The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America and PENN Entertainment, an American entertainment company, have announced a multi-year partnership naming ESPN BET the official sports betting sponsor of the PGA Championship for the next three years.
With this historic agreement, which runs through the 2026 competition, a men’s golf major will have officially landed a sports betting sponsor for the first time.
The innovative partnership brings together the esteemed PGA Championship with ESPN BET, a leader in sports wagering content with a focus on diverse audiences. This mutually beneficial agreement grants the PGA Championship the opportunity to enhance spectator engagement through exciting on-site activations and collaborative content creation with ESPN BET.
For the online sportsbook, the partnership provides access to a massive audience of golf fans, who are increasingly interested in sports betting. The online platform will leverage the agreement for extensive branding and promotional opportunities during PGA Championship broadcasts and across PGA of America digital platforms.
The 2024 PGA Championship, to be held at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky (May 16-19), will even feature a dedicated hospitality space for ESPN BET account holders.
Jeff Price, PGA of America, Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are incredibly proud to partner with PENN Entertainment and immerse ESPN BET into the spectator experience throughout the PGA Championship. The added onsite presence of ESPN BET as well as broadcast and content offerings will provide spectators with exciting new ways to enjoy and engage with all of the action during the PGA Championship.”
Jason Birney, Vice President of Operations, PENN Interactive, said, “We’re pleased to be the PGA of America’s first-ever gaming partner and align ESPN BET with this prestigious men’s golf major. We look forward to accessing highly engaging touchpoints to bring ESPN BET onto the course and into the PGA Championship broadcast on ESPN. With the PGA Championship set to take place in states where ESPN BET operates through 2026, this partnership provides us with a great opportunity to interact with and engage golf fans.”
PENN Entertainment, formerly Penn National Gaming, is a major player in the entertainment industry. The company operates casinos and racetracks in 20 states under names like Hollywood Casino and Ameristar.
ESPN BET is an online sportsbook offering a one-stop shop for sports fans. It boasts exclusive odds boosts, promotions, and a variety of bet types like live wagering and parlays. The platform also features a seamless and secure user experience with fast loading times.
Recently, the PGA of America announced a multi-year sponsorship extension with the American brewing company, Anheuser-Busch.
The PGA Championship is one of golf’s four major tournaments, alongside the Masters, US Open, and British Open. Held annually by the PGA of America, it features the world’s best golfers battling it out on a different challenging course in the US each year. This year, the tournament takes place from May 13 to 19 at the Valhalla Golf Club.