payments, I'm glad I got this app."
π£"They had a nice signup promo, but after that, there's no incentive. This is a working platform and that's it. No cherries on top."
PA sports betting fans will be happy to hear that the Barstool Sportsbook app does indeed have loyalty rewards in place, built around the bonus program from PENN National Gaming. Players earn points for both placing wagers and staying, dining or gambling at any PENN properties. Some of the perks you can earn are bonus bets and other sports betting offers, but you can also earn free or discounted hotel stays, meals and even tickets to events. You can always access your rewards information from the "My Account" section of the site or app.
With Barstool's new app, signing up to bet on sports online is as easy as 1-2-3. Just follow these steps:
Note: In some cases, you may be asked to submit documents, such as a copy of your ID. Again, this is just to verify your identity and prove you are who you say you are.
At this point, you've hopefully got a good sense of the experience on the new version of Barstool. But you might be wondering how the up-and-coming sportsbook stacks up against the heavyweights in the industry β here are some of the key differentiators we found:
As a fully licensed and monitored online sportsbook, Barstool is required to have extensive systems and policies in place to keep both your information and your money safe. An extensive verification process is required to set up your account, and optional two-step authentication protects you even further. Every transaction is encrypted, and customer service requires proof of identity before any information can be accessed. Additionally, if the team at Barstool detects any unusual or suspicious activity, you'll be contacted immediately. Here are some of the measures that Barstool uses to keep your information safe:
Customer service is a strong point for Barstool. You can reach a support specialist in several ways, via email, by requesting a callback or through live chat. Readily available FAQs are thorough, covering nearly every common, non-urgent question you might have. And if you do have a more pressing issue, the live chat feature is easy to use, with responsive and helpful support specialists assisting you.
Great though it is, we cannot recommend Barstool until it rebrands as ESPN BET with new welcome promotions.
Barstool is committed to responsible gaming, and they provide access to both third-party resources and self-limiting tools. In the "Responsible Gaming" section, you can find links to both national and state-based organizations that can give immediate support for any type of gambling problem. And in that same section, you can also place limits on how much you can deposit, lose or even wager at a time. You can also choose to exclude yourself from using the sportsbook for a designated "cool-off" period, or a more extended period.
Just like the Barstool Sports social media accounts help you stay up to speed on sports and culture, the Barstool Sportsbook accounts provide energetic, fun and informational posts on the latest sports betting trends and news. You'll also get alerts for any exclusive odds boosts or special promotions you can take advantage of. Following these accounts is a great way to both stay entertained and make sure you're claiming any bonuses before they're gone.
Yes, retail sports betting was legalized in late 2018, with the introduction of online sportsbooks in 2019. The Barstool Sportsbook app is fully licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, meeting all of their rules, regulations and standards. It's 100% legal (and safe) for anyone 21 or older and within state lines to place wagers with Barstool Sports.
Contrary to what some people think, there is absolutely no requirement that you be a permanent or even part-time resident of the state. As long as you're within state lines when you're using the app or website, you can legally place bets. If you're in a state where sports betting isn't legal or Barstool doesn't have a license, you'll be able to log in and look at betting markets, but you won't be able to place bets.
Yes, it does. In fact, the app was just updated in mid-July! It features all of the same betting markets and options that you can access through the website experience. It's very fast and responsive, with very player-friendly navigation and menus. The development team also seems to have fixed most, if not all, of the bugs and glitches that were present before the update.
You must be 21 or older to place bets with Barstool, the same age requirement as any retail or online sportsbooks in the state. Anyone under that age will be flagged during verification and won't be able to complete the account creation process.
Author
Tom Ober is a professional writer living in New Hampshire. An avid Boston sports fan, he's rooted with his heart (and wallet) for the local teams for many years. When he's not stationed in front of a game on the TV, he's probably playing Gin Rummy or a video game that's roughly 30-40 years old.
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