Major League Baseball is not the only organization to shut down during the All-Star break. While sports has reached a relatively dead period, Barstool Sportsbook has temporarily disabled its app to undergo a platform overhaul.
Penn Entertainment, who owns Barstool, has made it clear that the company was going to operate on its own software platform. The time has come, and hopefully for Penn, it changes Barstool’s fortunes among Pennsylvania online sportsbooks.
Barstool Sportsbook temporarily offline for around 72 hours
A bettor wanting to wager on the Home Run Derby tonight will be unable to do so using the Barstool Sportsbook. The company is moving its app off Kambi and onto its own.
When attempting to log into the sportsbook on the app or desktop, the site says it’s “under maintenance” with the following message:
“We are currently upgrading the Barstool Sportsbook to bring you an improved app experience with more markets and wagering options.”
Penn Entertainment released a statement, referring to the upgrades coming to the Barstool Sportsbook:
“Over the last year, our team has been working hard to build a new and improved Barstool Sportsbook & Casino. Next week we will be launching the new Barstool Sportsbook & Casino, which is loaded with additional features to upgrade your betting experience.”
According to Barstool, some of the upgrades include:
- Fast load times
- Enhanced deposits and withdrawals
- More markets and expanded player props
- Additional promotions and Barstool exclusives
In Barstool’s partnership with theScore app, bettors will be able to build a betslip, follow betting activity and get live matchup markets within the app.
The maintenance period began on the night of July 9 and is expected to be completed within 72 hours.
What’s next for Barstool in the PA online sports betting market?
Barstool Sportsbook has lost significant market share over the past several months within the Keystone State. Using PlayPennsylvania’s sports betting revenue tracker, Barstool has taken a backseat to multiple sportsbooks in PA handle when comparing the last few performances during May betting:
- 2021: $45 million (ranked third behind FanDuel and DraftKings)
- 2022: $34.4 million (ranked fourth behind FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM)
- 2023: $21.5 million (ranked sixth behind FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars and BetRivers)
It’s no surprise that Barstool is losing market share in Pennsylvania when Penn Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden says its current product is “substandard.”
While Penn Entertainment’s investment into Barstool Sports hasn’t gone as expected, perhaps the new platform can enhance customer experience and the product of the sportsbook. After the migration, Penn Entertainment will be more aggressive with marketing and focus on a personalized approach.
Snowden said during Penn Entertainment’s Q1 2023 earnings call:
“Having full control of our product roadmap in the US will enable us to connect with our customers on a more personalized level and quickly add new features in betting markets to the Barstool Sportsbook, while also enhancing our iCasino products with new content and bonus mechanics.”
Stay tuned as we update if Barstool Sportsbook looks and performs any different once the migration is completed.
