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ESPN Bet

VIP/Rewards Grade: 5/5
Summary: ESPN Bet has an excellent VIP Program which they call MVP. It comes with a VIP rep that can offer deposit matches and weekly targeted offers.

Updated: Nov 22, 2024
4 min read

Note: If you are located in Ontario, we are not able to display any available promotions.

Matched Betting

What is the "Matched Betting Value" listed above? This is the amount of profit that you can make from the sign-up offer through a technique called matched betting. In short, it is a mathematical approach to sports betting that guarantees profit by hedging your bets. This allows you to cover all possible outcomes and secure a profit no matter what happens in the game. This is different from gambling because there is no risk of losing. Learn more in our What Is Matched Betting guide.

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What To Know

ESPN Bet is regulated by your local gaming commission. Regulated sportsbooks provide customer protections that you will not have when using an unregulated sportsbooks or sweepstakes sportsbooks.
ESPN Bet is unregulated. Unregulated sportsbooks do not provide the same customer proctections that regulated sportsbooks have.
ESPN Bet follows a sweepstakes model. Sweepstakes platforms are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and state sweepstakes laws instead of your jurisdiction's gaming commisison. These protections are less than those provided by a regulated sportsbook, and are designed for traditional sweepstakes, not a sportsbook.
ESPN Bet is a sportsbook. Sportsbooks, unlike exchanges, act as "The House" and often have more vig than a betting exchange.
ESPN Bet is an exchange. Exchanges often offer better odds than a traditional sportsbook, do not limit players, and are matched betting friendly.
In some states ESPN Bet operates as a betting exchange, and others they operate as a sportsbook. In both situations ESPN Bet will not limit bettors.
ESPN Bet is "Player Friendly". Player friendly sportsbooks/exchanges do not enact limits on players making them perfect for matched betting.
ESPN Bet is "Slower-to-Limit". Slower-to-Limit sportsbooks take longer than average to enact limits on winning bettors.
ESPN Bet is "Quick-to-Limit". Quick-to-Limit sportsbooks enact limits signifcantly faster than your average sportsbook. If you show signs of being a winning bettor, limits will quickly follow.
ESPN Bet has high limits. Sportsbooks with higher limits are useful for generating VIP status and hedging large promotions.
ESPN Bet has low limits. Sportsbooks with lower limits are can make hedging larger promootions, such as those assocaited with VIP status, difficult.
ESPN Bet seems to be more likely than other sportsbooks to limit bettors after a withdraw. Avoid withdraws from ESPN Bet as much as possible.
Incremental withdrawals of $2,500 or less once a week seem less likely to results in limits on ESPN Bet.

Available Locations

ESPN Bet is available in the following locations.

Overview

ESPN Bet is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the US, located in 17 states. They have one of the best VIP programs available and are a must-have sportsbook for all matched bettors. In addition to the VIP program they regularly offer promotions to all of their customers.

ESPN Bet is one of the few sportsbooks that sometimes uses Site Credit instead of Bonus Bets. This greatly increases the value of all their promotions since Site Credit can be converted closer to 100% compared to a Bonus Bet at 70%.

ESPN Bet made a few changes in 2023. They switched from Kambi to The Score as their odds provider on July 11th and then from Barstool Sportsbook to ESPN Bet on Nov 14th. If you were previously limited on Barstool, you may not be limited anymore due to the change.

Odds Analysis

ESPN Bet MLB Odds Analysis

ESPN Bet has an average MLB vig of 3.94%. ESPN Bet MLB odds are similar to popular sportsbooks (4.25%). This is considerably worse than sharp sportsbooks which are closer to 2.19%.

ESPN Bet MLB Odds comparison chart

ESPN Bet averages -153.4 for MLB favorites which is slightly better than popular sportsbooks (-155.0). ESPN Bet is worse than sharp sportsbooks which have an average of -147.6.

ESPN Bet MLB Odds comparison chart

The average ESPN Bet MLB odds on underdogs is 130.4 which is similar to popular sportsbooks (130.1). ESPN Bet is worse than sharp sportsbooks which have an average of 134.9.

ESPN Bet MLB Odds comparison chart

Notes Before Signing Up

If you have a very large bankroll and can deposit $10,000 or more reach out to their customer service email, not live chat, and ask if any offers are available for a large deposit. This often results in being fast-tracked to the VIP program.

Signup Offers

$1,500 Bet Reset

$1,500 Second Chance Bet Refunded as a Bonus Bet

Amount: $1,500
Type: Second Chance Bet Refunded as a Bonus Bet
Bet Finder: Second Chance Bet
Deposit: $1,500
Minimum Hedge: $2,250
Expected Value: $750
Available in: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

$500 Deposit Match

200% Deposit Match in Site Credit up to $500 on a $250 deposit

Amount: $500
Type: Deposit Match in Site Credit
Bet Finder: Site Credit
Deposit: $250
Minimum Hedge: See notes
Expected Value: $500
Available in: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia

VIP/Rewards Program

ESPN Bet has a great VIP program, which they call MVP. They expect that you deposit a minimum of $10,000 a month to maintain MVP status. Oftentimes emailing ESPN Bet's customer support (not live chat) and asking what they can do for a $10,000 deposit will result in a deposit match and an instant jump to MVP status. If this does not work making the required deposits will get you into the MVP program but it may take a little longer. Once you are in the MVP program your VIP rep will be able to provide deposit matches which helps you maintain MVP status due to the deposit requirements. Additionally, you will get targeted VIP offers most weeks which can be worth a few hundred dollars of profit or more.

MLB House Rules

Each sportsbook has its own House Rules which determine how a bet is graded. These rules cover unlikely events, such as what happens to your bet when a game is canceled.

Usually, the different house rules across sportsbooks do not have an impact on matched betting. However, in Major League Baseball (MLB), there are notable exceptions. A simple example is when a game is postponed due to weather. Read our House Rules Comparison guide to learn more.

For MLB it is also important to understand what defines Action.

Money line

Will The Odds Change: No


Run / Total / Alt Lines

Action: Yes

Will The Odds Change: No


Player Props

Pitcher Prop action: Must Throw One Pitch

Batter Prop action: Start And Plate Appearance

Deposit & Withdraw Methods

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