Penn Entertainment's Barstool Sportsbook shuts down for in-house platform migration

Barstool Sportsbook shut down for a 72-hour platform overhaul on Sunday, the operator informed its customers in 16 states by email. PENN Entertainment’s site will be unavailable until an expected return on Wednesday, giving the platform time to create a new in-house system.

While Barstool overhauls its platform with new technology, betting, deposits and withdrawals will all be shut down during the process. The company is taking advantage of the slow sports calendar for the maintenance period, through which no logins or betting will be possible.

Those attempting to access the site are met with an “Under Maintenance” message. “We are currently upgrading the Barstool Sportsbook to bring you an improved app experience with more markets and wagering options,” the statement further reads.

Barstool Sportsbook has relied on the technology of European sports betting services provider Kambi since the brand’s initial launch in Pennsylvania, in September 2020. A switch to an in-house system was pending since parent company PENN paid $2.1 billion in October 2021 to acquire Toronto-based media and sports betting company theScore, which had developed its own platform.

PENN’s new in-house system was first unveiled to its theScore Bet customers in Ontario, Canada last year. Since then, the company has been working to expand it across the U.S. through its Barstool brand, which is now on course to happen. The new platform is expected to allow Barstool to offer more appealing features for customers, improving its performance.

“Having full control of our product roadmap in the U.S. will enable us to connect with our customers on a more personal level and quickly add new features and betting markets to the Barstool Sportsbook, while also enhancing our iCasino product with new content and bonus mechanics,” said PENN President and CEO Jay Snowden in earlier statements to investors.

As per Barstool’s email to its customers, the site’s update is expected to introduce faster load times, more player props, more bet offers exclusive to Barstool, enhanced promotions, and integration with theScore media app, among other features. PENN had previously said the improved product would provide “an improved customer experience post-migration,” while also driving stronger loyalty and retention to the brand.

Users were assured that their account balance will be “100% secured” throughout the upgrade process, and that account information and settings will remain the same. “Any pending wagers will also automatically carry over to the new Barstool Sportsbook & Casino experience,” the sportsbook said in its email statement.