Penn Completes Barstool Migration
In a significant technological move, Penn Entertainment has successfully completed the migration of Barstool Sportsbook and Casino to its proprietary in-house platform. This migration process occurred simultaneously across 16 states where Barstool operates, coinciding with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star Break. The event marked the largest-scale technology migration in the history of North American gaming.
“Adventures Beyond Wonderland” Game Will Be Available to Customers 24/7
Penn Entertainment has achieved a significant milestone in its technological journey by successfully migrating Barstool Sportsbook and Casino to its proprietary in-house platform. This migration, which took place simultaneously across 16 states during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Break, stands as the largest-scale technology migration in the history of North American gaming.
By completing this ambitious migration, Penn Entertainment has realized its long-term strategic goal of achieving technological independence, consolidating all gaming operations in-house. The company’s prior acquisition of theScore, which was in the process of building the platform when acquired, and the establishment of Penn Games Studios were key components of this plan. Following the successful migration, theScore, now operating as Penn’s brand in Ontario, was the first to transition to the new tech stack.
The updated version of Barstool Sportsbook and Casino features several new elements, including streamlined navigation, enhanced personalization capabilities, and faster deposits and withdrawals. This technological leap showcases Penn Entertainment’s dedication to providing its users with an improved betting experience and reflects the company’s commitment to technological innovation in the competitive gambling market. With all its brands now powered by proprietary technology, Penn Entertainment stands well-equipped to enhance its offerings and solidify its position as a leading player in the gaming industry.
Full Control of Penn’s Platforms Will Lead to Greater Efficiency and Quicker Roll-Out of Features
Penn’s president and CEO, Jay Snowden, celebrated the migration as a significant milestone achievement for the company. Emphasizing the advantages gained through full control of their product and roadmap, Snowden highlighted the potential for enhanced operational efficiency and the rapid introduction of novel features, custom promotions, and diverse wagering markets:
“Having full control of our product and roadmap will lead to improved operational efficiency and the ability to quickly introduce new features, bespoke promotions and wagering markets. I want to congratulate our [Penn] Interactive team members who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful on schedule migration, which better positions us to compete in the online gaming space.”– Jay Snowden, President and CEO, Penn Entertainment,Press Release
Meanwhile, Benjie Levy, the head of Penn Interactive and president and COO of theScore, remarked that the migration process demanded extensive planning for its successful completion. He expressed deep pride in the Interactive team, which rose to the occasion, demonstrating their capabilities by flawlessly executing this intricate project within the specified timeframe and with minimal disruption to customers:
“A technology migration of this scale requires an enormous amount of coordination and planning, and I’m extremely proud of our Interactive team who stepped up to the challenge to execute this complex project on time and with minimal disruption to customers.”– Benjie Levy , President and Chief Operations Officer, theScore,Press Release
Levy emphasized that with the incorporation of this well-established technology, the company is poised to provide an extensively improved Barstool Sportsbook:
“With this proven technology powering a significantly enhanced Barstool Sportsbook, we are primed to deliver a world class online sportsbook and casino experience to customers in the US.”
Penn Unveiled Military Scholarship in May 2023
Penn Entertainment took a patriotic stride in May 2023 by announcing the establishment of a military scholarship at Penn State Berks, a commonwealth campus of the esteemed Penn State University system. Demonstrating their commitment to the local Berks County community, where the company’s corporate headquarters reside, Penn Entertainment has pledged an impressive multi-year investment of $50,000 to endow the scholarship.
Aligned with their ongoing dedication to supporting veterans and active-duty military personnel, Penn Entertainment’s scholarship will be accessible to veterans, active-duty reservists, or National Guard members who can demonstrate financial need. Currently, the Penn State Berks campus enrolls over 50 student veterans, making this initiative an invaluable opportunity for those who have served their country to pursue further education.
The scholarship, awarded for one academic year, carries the potential for renewal, subject to meeting eligibility criteria and the availability of funds. Penn Entertainment’s commitment to providing this scholarship stands as a testament to their recognition of the sacrifices made by the military community and their unwavering support to ensure a brighter future for those who have served.
Penn senior vice president of public affairs Eric Schippers stressed the operator’s excitement at joining forces together with Penn State Berks, making clear the company’s dedication to US veterans:
“We are thrilled to partner with Penn State Berks on the creation of this scholarship, which further strengthens our support for the military and our local community. Penn is passionate about honoring and empowering our nation’s heroes and this scholarship adds to our overall military recruitment and recognition efforts.”– Eric Schippers, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Penn Entertainment,Press Release
Penn Fully Acquired Barstool Sportsbook in February 2023
Penn Entertainment successfully completed the long-awaited acquisition of media business Barstool Sports back in February 2023. This landmark deal has been in the making since February 2020 when Penn acquired a 36% stake in Barstool. Now, with an additional $388 million investment, Penn has secured the remaining stake in the media empire, finalizing the acquisition.
Penn CEO Jay Snowden expressed his utmost satisfaction in welcoming Barstool Sports into the Penn ecosystem. Recognizing the strength of the brand and its extensive audience, Snowden emphasized their potential to complement Penn’s online sports betting products. This strategic move aims to leverage Barstool’s loyal following to further enhance Pennsylvania-based operator Penn’s position in the competitive gambling market.
With the acquisition now complete, industry insiders and enthusiasts eagerly await the developments and synergies that will arise as Penn Entertainment and Barstool Sports join forces to create new possibilities in the gambling and media landscape. Snowden already hinted at the company’s increased flexibility thanks to the acquisition:
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Barstool Sports fully into the PENN Entertainment family. Barstool is a proven, powerful media brand with an authentic voice and vast, loyal audience that provides us with a strong top of funnel for new customer acquisition and organic cross-selling opportunities across our growing interactive division. Barstool, combined with theScore’s reach and highly engaged user base, creates a massive digital footprint and ecosystem that will serve to propel Barstool Sportsbook and our uniquely integrated media and gaming business. Further, the Barstool Sportsbook will greatly benefit from the upcoming migration to our proprietary technology stack, a move that will significantly enhance the overall product offering and deliver meaningful upside.”