When the next Woj bomb goes off, ESPN wants to be sure the man who detonated it didn’t use that information to first place a monster wager.
That’s at least the impression given by new sports betting guidelines released by ESPN on Friday, just a few short days ahead of the Nov. 14 launch of ESPN BET. The online sportsbook is the product of a 10-year, $2-billion partnership between the Worldwide Leader and casino and gaming operator PENN Entertainment Inc.
However, with ESPN BET on the cusp of making its debut, ESPN is about to dive headfirst into the world of legal sports betting, and the media giant wants to set some ground rules to ensure its journalistic integrity remains intact.
Furthermore, the betting public and gaming regulators may rest easier knowing ESPN reporters aren’t placing wagers before they hit send on their breaking news tweets. The guidelines released Friday (and provided to Covers by ESPN) could ease those concerns.
“At ESPN, we are dedicated to upholding the integrity of our brand and the events we broadcast,” the new rules state. “These Sports Betting Guidelines... establish the expected standards of behavior for our employees. They aim to define prohibited betting activities clearly and serve as a reference to ensure compliance.”
ESPN sent out sports betting guidelines to employees today ahead of the launch of the ESPN BET online sportsbook on Nov. 14. Among other things, designated "insiders" (such as Schefty and Woj, presumably) are banned from wagering on the sports they regularly cover: pic.twitter.com/4bxPnLWVTK
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) November 10, 2023
The guidelines define what are “prohibited betting activities” for ESPN employees. One such restriction is a ban on disclosing “non-public information” for “any betting-related” purpose, such as a reporter tipping off a punter.
“This includes but is not limited to: (a) a player’s injury status or participation in a game or event; or (b) any other information about officials, players, coaches or management,” the guidelines state.
Drop bombs not bets
ESPN employees are also banned from betting on games or events they cover. The especially wired types — think NFL insider Adam Schefter and NBA scoop-meister Adrian Wojnarowski — are forbidden from even wagering on the leagues in which they specialize.
It's not a minor provision. Concerns about insiders and sports betting have risen recently, as journalists with ties to bookmakers can cause social media frenzies when they report market-moving information that does not come true.
“Talent designated as Reporters and Insiders are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet on the properties (e.g., NFL, college football, NBA) they regularly cover,” the ESPN guidelines state. “Employees who learn Confidential Information from Reporters or Insiders should never use such information for betting-related purposes.”
Business as usual, sort of
Those are only a couple of the rules to which ESPN employees are now subject. The memo also states that ESPN reserves the right to slap further wagering restrictions on employees at any time.
The guidelines were mentioned earlier this week during a meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, with a PENN executive informing the regulators that the rules would be finalized shortly.
Those assurances came amid plenty of questions from commissioners about how the media powers of ESPN would be used in connection with ESPN BET, including concerns about responsible gambling and possible reporting or commentary-driven line movement.
“There will be no connection between ESPN insiders, reporters, or the newsdesk with anyone who handles risk or trading for PENN,” said Chris Rogers, PENN’s chief strategy officer, during the MGC meeting. “ESPN will continue to report on news as it always has, while PENN will separately and independently manage the sportsbook."
Come hell or higher totals
PENN will operate ESPN BET and ESPN will provide marketing services for the new sportsbook.
Even so, ESPN’s guidelines look like they are trying to address any lingering concerns about its journalistic integrity. For instance, they warn employees to avoid conflicts of interest and to be “extra cautious” about certain bets, such as warning them not to wager on player awards if they have confidential information related to those markets.
“No story should be reported, delayed, influenced or withheld with the intention of impacting betting lines,” the guidelines state. “All employees must observe the strict boundaries that the Company maintains between our journalistic enterprise and the operations of a sportsbook and should not imply any control or influence over the operations of a sportsbook.”
Here is the full text of ESPN’s betting guidelines:
At ESPN, we are dedicated to upholding the integrity of our brand and the events we broadcast. These Sports Betting Guidelines ("Guidelines") establish the expected standards of behavior for our employees. They aim to define prohibited betting activities clearly and serve as a reference to ensure compliance.
These Guidelines work in conjunction with and supplement The Walt Disney Company’s Standards of Business Conduct and applicable TWDC employee policy manual or handbook (e.g., the U.S. Employee Policy Manual).
Prohibited Betting Activities:
- Do not use, disclose, or provide access to non-public information that you have been exposed to as part of your job (“Confidential Information”), for any betting-related purposes, including influencing others to place bets or disclosing such information to any sportsbook operator. This includes but is not limited to: (a) a player’s injury status or participation in a game or event; or (b) any other information about officials, players, coaches or management.
- Do not place bets on games or events you are assigned to work or cover. For example, production personnel or journalists working on-site or off-site at or on a sporting event must abstain from betting on that particular game or event.
- Talent designated as Reporters and Insiders are prohibited from placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet on the properties (e.g., NFL, college football, NBA) they regularly cover. Employees who learn Confidential Information from Reporters or Insiders should never use such information for betting-related purposes.
- Employees who manage the Company’s business relationships with sports leagues or properties on a day-to-day basis are prohibited from betting on those sports leagues or properties.
- Be extra cautious about certain types of bets. Certain types of bets are more susceptible to the influence of Confidential Information, because the outcomes are primarily determined by off-field decisions rather than on-field play. If there is any chance you have relevant Confidential Information, do not wager on awards votes (e.g., MVP, Cy Young), player personnel decisions (e.g., “Which team will Player X sign with?”), draft selections (e.g., “Who will be the first WR chosen in the NFL Draft?”) or other similar types of bets.
- Uphold our journalistic integrity. No story should be reported, delayed, influenced or withheld with the intention of impacting betting lines. All employees must observe the strict boundaries that the Company maintains between our journalistic enterprise and the operations of a sportsbook and should not imply any control or influence over the operations of a sportsbook.
- Avoid conflicts of interest. The Company strongly discourages employees from engaging in any betting-related activities that could call into question their or the Company’s integrity, or otherwise create actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
- No illegal gambling. Employees are strictly prohibited from participating in or facilitating any form of illegal sports betting, including underage betting. Sports betting remains illegal in many states and jurisdictions.
- ESPN may place further sports betting restrictions on any employee at any time in its sole discretion.
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